Robyn Wickham says she has a very special reason to put her heart and soul into her new job starting this week under a Ministry of Health initiative.
"My husband Garry died from cancer four years ago and I would love to be able to give back a little of the care and support we received," she said.
Mrs Wickham will be working at Bethlehem's Ngati Kahu Hauora as one of five Bay of Plenty nurses offered a one-year scholarship.
"To be able to offer that to others would be very rewarding for me."
The mother of four worked in administration and accounts before beginning a three-year Bachelor of Nursing at Waiariki Polytechnic.