By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The state of Missouri is expanding its student loan forgiveness program for people who want to become nurses.
The program had been limited to those who work at public and non-profit health care facilities.
But starting next week (8/28) nurses working at any clinic or hospital where there's a shortage may qualify.
Jan Polizzi heads the St. Louis chapter of the Missouri Nurses Association and also teaches nursing. She says this new law is an important step toward alleviating the shortage.
"We have quite a few students who are pursuing nursing as a second career choice," she said. "And we certainly want to have this access available to a person who's going to be choosing nursing as a career.
"I wish I could have had it. "
Students may borrow up to $5,000 from the state. They must be go to school in Missouri and work in the state in order to qualify for the loan forgiveness.