Desperate !!

Published

If there is anyone with any advice PLEASE advise me. I am currently in my last semester of school with a solid B. My last available to withdraw from school is October 13. If I withdraw now there is no assuarance that I may be able to return to my program if I withdraw since I withdrew once before during my 2nd semester. With that being said this is my situation. Im just about too ashamed to tell anyone. I am over the limit for financial aid. It has been a struggle for me to keep my grades up so during the third semester I quit my job, I absolutely had to make a choice and I probably made the wrong choice by choosing school. Well long story short my bills are paid up until the end of this month, at which point I will be homeless. My situation is so bad that one of my class mates has been giving me gas money just so I can make it to class and clinicals. Ive lost 20 lbs since the beginning of the semester because I basically eat crackers and potatoes and take vitamins. I have gone to apply for any type of aid but because I dont have kids i basically cant get anything. I spent every dime to my name to pat the last semesters tuition and books. I attempted to apply for a loan but because I dont have a job the bank wont give me one. My family is not such that I can go stay with someone. Can anyone just give me some sound advice. I thought about withdrawing and just going back to work and reapply in a year or so when my situation is better or doing something else all together that would allow me to work and go to school. My absolute passion is nursing. I think that just trying to make it until December in this situation will be to my demise ! Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you all for taking the time to read this long vent.

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Do you live in an area where they have a big nursing shortage? Maybe you could check with some of the hospitals in your area and see if they would give you any financial help or a monthly stipend. In return, they would have you sign a contract stating you would work for them x amount of years once you finish nsg. school. I had a friend that was in a similar situation as you are. She went to a local hospital (that had a big nsg. shortage), and explained her situation to them. I am not sure how much money they gave her, but she had enough to live on until she finished school!

I wish I had more ideas, but the things I thought of (friends, family and loans)you already mentioned would not be of any help to you! Well I hope you can find a way to make it through schooll! I know school is stressful enough, without having to worry about all these other issues! Good luck!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

If you have absolutely nothing as you say, then apply for welfare. You need to get in contact with some social service worker(s) for referral to community services. Many cities have little emergency funds to help their citizens get through a month or two of bills and such when they have fallen on hard times. I'm not exactly sure how you would make connection with a social service worker, but I would try by calling your local welfare department first and then the city services where you live. Do not quit school. You are too close to the end.

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Several ideas.

1) Talk to someone ASAP at the Salvation Army. They have a food bank there as well as emergency funds. I would think that they might have some options for you, especially since you are so close to graduating. The wrong thing to do is to quit when you are so close. Maybe you could even look into volunteering some time at a local chapter in some capacity, like taking blood pressures, etc. Who knows, maybe they have a loan program if you are willing to work at a chapter in the future?

2) Do you belong to a church? Talk to the priest/pastor re: your situation. Oftentimes there are emergency funds they can use or members that are willing to help.

3) Homeless shelters. Do you have one in your area? What area of the country do you live in?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

You must take of your most basic needs first which are food and shelter. If withdrawing from school is the only way that you can manage it at this time, then that is what you will have to do. However, I recommend that you go to your academic advisor or the dean of the school of nursing and explain it to them exactly as you have explained it to us. Ask them to note this on your record so that when you are in a better able to pursue your schooling, you can explain that you have resolved the issues which led to your withdrawing previously, and you are now in a position to complete your degree. I can't see why they shouldn't understand that. They may even be able to direct you to some resources which may lead to you being able to stay in school(but I wouldn't count on that).

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Some good suggestions have been offered. Is working at a hospital as a CNA or some similar part-time position and going to school part time an option? It'll take longer, but you'll have food and shelter. God bless you ...

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

What about a work-study program? I know many schools offer this. They will work around your class schedule and give you some money in your pocket. I hope everything works out for you!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I agree, go to your local hospitals and see if they have some financial aide programs/scholarship programs for you to finish and work for them after. I dont normally encourage those because who knows if you will actually WANT to work there afterward, but inyour situation i dont know that there is any other way.

Also i presume you mean when you are over your limit for financial aide, you mean federal financial aide? I think id pull out all the stops i could if you are only one semester from finishing. After you finish and get to work you wont ever have to be in this predicament again hopefully. Then maybe you can help another person having the same problem and "pay it forward" so to speak. Good luck,, hang in there.

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Keep us posted. We care about you ...

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

Check out this website. http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2005-2006/english/types-fed-workstudy.htm It may have something to help you out!

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

The above posters gave you some good advice. Please don't leave school, since your dire situation will greatly improve once you have your degree. Definately talk to someone. There are people out there who can help you.

Take care and keep us posted!

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Specializes in L&D, PACU.

Don't know how you feel about the armed forces, but there was a woman in our class who was having her schooling paid for, plus a 1,000.00 stiped per month all paid by the air force on the condition that she sign up as an officer when she was through. We had an army recruiter tell us that there was a 15,000.00 sign on bonus if you signed up with them. Again, I'm sure there's a committment of more than a year, but hey, they give you specialty training while you are in, and that is free!

Just at thought

(edited to add this...) Forgot to mention, the army sign on bonus is paid "immediately," then you finish out your schooling. (I know what immediately means to me, I'm not sure what immediately means to the army. grin)

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