I have a question....I have done a little bit of reading on these boards, and have seen some people saying that some places will agree to pay a certain amount on your student loans....which I know means some sort of a commitment to them. Has anyone heard of any places in Houston doing this? If so, where? Also, how would you go about finding a place that does this? Or is it just something you ask them when you are interviewing? Thanks for all the help!

Some places advertise it, some call it a "Sign on Bonus" that they give you which you can then in turn pay off a portion of your student loans with.

As for Houston - it depends on the current need for nurses there. The worse they need em, the more likely it will be that you could find such an arrangement.

The VA Hospital pays student loans up to 44,000 for 5 years for working certain positions

The VA Hospital pays student loans up to 44,000 for 5 years for working certain positions

Do you know the payment schedule for this? It just sounds too good to be true! If they would pay everything off up front, I would definitely do this... I know some hospitals will pay it out over so much time.

its over a 5 year period. lump sum of 5000 the first year and second, then 6000 third and fourth, then the remaining is paid. Don't quote me on the figures, but i do know it will add up to 44,000 in 5 years

its over a 5 year period. lump sum of 5000 the first year and second, then 6000 third and fourth, then the remaining is paid. Don't quote me on the figures, but i do know it will add up to 44,000 in 5 years

That sounds pretty good... I will have to check into that!!!

Does anyone know where in Texas any VA hospitals are located? Thank you!

Does anyone know where in Texas any VA hospitals are located? Thank you!

The only one I know of is in Dallas/Lancaster.

The only one I know of is in Dallas/Lancaster.

There's one in Houston.

And one in San Antonio, and one in Waco as well I believe - there are a number of them.

Heres the VA facility locator - there are also outpatient clinics in many areas as well.

http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

HRSA also has a loan repayment program, I am not familiar with all of the specifics - but here is the link

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm

fort sam houston is where the basic training for medical personel is. but at www.vacareers.gov you can find out where there is one and if they have nursing positions available in any va anywhere in the country. as i mentioned previously, the va offers a very attractive benefit package if you can get in and stay. once you are permanent, it is almost impossible to be forced out. in addition,once you are permanent, you can transfer to any other government agency to make a change in your career, if you wish.

Read the fine print of the contracts carefully. Although it sounds like a fabulous idea, it is not always the wisest choice.

Generally, if a facility is paying for nursing school up-front, they often have a dire need for nurses - TRANSLATED AS the hospital is chronically short-staffed, has crummy managers/schedules/benefits/ etc. and they can't keep people there and you will likely be unhappy. In which case you could be horribly miserable or very worried about keeping your nursing license if you work there. And when you try to leave and break the contract, they can kill you with outrageous fee repayment schedules. I've seen one person who was expected to pay back $20K as a lump sump within a couple months of leaving the job. And the hospitals generally do sue people for the money, ruin credit, etc. if you default on the contract or repayment schedule.

Then there are always the unexpected things in life that happen to us all. So even if the hospital was great to work for - even 2years can be a long time to be locked into a contract when the one you love is transferred, you meet someone and marry and they are transferred, your family has chronic illness/death occur and you need to move back home, etc.

Look at the big picture and be honest with yourself. It is better to get loans that do not restrict your ability to move, transfer positions, etc. than to be stuck in an unhappy or unsafe situation because you were not able to leave that job. And yes, even 2 years sounds like nothing but believe me - it is a LONG time when you are actually locked into that time period with no chance for a reprieve.