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Tuesday, September 20, 2022 6:28 am

Frisbie RN Kayla Young, the hospital's clinical nurse coordinator, tends to a patient in the hospital's Coronary Care Unit.(Courtesy photo/FMH)

ROCHESTER - As hospitals nationwide find themselves struggling with nursing shortages a new program at HCA Healthcare is looking to award $800,000 in scholarships to nursing students in exchange for a one-year commitment to Frisbie Memorial Hospital or one of the other HCA hospitals in the Granite State.
"We had a nursing shortage before the pandemic, but the pandemic made the shortage even worse," said Jaime Brave, chief nursing officer at Frisbie. "We've always understood that dedication is an important part of nursing, but we also wanted to incentivize this workforce."

Jaime Brave Frisbie's chief nursing officer

That incentive program was rolled out at the end of August when HCA announced they would be awarding scholarship of $7,000 for those currently enrolled in a licensed practical nurse program and $14,000 for those enrolled in a registered nurse program.
The funds would be distributed directly to the applicant, Brave said.
An HCA press release on the scholarships said additional bonuses could apply upon hiring.
"We know there is a huge commitment for those looking to be nurses," Brave added. "It's a passion, and we want to help."
The program is funded by HCA's Capital Division, which includes hospitals in Virginia and New Hampshire.
"The nationwide nursing shortage continues to challenge the healthcare industry," added Erin Keister, HCA Healthcare Capital Division chief nursing executive. "With more than 98,000 nurses throughout our organization, we are one of the largest employers of nurses in the United States, and we know that education is key to excellence. We are proud to do our part and tackle this shortage starting in Virginia and New Hampshire, where we operate 17 facilities."
Other HCA hospitals in New Hampshire include Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Parkland Medical Center in Derry.
Brave said this is an ongoing effort, and she hopes nursing students will take advantage of it.
For more information and to apply for a scholarship, click here.