Brookdale wants nurses

Brookdale will shell out to avoid a shortage.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a nursing shortfall of more than one million by 2022. Meanwhile, the 65 and older population is expected to continue growing to 16 percent in 2020 from 13 percent in 2010.

Brookdale Senior Living Inc., the nation’s largest senior living provider, has launched a program that would reimburse up to $7,000 of a newly-hired nurse’s student loans. Brookdale will disperse $3,500 after a year of successful service and the remainder after the second year.

"This is a different kind of path than hospital nursing and it is a very important one," says Kim Estes, senior vice president of clinical services for Brookdale in a press release. "Rather than providing hands-on care, these nurses shape the overall quality and content of care their community’s seniors receive on a daily basis."

At Brookdale assisted living communities, nurses are hired as health and wellness directors who oversee clinical services by setting standards, leading health and wellness programming and managing care associates.

The program, launched in coordination with National Nurses Week, complements the company’s existing educational reimbursement program. Brookdale provides tuition assistance to current associates with 12 months of continuous service who agree to stay with the company for one year. Associates can use reimbursement to take undergraduate and graduate courses, certifications, licensing and continuing education units.

Learn more about the program and peruse available positions here. 

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.