2019 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi Everyone,

I didn't see a thread created for the 2019 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program yet. This will be my 3rd year applying. I'm applying as a staff RN with a HPSA score of 17. Hopefully, they open the application cycle soon.

I'm in a real dilemma here, posting to see if anyone else in the same boat:

FNP, currently working for IHS out in the SW. Been an RN since 2006, became FNP last June. I have an aneurysm-inducing student loan balance and have for over a decade. If I don't get some form of loan repayment I'll most likely go to the grave with student loans. I applied for both NHSC and Nurse Corps (first time for each, previously worked in places where this wasn't an option). Received an email yesterday that I've been selected as a finalist for NHSC and have to confirm interest by COB Monday. Which, I'm over the moon about. Only problem, if I confirm interest in NHSC I'm automatically taken out of the running for Nurse Corps.

It's a matter of $50,000 (NHSC, tax-free [from my understanding], paid in one lump sum, preference for renewing in two years) versus $143,400 (Nurse Corps, 24 monthly installments, taxable, have read nightmare tax prep stories from recipients on discussion boards, unsure if I could even afford to pay the taxes on that, option to get another $59,750 after two years for a 1 year extension) for a 2-year commitment. Even though I'm a finalist for NHSC, there's no guarantee. I feel like I'm competitive for Nurse Corps, but also no guarantee. It seems in past years that, though there's definitely funding preferences, some people who seem highly eligible for Nurse Corps LRP are not awarded.

FNP - Primary Care, HPSA Score 17, DTI 327% (no joke, no typo, my life is a ball of stress)

Thoughts? Input? Anyone suffering same? Realize these are first world problems....but I've been in debt for so long, 50K is nothing to scoff at.

Best of luck to everyone on this journey.....

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Jaspis1976,

congrats! That is a good dilemma to have at least! I, personally, will take the NHSC if I get offered both but my dti isn’t that high, I only owe approximately 130k. I have friends that are NPs with over 200k debt, I know one each in that boat with each repayment. The one that took the NHSC is on their third year (they got the extension immediately after the initial two year). And she had the option for both, she liked the concept of tax free and being able to continue to renew each year. My friend who took the NCLRP said the amount she got was nice, but she apparently didn’t figure the amount out right that she needed to pull out of her check extra as it raised her tax bracket and between that and state taxes she owed a rediculous amount, she didn’t tell me how much, just that you’ll definitely want to talk to a tax person to figure out what to pull out of your check as she doesn’t think you can have them pull out to cover the extra tax on your income, but does think you can have them set aside more for the state taxes on the amount they give. It would be nice to know if anyone else dealt with that end.

Mom a side note, do you live in the coty you work? I think that is one of the things they look at for how likely you are to stay, I wish they knew that I plan on moving to the coty I work but it only has a population of 800 with no houses for sale yet lol. Did they pull your credit already? And we’re you from a disadvantaged background? Also, what email did they notice come from so we can make sure to add it, and when you log in to your portal does it say “under review” or something else? I’m paranoid that If I do get selected that I’ll miss my chance! My site score is 17 I believe as well.

Keep us informed on what you decide!

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Marcher4127,

I currently live in the city I work, but unsure if that's considered permanent residence enough for nurse corps....it's gov't housing, so technically a rental.

I have no idea if they pulled my credit...quite frankly, I don't check it anymore because I'm so behind on my bills, it would just freak me out :/ working on getting a 2nd job, but it's difficult when you live in the middle of nowhere.

I'm not from a disadvantaged background.

The email came from [email protected] Subject line was 'Confirmation of interest in a FY 2019 award' this past Thursday. "We have reviewed your FY 2019 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) application, and you have been selected as a finalist for an award. Please note that this is not a guarantee of an award, as NHSC LRP awards are subject to the availability of funds .
At this time, we are requesting that you confirm or deny your continued interest in a loan repayment award by 04/22/2019. Please log into your Application Portal Account to review the information you provided on your application and verify whether the information on the Confirmation of Interest (COI) is still accurate. If the information is correct, please check the "accept" box on the COI form."

This seems really early to hear back, based on discussion board posts from years past but...I'll take it.

I did _a lot_ of ruminating about this over the past two days...and actually wound up signing into the portal and accepting NHSC (PRAYING nothing happens to alter funding between now and award time). Things that swayed me: Tax Free; with NHSC (I believe) you can take up to 12 weeks FMLA (I'm older, but still trying to have a baby) per year without it affecting the contract, nurse corps is only 7 weeks; lump sum; preference for renewal in 2 years' time; the sheer fact that I don't have gambling luck and I was afraid if I turned it down I would not get an offer from Nurse Corps.

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On 4/15/2019 at 7:04 PM, Lemon Bars said:

I have not applied before. The HPSA score for my facility is 16. My annual salary will be greater than my debt. Should I apply or would it be a waste of time? Thanks for any advice.

Could never hurt to try. From what I understand they go off the pool applying that year. If it’s a lower DTI year you may make the cut! What can ya lose?!

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On 4/19/2019 at 10:36 PM, Jaspis1976 said:

I'm in a real dilemma here, posting to see if anyone else in the same boat:

FNP, currently working for IHS out in the SW. Been an RN since 2006, became FNP last June. I have an aneurysm-inducing student loan balance and have for over a decade. If I don't get some form of loan repayment I'll most likely go to the grave with student loans. I applied for both NHSC and Nurse Corps (first time for each, previously worked in places where this wasn't an option). Received an email yesterday that I've been selected as a finalist for NHSC and have to confirm interest by COB Monday. Which, I'm over the moon about. Only problem, if I confirm interest in NHSC I'm automatically taken out of the running for Nurse Corps.

It's a matter of $50,000 (NHSC, tax-free [from my understanding], paid in one lump sum, preference for renewing in two years) versus $143,400 (Nurse Corps, 24 monthly installments, taxable, have read nightmare tax prep stories from recipients on discussion boards, unsure if I could even afford to pay the taxes on that, option to get another $59,750 after two years for a 1 year extension) for a 2-year commitment. Even though I'm a finalist for NHSC, there's no guarantee. I feel like I'm competitive for Nurse Corps, but also no guarantee. It seems in past years that, though there's definitely funding preferences, some people who seem highly eligible for Nurse Corps LRP are not awarded.

FNP - Primary Care, HPSA Score 17, DTI 327% (no joke, no typo, my life is a ball of stress)

Thoughts? Input? Anyone suffering same? Realize these are first world problems....but I've been in debt for so long, 50K is nothing to scoff at.

Best of luck to everyone on this journey.....

The real problem is not knowing if you will get the Nursing LRP. Which aside from taxes would be beneficial because you can write off interest payments and figure it out appropriately where you would be fine come tax time. I know that freaks people out but I’ve won a 30,000 prize on a game show and had to do the same thing. It was fine and I enjoy my prize to this day.

That being said...you have a sure thing that could help out, and after your service commitment you can reapply for other options. Given you will still have a substantial amount of loans...why not take the sure option then finish two years and apply for the LRP after that since your DTI will still be a higher percentage. Or if they have a 3rd year option with that...give it a go.

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Also, I don’t believe that the confirmation of interest drops you from the chance for the NCLRP, from what I understand as long as you don’t have a service obligation you can still be selected and you won’t have a service obligation until your NHSC contract is countersigned which could still take a while.

It is early, but I have heard of people getting selected mid April like this. I’ve asked around and I’d say since you were selected so early there is an extremely high chance you will get it!

Congratulations again and here’s to the rest of us still crossing our fingers!

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Hey everyone!

I am an AGNP unsure of my site score maybe 17 or so? I am approximately 140% for my DTI. I have not heard anything yet...I have 3 classes that I took to keep me full time until I started nursing school, years ago. I am wondering if this will exclude me from the running for LRP or they will be able to decipher from my loan reports?? Has anyone else had any classes that were not related to their nursing degree??

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On 4/25/2019 at 8:14 PM, Anystrom0507 said:

Hey everyone!

I am an AGNP unsure of my site score maybe 17 or so? I am approximately 140% for my DTI. I have not heard anything yet...I have 3 classes that I took to keep me full time until I started nursing school, years ago. I am wondering if this will exclude me from the running for LRP or they will be able to decipher from my loan reports?? Has anyone else had any classes that were not related to their nursing degree??

I have a lot of classes since I didn't go right into nursing school, I didn't get it last year but don't know if this was why or not. I hope not or I am screwed!

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is there something wrong with the portal? i can not log in, it keeps saying "An error has occurred. Unable to authenticate user." but I have an account! i filled out an application and submitted it, this is my second year. and i also tried to contact them asking and I got a "page not found" once I submitted it!!!

i am freaking out hoping nothing happened to my account! i haven't got a credit check yet either and remember it happened around this time last year for the 2018 cycle.

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On 4/25/2019 at 8:14 PM, Anystrom0507 said:

Hey everyone!

I am an AGNP unsure of my site score maybe 17 or so? I am approximately 140% for my DTI. I have not heard anything yet...I have 3 classes that I took to keep me full time until I started nursing school, years ago. I am wondering if this will exclude me from the running for LRP or they will be able to decipher from my loan reports?? Has anyone else had any classes that were not related to their nursing degree??

I actually thought of this while I was filling out my application and called them. They told me that when they review your transcripts and your loans if there are any that are not qualified (not the right type, time, degree, etc) that those loams just won’t be approved. Apparently the contract will state which loans are approved for repayment.

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1 hour ago, lov3lyleslee said:

is there something wrong with the portal? i can not log in, it keeps saying "An error has occurred. Unable to authenticate user." but I have an account! i filled out an application and submitted it, this is my second year. and i also tried to contact them asking and I got a "page not found" once I submitted it!!!

i am freaking out hoping nothing happened to my account! i haven't got a credit check yet either and remember it happened around this time last year for the 2018 cycle.

Yes there must be something wrong with the portal. It is giving me the exact same error when I try to log I. To check either NHSCLRP or NCLRP.

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Has anyone had any credit check yet? I have not.

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