A new study finds that the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Nurse Corps program is making a lasting impact in high-need communities by retaining nurses long after their service commitments have ended. The program provides loan repayment and scholarships for nurses who commit to serving in rural areas, under-resourced communities, or schools of nursing for 2 to 4 years.
The findings were published in Nursing Outlook, a top nursing research journal. Westat staff who contributed to the article include Jennifer G. Nooney, PhD; Nina Kreiger, MPH; Natalie Teixeira Bailey, MPH; Brandon Hesgrove, PhD; Helen Liu, MS; Kelly Daley, PhD; and Jessica Kirchner, MA
Analyzing survey and administrative data from nearly 4,900 participants and alumni, researchers found that more than 80% of alumni were still working in under-resourced settings, areas with limited access to medical care, or a school of nursing at the time of the survey. Even 6 years after completing their commitments, 76% remained. Satisfaction with service sites and burnout were the strongest predictors of long-term retention.
The study confirms that the Nurse Corps programs are successfully expanding access to nursing care in communities that need it most.
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