Efforts to address the critical nursing shortage in the New Orleans area are paying dividends as more than 400 nurses have committed to continuing their practice in the city, and an additional 200 nurses have applied for funds to move to the region.

The awards are through the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Greater New Orleans Health Service Corps program. The program requires that nurses who accept the awards stay in the New Orleans area for three years.

Nurses currently employed in the city will receive awards of $15,000 each for this commitment. Awards to displaced nurses recruited from other parts of Louisiana and nurses for other states will be $30,000 each. Due to the difficulty in recruiting nurses to the area, a higher incentive award was necessary to guarantee this commitment.

The program received an overwhelming response from thousands of qualified registered nurses working to provide health care services in the New Orleans area, said Dr. Roxane A. Townsend, DHH Secretary. The federal government gave DHH the flexibility to maximize the grant funding to provide recruitment and retention incentives to the largest number of nurse applicants, thus we will be able to make awards to 600 nurses.

Townsend continued, We were able to get commitments from 400 professionals who have agreed to remain in the area, she said. Additionally, we have 200 slots available to recruit nurses who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and nurses interested in moving to the to New Orleans area from other parts of the country.

This summer, more than 2,500 nurses applied for funding through the program. Letters notifying applicants of their award status are in the process of being mailed. As of today, more than 400 notification letters have been sent. The program will continue to respond to all remaining applicants by mail.

Townsend said all unfunded applications will be kept on file through September 2009 and will receive priority if additional funding is made available.

Since the program began in April 2007, DHH has issued award notices totaling $23 million of the programs $50 million grant to provide incentive funding for approved applications.

Retention funding still is available for medical, dental and allied health faculty. Recruitment funding is available for all eligible practice types. Applications for these funds will continue to be accepted until all funding is allocated.

The Greater New Orleans Health Service Corps offers incentive packages for loan repayments, income guarantees, malpractice premium payments and relocation expenses.

To download the program policy and application, visit www.pcrh.dhh.louisiana.gov. Call toll-free at 877-345-0579 or e-mail gnohsc@dhh.la.gov for additional information.

Funding for the incentives is provided through two federal grants totaling $50 million by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grants were announced in January and May of this year. Information about these grants can be found at www.hhs.gov/louisianahealth.

Submitted by Rob Anderson. Filed under Post-Hurricane Healthcare

Comments

SENT IN MY APPLICATION AND DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE STATUS IS.
JEAN JENSEN on October 25th, 2007

If you haven't heard from them, they've probably run out of money. The letters went out three weeks ago.
deb on October 26th, 2007

It is a shame that money was awarded prior to all nurses having the opportuntiy to find out about this grant. It is also shameful that nurses at private hospitals were award this money prior to the nurses at Charity and University hospitals who have always cared for low income families. The nurses at the private hospitals who, only after Katrina, were forced to take care of these families should have been the last to receive this grant money.
Leisa Farrar on October 28th, 2007

NONNA BULLOCK RN, SHARON WALTERS RN AND I ARE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES TULANE HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES BUT TRAVEL FROM MS TO LA TO WORK. DURING OUR WORK HOURS WE STAY AT HOTEL CLOSE TO THE HOSPITAL. WE FILLED OUR GRANT APPLICATIONS AT THE END OF THIS PAST AUGUST. WE WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE GRANT BEFORE THIS TIME. SINCE WE FILLED OUR APPLICATIONS, WE HAVE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS COME UP THAT I HOPE YOU CAN HELP US WITH. SINCE WE DID NOT FILL OUR APPLICATIONS OUT UNTIL END OF AUGUST DOES THAT AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE GRANT? SINCE WE TRAVEL FROM MS TO LA EACH TIME WE WORK WHERE DOES THAT PUT US ON THE MONATARY SCALE IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE A PORTION OF THE GRANT? IF WE HAD MADE A MISTAKE ON THE APPLICATION WOULD WE BE NOTIFIED SO WE CAN DO IT CORRECTLY? WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK SINCE FILLING OUT THE APPLICATIONS. THANK-YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ THIS E-MAIL. SINCERELY, CHERYL TUCKER RN
CHERYL TUCKER on October 29th, 2007

Hello,I requested information and application of information. Can you please assist or reference me to someone who may?
Brenda Carney FNP-S on November 2nd, 2007

I HAVE ONLY HEARD OF A HANDFUL OF NURSES WHO ACTUALLY DO PATIENT CARE RECEIVING THIS GRANT. HOWEVER I HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL CASE MANAGERS, MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS RECEIVING THE FUNDS. MAKES ME WONDER IF SINCE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HEAR ABOUT THESE GRANTS FIRST DELAYED MAKING THEIR STAFF AWARE!! I SAY THIS BECAUSE MY DENIAL LETTER MADE REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THIS MONEY WAS ISSUED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS AND I AM AWARE THAT UPPER MANAGEMENT GOT THEIR APPS OUT A LOT SOONER THAN THE NURSES IN PATIENT CARE AREAS!!! AMAZING HOW THIS STATE WORKS!!!!!
k on November 5th, 2007

It seemed unfair to me that the application was so generic and did not take into consideration the nurses who did not leave the city during the storm but toughed it out and worked until relief came 1-2 weeks later. Such an insult that we were not given priority.
Rachelle on November 14th, 2007

I am a registered nurse as well who received an award notification. However, upon calling to find out what I needed to do, I was told that I was not eligible because I was not a Hurricane Katrina or Rita evacuee. I turned in my application via FEDEX prior to August and I was never told this when I called and verified information prior to submitting my application. It makes you wonder who really is getting this money. Haven't got a dime yet, although I made several plans towards the move. We should ban together and do something.
Lori Thornton on November 26th, 2007

I have not received a response. I Faxed my application in July and also Sent a hard copy by mail when I did not hear from you in August. I emailed a request for results and still have received a response. Can you help ? Thank you in advance.
ACQUELYN Donsereaux on December 5th, 2007

I was the first respiratory therapist at my hospital to apply. Others after me recieved the grant and I didn't. This whole set-up is poor planning and again reflects on how poorly managed this state is. First the amount was changed because the powers that be didn't do their homework. Surpise on the number of applications. Sad these people hold the offices they do. SAD SAD SAD. Jo Ann Francois Dec.12th, 2007
Jo Ann Francois on December 12th, 2007

I have not received any word about my grant application. Can you find out what is the status of my grant?
Nicole Candiff on January 1st, 2008

I am LPN working full time before and after the storm in New Orleans. How do I apply for the grant? Is it too late? Macel Tusa
Macel Tusa on January 3rd, 2008

I applied for the grant in late August of 2007, and have not heard anything in response to my application. I would appreciate a response at least if nothing else letting me know that you did in deed recieve my application. Thanks.
Sharon Smith on January 10th, 2008

I sent in my contract in November 2008. I am working full time and attending school to obtain my BSN in nursing. I would like to know the status of my grant. It's been more than 11 weeks.It's ok to e-mail me with grant status. Thank you. Leslie J. Morris
Leslie J. Morris on February 28th, 2008

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