Nursing Student Uniforms!

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · May 30, 2008

If there are any thrift shops in your area, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army or so forth, check with them before you buy any uniforms.Same for consignment stores. There's always the possibility that you might luck up and find something there. Keep checking back until you actually have to order the uniform.

Do you have to buy a particular shoe? If not, shop around, and look for sales. Try to get the best pair you can afford, your feet will thank you.

TB test and Hepatitis shot: check with your local health department to see if you can get them there for less. If you're a surg tech, have you already had the Hepatitis series? If so, you won't need to repeat. For your physical, see if you can find a clinic that sees patients on a sliding scale basis (they charge based on your income). There are also dental clinics that see patients on this basis as well. Dental schools, if there is one near you, might also be sources of less-expensive dental exams.

Does the school require a particular stethoscope? Again, shop around. Look on the internet, including ebay.

Check out carpooling possibilities with classmates. If you can't do this before starting, look into it after classes start. Most of your classmates will probably be as motivated as you are to save gas money.

This might be a really good time to have a garage sale and/or pick up a temporary summer job!!

Good luck!

wannabenurse25 · May 31, 2008

I know exactly what you mean - I think for uniforms I paid $218 not including shoes. I wAs completely amazed with the cost of everything. Books were another thing.....ugh! Almost $600 for summer reading books and then another $300 in the fall. I realize education is priceless and the things it takes to obtain that education do not come cheap...but seriously without a huge nest egg, paying for all of it without going into debt is almost impossible.

MachewRN · May 31, 2008

Just wait til you buy books. My first semester they were $1000. Second they were only:wink2: $700.

surgtech2rn · Jun 1, 2008

I am taking summer a few summer classes now and I couldnt believe the price of books! The nursing books are at least 3 times as much as my prereq books were. I think I am having a yard sale next weekend to see if I can get some money out of that to help pay for all the expenses.

Noryn · Jun 2, 2008

It has been over 10 years for me but I remember people saying, "I dont know how young people make it now" when I was in college. I have gotten so old in the past 10 years but I truly have that same question now.

I cannot understand how any young person or someone working for minimum wage can afford anything. I took a 3 hour class this past semester and I figured it would be 300-400 dollars. Ha! About 700 dollars (undergrad too). Book was 100. Gas is just ridiculous.

I think you can find a cheaper stethoscope for about 15 dollars at any medical shop. Wait until you are almost out to buy a good Littmann. But the other costs, wow. Try to use the health department when you can, although to be honest I had a ppd a few months back and I think I paid nearly 15-20 dollars.

redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN · Aug 17, 2008

Clinical sites require you to have health insurance before you are allowed on site and you have to pay 4months at a time $100

Okay this has me wondering, is it a specific kind of health insurance, or if you are covered by your spouse's employer's insurance are you okay?

cpnegrad07 · Aug 17, 2008

Jeez--i bad-mouth Excelsior but this part makes them look good! :rolleyes:

surgtech2rn · Aug 17, 2008

Okay this has me wondering, is it a specific kind of health insurance, or if you are covered by your spouse's employer's insurance are you okay?

This is just student insurance made available to us through our nursing program.

The clinical sites just want you to have insurance. So I think whether it be through your spouses work or you purchase it privately either will be ok.

Hands&Feet · Aug 18, 2008

It's crazy! This semester I paid more for books and the supply bag, which includes a stethescope than I did for tuition ($~1000 vs. $811+lab fees). Uniforms - $170, and I didn't get the optional warming jacket, Titers - $500. We are covered by the school's malpractice insurance, though.

Hopefully I'll get a decent paying job when I graduate, because I'll be spending the first few years getting out of debt!

djc1981 · Aug 18, 2008

Yikes! Where do you all go (if you don't mind) that things are this pricey?

CrazyCookie · Aug 26, 2008

I applied for the Heaps Grants and was approved and also applied for the Pell grant....through https://fafsa.ed.gov/ These are grants that do not have to be repaid.

And I've found scrubs at the Dollar Store that are really reasonable priced!

For the nursing program I have enrolled in, we are required to wear blue ones, have white shoes, (which my white nikes are sufficient, they are like clogs that I've seen other nurses wear), and to have a watch with a second hand...(still gotta purchase that).....

I've gotten my tb test done at the health dept. which was free....

Now the Hep B. shots I must get done at the dr's office -

My physical is up to date.

Thankfully I have a medical card cause I do not have insurance at the moment.