Why is nursing school so expensive!?

[jwillnyc]

Hello, all!

I'm a new poster here and have been an EMT in NY and NJ since 2015. I've traveled abroad to Central America and Haiti and have worked a few "adventure" courses since my certification. I love working one-on-one with patients and suggesting best practices for self-care and better health.

In 2016, I decided to begin pursuit of a FOURTH degree (I already hold an A.A.S., B.Tech and M.S. in digital tech and comm) and I'm currently paying out of pocket for BSN pre-req courses. I am a bit worried after researching RN schools in the NY/NJ area and seeing that accelerated BSN programs can cost upwards of $125k (NYU)!!!

Any suggestions on scholarships or repayment programs? I'm currently looking at the Navy Nurse Candidate Program (NCP) and a few federal repayment programs.

For those 2nd career nurses, how do you manage the debt?

[Ms.Fit.Morgan]

@AngellKissed857 May I ask if you are in SoCal or NorCal? I'm doing prereqs at GWC in Huntington Beach as a mature student, and am 1) worried ADN will not be enough to get a job and 2) very scared about the potential cost to get a BSN from CalState. I moved here from Canada last year (so if I ever moved back I'd need a BSN to practice) and I'm still figuring out the system now that I'm an official resident. Any advice or info you can provide on how to get BSN costs lowered or covered? Or am I looking at 30+k to get a BSN here?

[AngelKissed857, BSN, RN]

I'm in Northern California, SF Bay Area. You are definitely going to need a BSN. I'm also an older student, and there are a few ways to get this paid for. Easier if we just spoke on the phone- do you want to pm me, I'll give you my number?

[Ms.Fit.Morgan]

Looks like pm is disabled pm until I start more topics. Would love more info though!

[AngelKissed857, BSN, RN]

I pm'ed yoh

[jwillnyc]

Not seeing it. Maybe because I'm a new member?

[jwillnyc]

A little update on this - I've decided to become an PCT (Patient Care Tech) and land something with a hospital that will help subsdize some of the cost. I see it as a win-win - I get the hands on experience and an employeer who'll help cover some of the cost.

[jwillnyc]

Nice! Thanks for the insight!

[Rocketskates]

I went to community college and, all said and done my cost was about $6000 (books included). My employer reimbursed me (contingent upon passing grades, staying with the company for a year) so my net cost was actually nothing. My school and its ADN program hung its hat on having a higher first-time pass rate for the NCLEX than the nationwide average for BSN programs - a major point to consider when shopping for schools. One reason why a couple of my nurse coworkers endorsed the community college route is because it pays professors less than big name schools, so you know they're not in it for the glory of working at a big name school and so they're more likely in it for the love of teaching. While the rationale seemed to have some merit, I still had professors who, to me at the time, portrayed the devil incarnate quite well; that said, I cannot endorse the notion that community college professors have more passion about their jobs, but I can cosign on their programs being affordable and of sound quality.

About your prospects of getting a hospital job in NY/NJ when you're "fresh out" I can tell you that I have quite a few classmates who were able, they just had to agree to finish a BSN within 5 years. Consider checking job vacancy boards for your local hospitals and asking people who actually work there what they've encountered. Another good source is Bureau of Labor Statistics, which will give you an idea of which way the workforce is headed: Registered Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Best of luck!