I'll be graduating next may with a Clinical Nurse Leader degree...I have a bs in biology, too.........I don't care too much about salary as a new grad; I just need my loans paid off....anyone have advice on where to look? I've heard that with the shortage, certain places will pay back up to half... thanks!!

All I can suggest is calling around to see what each hospital is offering in terms of "packages." I don't think my hospital pays off loans..just pays your tuition if you work there while in school.

All I can suggest is calling around to see what each hospital is offering in terms of "packages." I don't think my hospital pays off loans..just pays your tuition if you work there while in school.

:yeahthat:

I called a lot of hospitals and they each have different packages. You can apply for them your last year in nursing school. Some require x amount of years working at their hospital, and some give you a dollar amount for each year you work there for up to so many years. Call the hospital and ask for the nurse recruiter. Also don't forget if you have a perkins loan you can send in a letter saying you are working as a nurse and they will subtract that years payment from your account. You can do that every year until your Perkins loan is 0.

Pumpkin,

Can you please explain this perkins loan stipulation for nurses? Are you saying that regardless of where you work as a nurse, that you can submit that yearly and not have to pay back the perkins loan? thanks for the clarification

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/repaying_loans/2003_2004/english/loan-discharge-cancellation.htm

This is the website that explains who is eligible for discharge and what phone number to call if you have any questions. I am not sure, but I think you just have to work in an area where there is a nursing shortage. I know about this b/c my mother works in law enforcement which is another field where you can get your loan cancelled. She explained to me that she sends a letter each year to let them know she is still in law enforcement and they excuse her payments for that year. Her loan is almost completely gone now. Hope that helps.

Here is another government program I found that says it will pay for your up to 60% of your loans if you work 2 years in a critical shortage facility. I'm afraid I don't know anything about this one though, so you may have to do more research.

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

Perkins loan cancellation not dependant upon working in a nursing shortage area; if you are an RN, it gets cancelled.

Awesome!! Thanks for the clarifications. This is definitely something very good to know.

Sadly, masters students aren't eligible for perkins loans!! Even though I'll be a bedside new grad with a masters, i can't get that type or assistance or repayment!!