Adequate health care in this State is contingent upon a large pool of nurses and physicians from which to choose. Research has shown that there is an identifiable shortage of nurses and physicians in this State. Nurses are recognized as experienced caregivers, familiar with many of the same procedures and practices that are carried out by physicians. Many nurses who display an aptitude or desire to further advance their career in the profession of nursing or into the field of medicine by becoming physicians are unable to do so because of inadequate financial resources. It is therefore public policy of the State of Illinois to encourage the establishment of private organizations, foundations, groups, partnerships, corporations or committees organized to provide assistance through grants or loans to nurses and to work with educational institutions to further these goals in order to encourage people in the nursing field to advance into nursing specialties or to pursue advancement in the nursing profession or careers in medicine by making financial assistance available to them.