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OSAC Announces Oregon Nursing Services Applications On-line
Application Deadline, Friday, July 26, 2002
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission recently released the 2002 application materials for their Oregon Nuring Services Program which provides nursing debt payments equal to 25% of their total qualifying loan principle for 2 - 4 years (up to almost $9,000 per year) when recruited to serve in a designated critical nursing shortage area in Oregon. Awards are limited to the amount of funds available.
Who may apply?
Students enrolled in the last year of an RN program, recent RN graduates, and RNs currently practicing may apply. Oregon residency is not required when applying. Nurse Practitioners and LPNs are not eligible.
How does someone apply?
You must complete the Oregon Student Assistance Commission form and attach a current resume or curriculum vitae outlining schooling and employment history. The form and required attachments must be postmarked no later than Friday, July 26, 2002. For more detailed information and a copy of required forms, visit the OSAC website.
Shortage Areas
The Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) recognizes that critical nursing shortage areas exist throughout Oregon; however, for the purpose of defining the term under Senate Bill 331, the definition focuses on frontier and rural areas of the state. Nursing shortages and recruiting challenges may be more acute in these areas, depending on practice setting (locality) and practice specialty. The Oregon State Board of Nursing, in consultation with the Office of Rural Health has identified the following localities and practice specialties as "critical shortage areas". They are listed in priority order.
Priority 1 - Frontier Counties
(Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Wallowa and Wheeler)
- Public Health - County Public Health and Outpatient Health District Clinics
- Acute Care
- Nursing Education, including Community Colleges and Universities
- Long-term Care
- Any Other
Priority 2 - Rural Counties
(Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lincoln, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wasco and Yamhill)
- Public Health - County Public Health and Outpatient Health District Clinics
- Acute Care
- Nursing Education, including Community Colleges and Universities
- Long-term Care
- Any Other
Priority consideration will be given to registered nurse applicants who most closely match the nursing critical shortage areas ranked in the list above, (e.g. selection priority will be given to a registered nurse who signs an agreement to work in a public health setting in a frontier county).
The Nursing Services board will review and may revise the critical shortage list on an annual basis in consultation with the Office of Rural Health.
Need a Recruitment Contact In a Frontier or Rural Area in Our Region?
If you are a nursing student or nurse interested in relocating to an underserved area in the Cascades East AHEC area, you can contact our office for more information about potential employers in those communities. Priority 1 counties in our region include Crook, Harney, Lake and southern Malheur. Priority 2 counties include Jefferson and Klamath. Contact us by e-mail at info@cascadeseast.org or 541-617-2603. |
