GMercyU ABSN Grad Shares Experience in the Nursing Scholars Program
Last year, Rafid Ahsan ’25 received an email from GMercyU about an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. A new Nursing Scholars program at GMercyU was offering to pay up to $40,000 in student loan reimbursements in exchange for three years of employment at Temple Health as a registered nurse, after graduation and licensure.
Then a student in GMercyU’s ABSN program, Rafid originally didn't have his sights set on Temple Health but knew he wanted to work in the Philadelphia area, so he applied.
He found the Nursing Scholars application process to be lengthy but straightforward.
“I did a screen call first with the Scholars Program, then completed the application and interview, and then I got my acceptance,” said Rafid. “The whole process took about two months.”
Rafid’s acceptance last spring came months before he graduated last summer. "So that whole last semester, I had it locked in. It was fantastic,” he said.
Working at Temple Health
Rafid now works at Temple Health – Main Campus in North Philadelphia in a pulmonary step-down unit, caring for their lung transplant patients. He began in October 2025 and has enjoyed it so far.
“It’s been really good. A few months after I got accepted, they reached out and asked what kind of unit I wanted to work on, and I said ICU or a step-down unit, so they placed me here,” he explained. “They also asked if I wanted days or nights. I said days and I got days, which is huge, because that’s tough to find as a new grad.”
Beginning his new job, Rafid felt confident with the knowledge base he'd developed at GMercyU and just a few weeks in, he was comfortable working the floor.
“I feel like GMercyU did a good job preparing me; I’m really happy with the education I got,” he said.
Not long after he began, Rafid received his first loan reimbursement payment, and it’s been going smoothly ever since.
“I would 100% recommend this program. I actually recommended it to two other people in my cohort [at GMercyU] and both got in and are working at Temple now, too,” he said. “It definitely is a great opportunity.”
Interesting in launching your nursing career at an employer who will help pay your student loans in addition to your salary? See all Nursing Scholars opportunities here.