Dept. of Health and Human Serivces loan repayment

brownrice · Dec 2, 2005

Hi Serpico:

I checked with one of these such clinics in m y area...the Northwest, and here's the sccop: Pay for a starting NP is $55,000. You work for 2 years and loans can be repaid up to 50,000. They will hire new grads. Hope this helps!

cgfnp · Dec 5, 2005

Hi All-
I am beginning a Entry-level MSN-FNP program soon and I was looking into the program through the Dept. of Health and Human Services where you work in a underserved community for 2 years and they pay up to $50K in student loans. Does anyone have experience or advice regarding this? I have looked on the website and there seems to be lots of jobs but do they pay well? I have done a search and read other posts on this but I am looking for more input.
Thanks in advance.

There's also a catch... the money you get from them is treated as income and taxed! What a bunch of BS, eh? (I'm assuming this is the same program as the one I've read where they'll pay 60% of your loans if you work for 2 years in rural, or 85% for 3 years).

brownrice · Dec 5, 2005

Yes, CGFNP, it is treated as income unfortunately!!

As a side note, I was wondering where you found your job out of school...you had mentioned in a previous post you had a unique situation and had found a very lucrative position. Had you considered the loan repayment program? Any other info to add?

cgfnp · Dec 6, 2005

Yes, CGFNP, it is treated as income unfortunately!!
As a side note, I was wondering where you found your job out of school...you had mentioned in a previous post you had a unique situation and had found a very lucrative position. Had you considered the loan repayment program? Any other info to add?

I had my job lined up before I even entered undergrad nursing major. I was about 6 mos from starting med school at the U of AZ when a dr buddy of mine I'd known for several years talked me into moving back home and getting a FNP and working with/for him. Sucked because I had to go backwards in undergrad to get a BSN which I hated, had to work as RN which I hated, had to get a MSN which I hated, but saved me about 4 years and $900,000 overall counting lost wages and tuition/interest. It was, as the Godfather once said, an offer I could not refuse.

HealthyRN · Dec 6, 2005

I had my job lined up before I even entered undergrad nursing major. I was about 6 mos from starting med school at the U of AZ when a dr buddy of mine I'd known for several years talked me into moving back home and getting a FNP and working with/for him. Sucked because I had to go backwards in undergrad to get a BSN which I hated, had to work as RN which I hated, had to get a MSN which I hated, but saved me about 4 years and $900,000 overall counting lost wages and tuition/interest. It was, as the Godfather once said, an offer I could not refuse.

I'm just curious...do you now enjoy working as an FNP? Are you glad that you did not choose to go to med school?

brownrice · Dec 6, 2005

Hey CGFNP...

Thanks for the info. Sounds like you have a great deal as you knew the person you would be working with. That eliminates a lot of the bs right up front. It is also refreshing to hear someone not be afraid of saying they hated being an RN, and that their goal right up front was to be an FNP. This is my situation. I used to live in AZ, and I think Tucson is one of the best cities there! If I may pick your brain, what do you as a good way to position oneself being a new FNP grad in two years? I am already trying to figure out a place for myself. I love dermatology, but don't see myself working under a dermatologist long term. Thanks again for not being afraid to speak your mind!

cgfnp · Dec 7, 2005

I'm just curious...do you now enjoy working as an FNP? Are you glad that you did not choose to go to med school?

There are pros and cons about it. But for me, the pros are much stronger than the cons so I'm glad I did it this way. The med school route would've have taken me away from my 2 year old daughter for several years, and that's just not an option. I live and breathe for her.

cgfnp · Dec 7, 2005

Hey CGFNP...
Thanks for the info. Sounds like you have a great deal as you knew the person you would be working with. That eliminates a lot of the bs right up front. It is also refreshing to hear someone not be afraid of saying they hated being an RN, and that their goal right up front was to be an FNP. This is my situation. I used to live in AZ, and I think Tucson is one of the best cities there! If I may pick your brain, what do you as a good way to position oneself being a new FNP grad in two years? I am already trying to figure out a place for myself. I love dermatology, but don't see myself working under a dermatologist long term. Thanks again for not being afraid to speak your mind!

Get your resume out early on the web, and contact recruiters early. Use websites (npworld.us or npjobs.com or paworld.net). You'll have plenty to choose from if you do this. Get some experience in the field you want to be in while in school (best would be do a clinic rotation in the practice that wants to hire you).