October 26, 2026
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched Nurses for Nursing Homes, a new nationwide initiative intended to recruit and retain nurses in nursing homes, particularly in rural communities and areas experiencing workforce shortages.
Eligible registered nurses and licensed practical or vocational nurses may receive up to $40,000 in student-loan repayment and a $10,000 stipend in exchange for a three-year commitment at a qualifying nursing home. Participants must hold an active nursing license and work an average of at least 30 hours per week. Nursing students may begin an application, but must graduate, become licensed, and obtain qualifying employment before receiving funding.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia are participating. Every rural nursing facility is eligible, along with selected facilities in areas facing greater nursing shortages. CMS estimates that the $275 million initiative, funded through civil monetary penalties collected from nursing homes, will support more than 4,000 nurses and nursing students.
Applications will be accepted throughout 2026 and 2027, but funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis within each state. During a special eligibility period running from October 26, 2026, through January 24, 2027, nurses who began working at an eligible nursing home between July 28 and October 25 may also qualify.
Interested nurses can review eligibility requirements, locate participating facilities, and begin an application through the Nurses for Nursing Homes website. Additional information is available in the CMS announcement and program FAQs.