News Details
Memorial Health System Announces Student Nurse Investment Grant Program Offering up to $42,000 to Individual Nursing Students
Memorial Health System (MHS), has launched a Student Nursing Investment Grant program thanks to a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that addresses the nursing shortage and bridges the gap in access to healthcare in rural areas. The health system is working collaboratively with West Virginia University at Parkersburg to ramp up the talent pipeline and increase the pool of local talent.
Funding will help WVUP increase the size of their Registered Nursing (RN) programs and provide residents with high-demand and high-wage jobs upon completion. Memorial Health System will provide those selected into the program a $6,000 stipend to students per semester and the stipend can be used towards anything (tuition, rent, transportation, etc.). In addition, they will provide an $18,000 sign-on bonus with a three-year commitment to work for the health system upon graduation.
Healthcare organizations throughout Ohio are experiencing workforce challenges. Since the start of 2022, employers have advertised nearly 5,000 healthcare jobs per month in the 11-county central Ohio region, according to OHIO MEANS JOBS. In addition, the Aspen Institute predicts that central Ohio will need 9,000 additional healthcare jobs – a 22 percent increase – by 2028 to meet demand from the region’s population growth and number of aging seniors.
“Memorial Health System is investing dollars to support students and ramp up the talent pipeline of nursing and other professions that form the backbone of our healthcare community,” said Scott Cantley, President and Chief Executive Officer at Memorial Health System. “Together, we will increase the pool of home-grown talent, keep regional healthcare strong, and attract a workforce prepared to care for our communities.”
“It is an exciting time to be a nursing student in the Mid-Ohio Valley as so many opportunities exist for stipends and job placements for graduating nurses,” said WVUP President Dr. Torie Jackson. “We appreciate the partnership and the federal grant that allows for assistance to students attending community colleges to be able to start new careers in a high demand, and high salary occupation.”
For more details and how to apply, visit https://mhsystem.org/student-nurse/.
To learn more about what WVUP has to offer visit https://www.wvup.edu/future-students/academics/nursing-health-sciences-division/.