The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is now taking applications for its loan forgiveness for nursing home RNs and LPNs. The award is up to $5,000 a year for up to four years — not to exceed $20,000.

The application process for 2018 is competitive and runs now through Jan. 6, 2017.  There are restrictions on what type of loan is eligible.  Nurse can review the requirements on the MDH website at this link.

In order to get loan forgiveness, nurses must agree to serve a minimum of two years in a nursing homes or an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) for persons with developmental disabilities or a hospital owned or operated nursing home.  There is an option to renew for a second two years.

"This is a great benefit for our existing nurses," said Shelley Matthes, Ecumen Senior Director of Quality Improvement and Resource Utilization.  

Matthes pointed out that the MDH loan forgiveness program is different from the Department of Human Services (DHS) loan forgiveness program, which only applies to new and recently hired nurses (within the past 12 months).

Nurses can only participate in either the MDH or the DHS program.