[mhowell]

I am a 32 yr old mother of four (ages 5-17) and am considering going back to school for nursing. I live in the Mobile area and was wondering what is the best way to get started.

I am going to make some appts with the area colleges, but a friend said that some of the local hospitals will pay for your college if you sign with them upon graduation....do any of you know anything about these scholarship programs?

Any other helpful advice is also appreciated.

[semiller36545]

There was an article in the Press-Register yesterday or maybe Thursday about a new program between Bishop State and the Infirmary hospitals that does this. Starts this fall, I believe. Good luck !

[mhowell]

Thanks so much. I was able to pull it up online and read it.

God Bless

[gijoe_169]

I think it's great that you're wanting to do this! You need to prepare yourself mentally though, because nursing school is an emotional, physical, and intellectual challenge. Instructors expect you to go above and beyond and take it very seriously. Nursing as a profession is also very challenging. There are long hours, stressfull situations, and you use alot of your emotional energy tending to the emotional needs of your patients and their families. But, if you want to do it, then you'll be respected, loved, and indespensable. You'll go home each night from work knowing that you used your head, heart, and hands to comfort and heal. And you'll never regret it. As for the hospitals helping out, lots of them do that. You just need to go to the Human resources departments of the places you would like to work. You should also thoroughly research monies that you could get especially with your having kids (are you a single mother-if you are then you could get lots of money in government grants or federal aid). You need to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid). DO NOT NEGLECT TO DO THIS! RESEARCH ALL YOUR OPTIONS, PLEASE! During my undergrad I got like $8,500.00 a semester from student aid. I was single and didn't have any kids!!!!!!!!!! Not doing your homework will cost you THOUSANDS of dollars in aid you could get. The money is out there! I promise. Before you enroll, go talk to the financial aid person at the college where you are gonna go and get them to walk you through the FAFSA process (which you'll probably need to do the semester before you enroll in collge) If you're gonna start college in august, then get you're paperwork turned in the previous january (and vice versa). Also go to firstgov.gov and look around on there and do some research. There is a questionnaire on that site that asks you about your situation (marital status, kids, anything that you could get government money for). You answer all the questions (it's a few pages long but it's worth it) and it gives you all the possible grants, etc. that you might be eligible for so you can apply. You can also visit the FAFSA website and apply online, but you'll need your tax return papers from the previous year. If I can help you anymore, please let me know.