A real gift

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I applied to a nursing program last month, and will find out if I am accepted in April. I have an inside source who tells me I stand a good chance of being accepted. The school I am applying to requires that I get a physical, a rubella vaccine, a tetnus/dep vaccine, 3 hep B's, and a TB test prior to entering the program. It appears with the Heb B vaccine it takes 6 months to get all three so I have to start now or even if I am accepted I will be administratively cut from the program at success camp for not having completed the series.

Anyway, today I called my Dr. to schedule an appointment to get it all done. I was told that because what I needed was not because of ill health, or routine health care my insurance wouldn't cover it. I asked how much it would cost, and was told that the physical could run anywhere from $400 to $600 depending on what was required, and the TB tests, and shots would cost around $300. Thats between $700 to $900 dollars. My jaw dropped, and I saw another big brick wall because I can't afford that.

I take my children to my old pediatrician who I went to while growing up. He is really old, but just as wonderful. He still call's me "baby girl" when I take the kids to see him. When I was little I used to play sick just to go to his office. I would tell his wife (who was also his nurse) that one day I would be just like her. I have told him that his, and his wifes presence in my early years is one of the factors that had encouraged me to enter nursing. Well I thought maybe he would give me a price break, and/or allow me to pay it all out since we have a long history. To make a long story short I called him, and told him I needed a physical, tb test, and all of those shots, and asked him how much he would charge me.

Guess What??????

He told me to come tomorrow with my shot records, and physical forms, and I owe him nothing.

Now I did go to church for the first time in 15 years last weekend, and I do believe in the kindess of people, and I don't know what brought about this miracle, but I am so appreciative.

Another brick wall just crumbled right out of the way. Thank you...thank you...thank you. These sorts of wonderful things are what make life so great.

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That is really awesome!!! Thanks for sharing your good fortune.:yeah:

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Specializes in Wannabe NICU Nurse.

That's great!! Truly a blessing! Best of luck to you, did you apply to Brookhaven again?

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Specializes in ICU.

See, there are still good people in this world!

It is all going to go your way this time, I can feel it!!

Kim

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

I went yesterday, and got it done. My butt is really sore!!!! I got a tet/dip, mmr, hep b, and a tb test. My physical form is all filled out, and its says I am good to go. I just have to go back tomorrow and show them my arm, but you can't even see where they did the tb test so thats good. I go back in 2 months for the 2nd hep b, and get the last one is July. It just works out perfect as I needed the series complete by Aug. Now all that is left is to sign up for a one day CPR class, and get that requirment out of the way. I am divided between waiting until April 24 to make sure I get in or taking now (because after all its a two year certification, and it's good to know regardless.)

I do hope things go my way this time. If they do I will be ready. I was really shocked at how much my normal Dr's office was going to charge for my physical/shots, and how my insurance wouldnt pay for it. Has anyone else run into this. We are talking almost a $1000, and personally I didn't have it. If it weren't for the kindness of my old ped I would have been in real trouble. I would hate to think that the inability to pay for medical costs keep some people from getting into nursing school. Thats would be too ironic for words.

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Specializes in Wannabe NICU Nurse.

Yeah I think it would, but I think more for older students because some of immunizations weren't required or strongly recommended. I'm a younger student so I got all of those immunizations as a kid. But that is a PRICEY price tag, nursing school is already expensive. lol You should have went to the school health clinic they give shots at a MUCH cheaper rate, at least I know El Centro does.

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Specializes in Pediatric ED.
I asked how much it would cost, and was told that the physical could run anywhere from $400 to $600 depending on what was required,

Whoa! I don't have insurance but my physical only cost $85 at the health clinic.

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Specializes in CNA/Nursing Student.

It is so wonderful to hear that there are still caring people like that in healthcare who put their patients/friends before making money. Good luck in nursing school!

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WOW! That really is a wonderful gift! You must have an incredible future as a nurse for God to want to provide for you so miraculously! :yeah:

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
I was really shocked at how much my normal Dr's office was going to charge for my physical/shots, and how my insurance wouldnt pay for it. Has anyone else run into this. We are talking almost a $1000, and personally I didn't have it. If it weren't for the kindness of my old ped I would have been in real trouble. I would hate to think that the inability to pay for medical costs keep some people from getting into nursing school. Thats would be too ironic for words.

A lot of folks find alternatives....either they go to county or local health clinics, get as much as they can done at a campus health clinic for reduced costs, etc. I know I've seen many posts on this through the past couple of years...probably if you do a search on immunizations you can find more info.

Also, in our program there was no way one could be done with some immunization series by the start of classes in the time we were notified that we needed them. Therefore, we were permitted to start classes with the series underway, and then had to provide proof as we went along that we were getting them done.

Good luck all!!

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I think thats the way our program used to be....that you just had to have the series underway when you started. They must have had problems with it because when I checked the website out after they updated it for the new semester it had changed.

It now says that the Hep B series needs to be started PRIOR to even submitting an application because it takes 6 months to get them all. I also had to submit a form which I signed with my application stating if choosen, and not having the series completed by success camp (which is a couple of weeks before the start of school) then I would be administratively dropped from the program.

I am lucky because the time frame between spring and fall semester is a little bit longer so I was able to get them all in even though I started 2 weeks after submitting my application. I get the last one the end of July, and I need them complete by the first of Aug so it was really close.

I checked out my local health department and here is what they charge for shots......

Hep B (3 injection series) $150

MMR $55

Tdap $30

Tb skin test $25

Varicella $85

Chest x-ray if needed $60

And a once a year office fee of $25

So it would have cost $285 for my shots at the health clinic, but they do NOT do physicals. I thought I the price my Dr. office charged for the physical was way too much also. $400-$650 for a physical? My ped simply looked in my eyes, ears, nose mouth, and listened to my chest and back. Then he had me twist, touch my toes, took my height, weight, BP, felt around on my stomach, and that was it. I hardly think that is worth $400-$650.

I do know that medical care is expensive here in Dallas/Fort Worth. A couple of years ago I didn't have insurance, and had an infected spider bite that I needed simply looked at, and antibiotics. The absolute cheapest office visit I could get was $120 to just be seen. That doesn't include any additional work, tests, etc. That price is just to walk in the door.

I have insurance now and never thought about them not paying for my shots/physical for nursing school. I just assumed they would, but they looked at it as something that I was electing to have and not something I required for health care reasons.

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