NHSC-Anyone with experience??

mzaur · May 4, 2013

I am curious about replies as well.

I plan on doing NHSC loan repayment program eventually and found some info on these forums. Yes, you definitely get the money, but you sign a 2 year contract. Then you get the money upfront toward your loans, but if you leave then you have to pay back the money, prorated based on how much you worked. I also heard that there is a lot of money for NPs who apply to the program, so we have an easier time getting accepted than other healthcare professions. I do not think though that acceptance is guaranteed. As for getting a job at an NHSC site, I doubt it's that hard. I contacted a site in the area I want to work because I had some questions and the HR manager was very interested when I said I'll be an NP and told me to contact them as soon as I graduate. These sites are usually in rural places, so I highly doubt they get many applicants. NHSC is a great way to knock off $60k off of the high pricetag of MSN programs. It was $50k a couple years ago, so I hope that in a couple years the payout will be even greater! Also, in the state where I want to work, it is difficult to get a job right away as a new grad, so this is a great way to get job experience.

allnurses Guide · May 5, 2013

I was a NHSC loan repayor from 2009-2011. I worked in a community health center in an underserved urban area. Money was plentiful when I applied and a lot of people were awarded the $50,000 (at the time). The application process was very cumbersome, but I have heard that they've streamlined it.

From what I hear, and this may not be true, it's become harder to get these awards. There are a lot of applicants (who doesn't want their loans paid off?) and fewer sites that qualify. Money is awarded based on a workplace's "score". The harder it is to attract providers or the more underserved the population is, the higher the score. Money is awarded first to people working at places with high scores. Scores change all the time. If a center gets a grant or other aid, their score may drop, as they are no longer seen as having a higher need. This is what happened at my former place of employment. The year I applied, 3 NPs and 2 MDs got awards. The next year, only 2 NPs got awards. The center got a multi million dollar grant the following year and no one who applied got money. There's definitely no guarantees. If you're willing to work anywhere you have a better chance of getting money. Also, I believe this program is only open to FNPs and ANPs who work in primary care. I also know of some Psych NPs who got money. WHNPs and CNMs generally do not qualify, as the money is purposed to increase access to primary care. I don't know if PNPs qualify.

Best of luck to you.

myelin · May 6, 2013

Psych qualifies. Even though it is considered a "primary care" program, psych is listed as a specialty for NPs who want loan repayment through this program. And yes, I've heard this program is getting twice the applicants as it has spots for, both for the scholarship program and the loan repayment program. Things are getting hairy.

mzaur · May 6, 2013

And yes, I've heard this program is getting twice the applicants as it has spots for, both for the scholarship program and the loan repayment program. Things are getting hairy.

Damn. That's not good to hear!

Dixiecup · May 6, 2013

I worked for an FQHC rural clinic for 3 years for the specific reason of the loan repayment. I was told when I was hired that in the over 20years the clinic had been open no one had ever not been awarded the money. I applied three years in a row.Never got it. My clinic score was totally more than qualified. I actually liked working at this clinic but had to quit and take another job because my loan had been on forebearance the whole time I was working, thinking I would get the loan. Not to be!! So I had to start making payments and could not do it on the salary I was making. I now work full time at an urgent care making $50 an hour plus they give me a stipend check every month to make my student loan payment. Can't complain except it does get a little boring sometimes!

myelin · May 7, 2013

Hi Dixiecup,

I'm curious, what was your clinic's score? In a presentation about NHSC, they informed us that nothing under 16 received funding last year.

mzaur · May 7, 2013

I think Dixiecup did not get personally accepted, not that the clinic itself was rejected. I could be wrong though

Dixiecup, if that's true, why do you think you didn't get accepted to the loan repayment program? Were there any negatives on your application?

megank5183 · May 7, 2013

The whole process is so confusing to me...job posts that say they are NHSC approved make it seem like you are guaranteed the money. How do they select who is accepted? Do they base it off of NHSC score or experience? I am willing to move almost anywhere, but I don't want to take a job because it is a NHSC site if I'm not going to get the money.....I feel like since psych is so much less popular that primary care, maybe there would be less applicants?

myelin · May 7, 2013

The whole process is so confusing to me...job posts that say they are NHSC approved make it seem like you are guaranteed the money. How do they select who is accepted? Do they base it off of NHSC score or experience? I am willing to move almost anywhere, but I don't want to take a job because it is a NHSC site if I'm not going to get the money.....I feel like since psych is so much less popular that primary care, maybe there would be less applicants?

I just applied for HRSA (the scholarship, not the loan repayment program) with this logic in mind. We'll see what happens. It's frustrating, because I joined this field with the intention to serve the underserved in particular, but my massive loans will make that really challenging. Here's hoping I get the scholarship.

megank5183 · May 8, 2013

Good luck! Let me know what happens...

Dixiecup · May 12, 2013

I coulde neverget them to give me a clear cut answer as to why I wans'nt awarded the money. The clinic I worked for really played this up as a big marketing tool. When I left I told them they needed to stop doing that as in my case I feel I got scammed.