Paying For Crna School

[ashfost]

Hello all. Im hoping that I am posting this question in the correct place. If not, mod, please move it to the best location. THANX! Ok, heres the question, I am a nursing student that wants to continue on to become a CRNA. Ok, we all know CRNA school is expensive. Ive scoured these forums over and over again and looking at all of the different ways people are paying for their education. So I've decided there are two ways I can go : 1) ::crosses fingers:: attend Northeastern in Boston and save all my pennies while working for a year and live on a TIGHT budget. or 2) join the military and let them pick up the tab, however work for them for 4.5 years. I have always wanted to live in boston yet i really don't mind military life. (well, i guess i could get used to moving around and being possibly deployed but the pay for CRNA's in the military really isn't all that great. But I guess the longer you're in the more you get paid, right?) Has anyone been faced with these decisions and if so, what did you decide? Do you regret it? And if ANYONE has any more info on military nursing, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[ashfost, BSN, RN]

LOL, i love these soap boxes. keep 'em comin! :chuckle

[William_SRNA]

Jewelcut is right there is a way and money is the last thing you need to worry about. I believe Kevin took a stipend before he started at Newman if he could give the pros and cons that would be nice.

Regardless of whether you want to work like a mule and save before school, or take out loans to get you through school (every individual is different, one way is not the best for everyone), the main point is..... you will be able to get school paid for. Don't worry about not becoming a CRNA becasue you couldn't pay tuition and living. It is good to have a plan to save, but don't go crazy, school is stressful enough and you don't want to live like a rat for more than 2 1/2 years anyway. Some of us didn't have the luxury of saving thousands of dollars (some of us were finishing degrees while working full time up until school started which = no savings). Do I let it bother me that I took out a lot of loans? No, I have the money I need to survive and I don't live off of ramon noodles. You will soon learn in school what things are worth stressing about and what things are not worth even a thought. And you won't be living poor to pay off loans when you're done either. Getting off of MY soapbox now......

[gasgiver]

My school is public. The same information is offered at public and private institutions...

Reply in general.....

About the stipend, as the salaries go up while you are in school your starting salary also goes up. They are aware that you are not naive and unintelligent enough to sign that kind of contract

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

Jewelcutt, I feel the same way. I'm not up to the stress of living poor while I do this whole challenging program. And I want to take care of my body so I can enjoy life when I'm done - not abuse it living on mac and cheese and ramen noodles. We're not going on any tropical vacations or anything, but my husband and I do intend to do this with a reasonable amount of comfort.

[tarheel]

gasgiver, would you mind offering a brief breakdown of how you got to where you are now chronologically with regards from starting school to get your RN to BSN to work experience and the different areas/field you worked. I just started an ADN program here in NC and may transfer to a BSN program. NC has five CRNA schools to apply to and it would be greatly appreciated to gain a little on the learning curve from someone who's been there and is where he is now. TIA And any additional advice/recommendations is welcomed

For example or however you prefer

1998-2000 : RN school

2 years - med-surg

6 mnths - icu

2002-2003 : BSN school

3 and 1/2 years - icu

applied to CRNA school

etc., etc.

[gasgiver]

Sure,

Graduated HS 1995

Three years at a local community college 95-98 graduated with a AA and AAS

Transferred to WCU in the metropolis of Cullowhee, graduate 2000

ER 2000-2001 Great experience (will not count for school)

CTSU 2001-2005 (A1 experience and for some reason schools like it, I believe because of the numerous invasive lines)

Apply, Apply, Apply

I would stay away from floor nursing. One, it sucks, and two you do not need it..... People will argue that it will help build your skills.... BS!!!! By the time I transferred patients to the floor from the ER I had already placed IV's, Foley etc.... Also get as many certs as you can CCRN, (ACLS, BLS, PALS) instructor.... I was also a teacher at the clinical level..... Hope this help.... Sorry about the improper grammer, this is the only place I can lay back and not have to worry about that crap....

[tarheel]

Mil gracias, gasgiver. Pardon my naivity, what is A1?

[gasgiver]

A1= primary, primo, excellent etc....

[tarheel]

Doh!:imbar Thanks again.

[robertesteele]

Ashfrost,

I too am looking for different ways to pay for CRNA school. I start in August and so far I have put all my savings into a home, so I don't have a lot saved up for school. Fortunately we turned our home into a duplex so we can rent out half while in school and it should pay for the majority of the mortgage. I have looked at either getting loans to pay for school or joining the army reserves. The reserves looks pretty good so far. I would get $1,900.00 dollars every month while in school and then they pay $50,000.00 tuition reimbursement when you finish school. The drawback is you owe them 6 years of service after you finish school and I kind of want to move around a lot and I don't know how that will work. I was also given a sheet from my school with a bunch of free scholarship search sites to use. So far it is just writing a bunch of 500 word essays on why I deserve a scholarship. Some of them are a waist of time or are only for a few hundred dollars, but I had a friend who said she spent a month doing that in her spare time and was able to get about $20,000.00 in scholarships, so I will try that as well. I would like to know more about agreeing to work at a hospital after and having them pay for school. If anyone has more information on that. I think you will be doing great if you work and save before school. If you do travel nursing and you are the type that can save money then do it. I wouldn't stress yourself to death about it, but I think you can live modestly and save a lot of money. I mean I know I lived modestly while going to nursing school and I was still able to have a lot of fun. Good luck. I think you will do great.

[MBARN]

I will be around 53 if I do get accepted to CRNA with a child going to college. All I can hope to do is pay down my

current debt as much as possible. Agencies aren't hiring much and hospitals aren't giving any overtime so it is difficult to work a lot to save. I say take out a loan so you can be comfortable while going to school and just focus on school. Work a year or 2 and pay off your loans then start to save for other things. I don't plan to retire so I plan to work as long as I can after I graduate, assuming I keep my health and nothing tragic happens. Anything can happen but if you let that stop you from going forward, you will never do anything!