The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on how Philadelphia-area nursing schools and health systems are working to expand the nursing pipeline, from loan repayment and accelerated degrees to programs that reach students as early as elementary school. Among the efforts featured is Gwynedd Mercy University's loan repayment program, offered in partnership with Scholars Network.
A financially viable path into nursing
Through the program, launched in late 2024, Gwynedd Mercy nursing students can secure employment after graduation at a participating health system, and their employer repays $25,000 to $65,000 of their educational loans.
The Inquirer tells the story of Nyla Sanders, a Lansdale native and senior in Gwynedd Mercy's BSN program. Sanders began her studies at Drexel University but transferred after her freshman year because she could not afford the tuition. When she received an email about the new repayment program as a sophomore, she bookmarked it right away, seeing a way to tackle a large share of her loans once she graduates. Though still anxious about her debt, she said the program gives her added confidence as she works toward her dream of becoming a nurse.
Removing barriers to the workforce
Gwynedd Mercy also offers a direct-entry master's in nursing that can be completed in as few as 20 months, along with a part-time weekend BSN. The accelerated master's program has grown from 13 students in 2022 to 59, and the university added a second yearly admissions cycle to keep up with demand.
Jane Tang, dean of nursing at Gwynedd Mercy, said the school's intention has always been to address the barriers and help improve the workforce pipeline.
A regional response to a statewide shortage
The article places these efforts in the context of Pennsylvania's nursing shortage, which a 2024 Mercer report projected would be the worst in the country by 2026, driven by an aging workforce, retirements, turnover, and burnout. Other initiatives highlighted include Jefferson's Mini Nurse Academy and Nurse Emeritus program, the Howley ASPIRE Nurse Scholars Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with La Salle University, and accelerated pathways at Drexel, Temple, and Jefferson.