CNA in community college or RN in university???

Check with local hospitals, many offer scholarships in return for a work commitment on graduation. There's many sites online you can search for scholarships http://www.fastweb.com and http://www.discovernursing.com are just two. Also check with the school you plan to attend and see if they offer any scholarships relevant to your situation (returning student, parent, etc). Also, as far as financial aid goes, have you filled out a FAFSA to see if you qualify for student grants or loans?

The benefit to doing the CNA first, I think, would be that you would have a skill where you could begin working quickly, decide if the nursing field is for you, and hopefully get some tuition reimbursement from your employer as well.

Good luck! :)

A friend of mine did it this way...she didn't have $$ either.

She got a job at a nursing facility & they trained her as a CNA. She worked there & went to school at a local community college & got her RN. Then she got a job at a hospital & they paid for her BSN, and later her MSN (she's a Nurse Practitioner now).

I'm strapped for cash too & have been taking classes at my community college in the evenings while I work. I took the CNA class that is required for entry into the nursing program & just got a job through a hospital as a dialysis technician. They'll completely pay for my nursing school. (woohoo!) Then after I get my ADN, I'll probably work for the same hospital (it's one of the best in my area) and have them pay for my BSN...and who knows, maybe even an MSN.

hmm...just wondering but your CNA program is 8 mths??? WOW! You could go to American Red Cross and they have CNA program thats 4 weeks...lol...just wondering if you knew that. (its only like $500-550) Just some food for thought. :)

Hi all,

I'm new member with a great desired to persued a Nursing career :)

my problem is, I don't have money and don't know how or where to start with the whole process of going back to school.

Can I go to a community college and finish in 8 months a CNA or should spend more time and go for 2 years for an RN???

also, anyone knows how to get a scholarships or where I can enrol for a free trainig in exchange of working commitment??

please guys, I need help, tips, suggestions will be very welcome

hampa

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First of all, CNAs do not make a lot of money. You can apply for financial aid at schools or loans to help you out with the RN program.

First of all, CNAs do not make a lot of money. You can apply for financial aid at schools or loans to help you out with the RN program.

Yes you are right, however I worked two registry jobs and make 42k.2003. Lots of hard work but sometimes you will make over the Fasfa cut off and you'll be screwed on Fasfa, unless you have a child or two.

Have you applied for financial aid (fafsa) yet? If not do that first thing--you can do it online and do is ASAP.

Marilyn

hmm...just wondering but your CNA program is 8 mths??? WOW! You could go to American Red Cross and they have CNA program thats 4 weeks...lol...just wondering if you knew that. (its only like $500-550) Just some food for thought. :)

I looked into the CNA program through our Red Cross before I was accepted to nursing school. It was $525, which you could get a scholarship for if you had the need, and it was either day or evening, 4 days a week for 4 1/2 weeks. A lot of the CNA's around here, experienced ones, can make upwards of $15 an hour.