HARTSVILLE, SC (March 29, 2023) – Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (CPRMC) today announced its participation in South Carolina Student Loan’s “BOLD Career Pathway Loan Program,” an initiative that offers repayment of student loans to individuals who commit to working at the hospital as a nurse.
BOLD Career Pathways grew from an idea developed by South Carolina Student Loan to expand its impact beyond its anchored products. BOLD Career Pathways is one way South Carolina Student Loan is demonstrating its commitment to providing students with better options and less debt. This new approach connects students with employers willing to hire them and help pay off student loans. This helps employers attract and retain employees while giving students a quicker path to being debt-free.
“We are thrilled to offer this program as a means to attract healthcare professionals, especially in areas of great need, such as nursing,” said Bill Little, CPRMC CEO. “This program helps make CPRMC an even more appealing place to work and no doubt will further strengthen our relationship with nursing programs across the state.”
CPRMC has committed to take eight BOLD Career Pathway commitments this year and held its first “signing day” on March 29, where the hospital’s first participant in the program, Emily Tamburrino, officially agreed to terms. Emily is a junior in the nursing program at Coker University in Hartsville, and recently learned about the program. She will be the first student in the state to participate.
Set to graduate in August 2024, Emily will begin her employment as an RN with Carolina Pines after receiving her nursing license. She currently works in CPRMC’s Emergency Department as an ER Technician, which she says will help create a smooth transition into nursing at Carolina Pines.
“This program couldn’t have come at a better time to help me begin my career,” she said. “Usually when you complete your degree, you worry about your job search, paying off your debt, and wondering if you will like your place of employment. With my current externship and the BOLD Career Pathway, I will have a seamless transition to a career where I am already a part of the team and will have less student loan debt.”
For students such as Emily, participation is relatively straightforward. The student must sign an agreement with his or her chosen employer, complete the loan application, receive his or her certificate or degree, and commit to work with the employer for a set number of years to have student loans repaid through employer payments. You can learn more about how SC Student Loan partners with employers around the state focused on solving workforce needs at https://www.scstudentloan.org/school-loans/bold-career-pathway-loan.
“Hospitals across the country face serious staffing challenges, especially in the nursing ranks,” said Christy Moody, Chief Nursing Officer at CPRMC. “The BOLD Career Pathway takes a creative, common-sense approach to building the nursing workforce by making our hospital more attractive to nursing students and making the educational pursuit of a career in nursing more attainable. This is a win for all parties involved, from our hospital to nursing students and to SC Student Loan.”
Added Destra Capers, Director of Outreach, SC Student Loan: “Students who might have hesitated at the financial burden of a nursing education now see a program that provides a solution to quickly reduce their student loan debt. We are excited to partner with Carolina Pines in this forward-looking initiative and we hope it achieves the success we envision and need in the healthcare industry.”
About Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center
As part of the ScionHealth network of hospitals, Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (CPRMC) provides high-quality healthcare services to the people of several counties in northeastern South Carolina. Patients have come to rely on our experienced, skilled staff and physicians to provide them with the highest level of care and compassion. Through the facilities on our campus, including a 116-bed acute care hospital and an adjoining medical office building, we provide comprehensive services with two things in mind: the care and comfort of our patients. Learn more about CPRMC at www.cprmc.com.