BATON ROUGE -- A state body that administers education loans is launching a new program aimed at giving Louisiana's nursing students incentive to look for work closer to home.

Associated Press

Nursing students who stay in Louisiana and work full time after graduating won't have to pay interest on their college loans.

The Louisiana Education Loan Authority hopes the program will ease the state's shortage of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, which spokeswoman Pam Hutchinson described as "severe."

"Any measure that makes it easier for nurses to either be educated or pay for their education will have a positive impact on both the nursing profession in general, and the state of Louisiana," said Dr. Sandra Harper, president of Our Lady of the Lake College.

The state faces a "tremendous" shortage of nurses, Harper said. Making it easier for them to pay off loans and stay in the state has to be considered "very, very positive."

The Louisiana Health Works Commission has estimated the state now needs to fill 4,000 to 5,000 slots for registered nurses and 2,500 for licensed practical nurses. The shortfall is expected to grow to 6,000 RNs and 3,500 LPNs as more New Orleans area hospitals re-open and recover.

KarenSue Zoeller, vice president of work force development for the Louisiana Hospital Association, said waiving the interest would be a great help to the state's 14,000 or so nursing students -- "because we do know that a lot of kids in Louisiana, even with TOPS and other financial assistance, have to work part time while going to school."

During the clinical portion of their training, nursing students have to pay for uniforms, shoes, federal and state criminal background checks, textbooks, transportation to and from the hospital, as well as a battery of vaccinations, Zoeller said. The Hepatitis C shot alone costs $350.

Brinda White, assistant vice president of student loans-operations at the Loan Authority, said nationally students borrow $17,000 for four-year programs.

But some students may borrow three times that, depending on a student's needs and expenses, White said.

The Loan Authority hopes the interest-free loans will encourage more students to enter the nursing field and more graduates to remain in Louisiana, White said.

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