AddyRN

A few days ago I was randomly checking my SPAM box & found an email from [email protected]! that says "Action Required" - sure enough when I signed on it asked me for my bank account routing # and electronic signature for intent to accept award. Now my status says "Accepted Award- Under Final Review" I am sooo stinking excited, I did the happy dance at work & everyone thought I was losing it... if they only knew this is my 2nd year applying & I've been so discouraged in the past. Keep the faith people! God is good!

I applied last year & also did not get it, I received my letter the last week in September. From what I heard from all the discussions last year on this blog- people were getting their acceptance emails in August- and make sure you check your SPAM folder! You can also check the status of your application- some people last year said that if it says "Under Review" you're still in the running... if it says "Submitted" after august, it looked like those people did not have as good of luck. It was really frustrating to not receive it last year as I work at a DSH hospital & have >200% debt to income - I'm not sure if I filled something out wrong or if they truly didn't have enough funding to go around by the time they got to my application. Also, my friend who got accepted into this program & is still receiving funds told me that by the time taxes are taken out, it really doesn't end up being 60% paid back in 2 years. They take a HUGE chunk of it for taxes. Basically, if you have $85,000 & get the 60% paid back in 2 years ($51,000) - expect 30% of it taken out for taxes = $35,700 they will pay you in monthly payments (Approx. $1487.50 monthly). Although I'm sure any one of us could use this!

What really confuses me is my friend, who got this award last year - doesn't work at underserved hospital OR a primary care/mental health HPSA - but obviously is still getting payments this year. I guess I'm just meant to live off of Ramen noodles for the next 10 years

Yeah, I assumed that being a disproportionate share hospital (getting medicaid funds) meant that we qualified as that... but maybe not anymore?

Oh I hope you guys are right! We are not an underserved area though. We are a mental health HPSA though.. with a score of 15. My guess is that you got it because you are in a medically underserved area.

OK... so I was basically told over the phone today by the HelpDesk that my hospital is ineligible this year. I am just going off of what it sounded like they were saying, but it was pretty clear that unless you are in a Primary Care Health Professional Shortage area as an RN (even at a Tier 1 facility) then you are not eligible. Apparently if you are an RN and your facility is NOT in a Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area: then you are not eligible this year If anyone knows any more information about this or can offer any input, please feel free!

Ok, I found the website where you can find out what your facility's score is! Our facility's score is "15" in the mental health category - so yes, we are a Tier 1. For everybody's reference the website to look up what your facility's score is: HRSA - Find Shortage Areas: HPSA & MUA/P by Address - Version 2.0 Also, information is on page 14 of this PDF file that shows how the funding preferences are given: http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/repayment/nursing/applicationassistance.pdf

I do know we're tier 1, but unsure of the score? We're the only level I trauma center in Southern Arizona so I know we get federal funding for Medicaid. We are also the only hospital to provide care for those on the native-american reservations in the area. How do I find out what our "score" is?

aahh... ok. That might make sense... cause I applied about 3 days before the cut-off as well. My # was in the 3,000s... but that may have been a random number they assigned to us.

I would be seriously confused if I don't get it... my debt income ratio is just about 200% and I work at a DSH hospital. I thought it was income/debt based?

Anyone an RN at a DSH with a >150% debt to income ratio still waiting for ANY kind of response?

CaleyJo- I understand how you want to just have one payment ... that would be much more convenient. However, say for instance you have $20,000 at an interest rate of 6% then you have a $1,000 loan at 5% If you put your loan reimbursement toward that $20,000 loan for just one year, vs. the $1,000 loan- you'll be saving a lot of money in the long-run.

Nothing yet CTW... do they send out emails everyday or only certain days?

CaleyJo- Are all of your loans at the same interest rate? Obviously paying off the higher interest ones will save you more money in the long haul if you have some that are higher interest rates than others.

Ahh... good to know! I need some heavy-duty prayers my way! My tastebuds are NOT liking Ramen noodles anymore!