Virginia Launches $1.3M in Scholarships to Address 17,000 Nurse Shortage

NewsData.io · United States · Oct 9, 2026

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced $1.3 million in scholarships and financial incentives targeting 350 prospective nursing students, preceptors, and working nurses through the newly created Virginia Nursing Workforce Center. The funding includes per-semester awards for clinical mentors, student scholarships up to $2,000, loan repayment incentives tied to state employment commitments, and grants up to $400,000 for Earn to Learn partnerships. The initiative responds to a George Mason University analysis finding Virginia short 17,000 registered nurses, against a projected national shortfall of 267,000 RNs by 2028. Healthcare staffing firms recruiting nurses in Virginia may see modest near-term pipeline improvements, though the scale of the shortage suggests demand for contract and travel nursing will remain elevated.