Is their a way i can get a hospital to pay for nursing school

Fribblet · Nov 23, 2011

No hospital is going to pay for a volunteer to go school, and some tuition reimbursement programs require you to be in an actual program (each program is different), so they likely would not reimburse you for your pre-requisite corses.

With the economy in the crapper, and the government cutting education, even state schools are costing a small fortune to attend. Unless you have rich parents, or are willing to go into the military, don't count on getting out debt-free.

Also, I'd work on your writing skills. Entrance essays are important. Also, start looking for scholarships, but be aware you're probably going to have to do a lot of writing to get them as well.

Also, try using Google and doing some research. There may be special programs specific to your state that we're not aware of. Your advisor at school should be able to help you as well.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

It was more possible several years ago than it is today. The economy is tight and there's tons of unemployed nurses looking for work, so it's not as though facilities have a shortage of applicants for their nursing jobs.

Some facilities will spring for part/all of our nursing school tuition in exchange for X number of years' work after graduation. Those facilities are few and far between and are decreasing in number thanks to the factors I gave above. However they normally don't pay for pre-req classes, and if you don't like where you're working after graduation and leave before your commitment is up, you will have to pay them back the tuition.

79Tango · Nov 23, 2011

I wouldnt exactly count on the military either.. They are drawing down and have gotten extremely selective.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Nov 23, 2011

The hospital i work for does tuition reimbursement for full time employees. I don't think it matters which role you are in. See if the hospital you volunteer at has such a program. Then you have to score a full time job as a nursing assistant, get into nursing school and manage a full time job and nursing school at the same time. - oh and hope the amount of money offered my the hospital will cover your tuition.

beckster_01, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

Mine does tuition reimbursement for full-time employees as well. The catch is that they only have MSN programs and an accelerated BSN program, and you must have a Bachelor's degree in order to get accepted. Another hospital in the area has tuition reimbursement, but its something like $1500/year. You could always contact the HR departments of various hospitals you are interested in and find out what their policies are.

allnurses Guide · Nov 23, 2011

The hospital I work for has tuition reimbursement for full time employees. It is nice and fairly generous but still does not cover the entire cost.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

you don't say whether you are actually in nursing school now or whether you plan to go and pay with loans. either way, your school has a guidance department, and if you are in a college, there is a financial aid office. either of those will have lists of scholarship and grant opportunities for people who met the criteria for them. these could be academic standing or other status or accomplishment. one scholarship fund in my state offers full tuition to a maritime college for children of fishermen from one town, for example. if you are a good volunteer at the hospital, the volunteer organization may have scholarship money available. it will not pay your entire school costs. you will have to give evidence of effort towards those yourself.

this will take some serious work on your part. do not expect that someone will give you a free ride-- or even a partial one-- just because you ask. i agree with the poster that recommended you work on your writing skills-- ask at your school for direction to resources for that-- because you are going to have to write essays for the applications, and so far, dear, the skills you show here will not keep your apps at the top of the pile. better writing skills will also be critical to success in nursing school, because you will have to do a lot of documentation and term papers. better grades translate into better opportunities for scholarships and grants.

i once headed an organization that awarded scholarships to undergraduates with particular needs; as the president, i got the thank-you letters every year. some of them would make you weep. every single one let us know how the educational support brought the student closer to a goal-- in some cases, it was helping to support younger siblings, or take a burden off elderly parents, or set up a business to pay off other loans, or just to get a kid through school with no other means of support at all.

what's your story? what are you doing?

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

The one in my hometown does it. They take applications for a program, and then pay the person's tuition, fees, books, and other expenses related to nursing school. The downside is that you owe them a given number of years of service, and it seems excessive compared to the actual cost of school (college isn't that expensive here). Additionally, that hospital pays about $3.00/hour less to nurses than many other area hospitals, and people that go through that program are put to work. There's no picking a unit. A buddy of mine did that when we graduated high school. This was back when I used to make fun of guys that were nurses. Now, I'm in nursing school. Blah. Anyway, he got stuck working in med-surg right off the bat which he hated, but nobody else wanted it and he was a free body. Also, he couldn't pass the RN test so they made him take the LPN test and do that work in that capacity until he finally passed the RN. Then he was moved to rehab which he hated. Then he was sent to a telemetry room which he liked because it sat in a tiny room by himself looking at computer screens and never did anything. Then he got married, quit his job finally completing his period of indentured service, and moved so his wife could go to work at Walmart HQ. I lost track of him after that, but I think she got laid off recently. I think they both live with his folks now, and he probably works at a nursing home or something. Just a guess. He never was a go getter.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

Have you searched these boards and noticed tha there are a ton of unemployed nurses out there? You can check with the financial aid office at school, tuition reimbursement pays only a portion, but a free ride??? Highly unlikely.

I just don't get it....the worse economic times since the depression and an over saturated nursing market does not add up to a free ride AND to a good college...... :cool:

What the heck? Is it just me that doesn't get it?

fernrs · Nov 23, 2011

Although no one wants to pay 1000's of dollars back, it is the reality. You cannot get something for free, you have to work for it and earn it. Something you will learn very quickly is research, do RN's know everything, no, can you find out sure.. Posting a question on a forum is not research and if you really want it you will have to work for it. I highly doubt you can attend school without any out of pocket expense but there are programs out there that can assist you.

How do you find out about these programs, be resourceful, visit your financial aid office, network, and look at hospital websites in you area and find out if they offer a program (like the one you mentioned).

Education is more than a path to a job, its investing in yourself. So if you think you do not want to pay back 1000's of dollars for your education then think about where you are willing to put your money. If the nursing student graduates and has a job they will have no problem buying a brand new car, but paying for their education is a problem. I'm not directing this just at you but so many young students want something for nothing.

Do your research and work hard so that your student debt is manageable, free rides are highly unlikely.

Jenni811, RN · Nov 23, 2011

You and millions of other students!!! You are in NO situation that is different from anyone else going into nursing school.

Do you honestly think i payed for nursing school in cash and had no loans when i was done with school?

Nope. I took out loans for 5 years at a PRIVATE college. i have almost 50,000 in debt, no joke. It is something we ALL go through. Just becuase you "don't want loans" doesn't mean a hospital is going to pay nursing school for you. none of us "want loans" but we all have them, we all go through it....so you are no different than anybody else. Therefore, no hospital is going to pay for your nursing school. Its just the reality of it, sorry.