The Guthrie Clinic Nursing Scholars Program Strengthens Workforce Pipeline in Rural Pennsylvania and New York
The Guthrie Clinic is strengthening its nursing workforce through the Guthrie Nursing Scholars program, a collaboration with Scholars Network that offers nursing students up to $65,000 in loan repayment when they commit to working at Guthrie after graduation.
The program reduces financial barriers for future nurses while building a sustainable pipeline of registered nurses for rural Pennsylvania and New York. In the first cohort of the program, the Guthrie Nursing Scholars program maintained a 94% retention rate among participants.
“The transition from nursing student to professional registered nurse is an important and formative time,” said Jennifer Orbin, DNP, RN-BC, Associate Vice President of System Innovation and Nursing Operations at The Guthrie Clinic. “Through the Guthrie Nursing Scholars program, we are not only helping students fund their education but also welcoming them into a supportive environment where they can grow, build confidence and make an immediate impact for our patients.”
The need is especially urgent in rural communities. Rural Pennsylvania hospitals report an average registered nurse vacancy rate of 21%, according to a 2025 statewide workforce survey led by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry projects the commonwealth will need nearly 8,900 more registered nurses each year through 2032.
Since the program began, Guthrie has seen strong participation and retention, including:
16 registered nurses currently working at Guthrie hospitals through the program, from fiscal years 2024 and 2025
20 newly licensed registered nurses joining Guthrie this summer after graduating in May 2026, transitioning into their first professional nursing roles in June, July and August
9 future registered nurses awarded seats in the program for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, with applications reviewed quarterly and more seats expected to be filled in the coming months
94% retention in the first cohort
More than $350,000 in funding provided by Guthrie since the program began.
The Guthrie Nursing Scholars program is built on a workforce development model from Scholars Network, which partners with health systems, colleges and universities to connect students with financial support and clear career pathways. It pairs that support with early connection to Guthrie caregivers, where scholars can build relationships with the nursing teams they will join after graduation.
“By connecting students with meaningful financial support and a direct pathway into careers at Guthrie, we are helping future nurses begin their careers with less debt, more stability and a strong connection to the communities they will serve,” said Sam Maron, founder of Scholars Network.
The Guthrie Nursing Scholars program is supported in part by funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which has invested in Scholars Network partnerships across the state to help address healthcare workforce shortages.
The Scholars Network Program is part of Guthrie’s broader commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce, expanding career pathways and ensuring rural patients across the region continue to have access to high-quality care close to home.
For more information about the Guthrie Nursing Scholars program, visit scholars-network.com/employers/Guthrie.