Gov. John Engler signed two bills into law Thursday creating a scholarship program for eligible nursing students. The initiative allocates $4 million to nursing scholarships, in an effort to alleviate the nursing shortage problem in Michigan, Engler said.

The bills shift money from the Michigan Merit Award Trust Fund to the Michigan Nursing Scholarship Program. The Michigan Merit Award Trust Fund is funded by Michigan’s $8 billion tobacco settlement money.

The scholarship allows eligible nursing students to receive up to $4,000 a year for four years. After graduating, the nurses will be required to work in Michigan for at least one year for each year they receive the scholarship. If they choose not to work, they must repay the scholarship.

“Certainly it’s a help to get some financial support to the students,” MSU College of Nursing Dean Marilyn Rothert said. “It’s one piece of what needs to happen in terms of the addressing the nursing shortage in the state.”

Staff and wire reports