Financing nursing school

Nursing Students General Students

Published

This is my first post. I apologize if this is in the wrong place. I have some questions about Nursing schools & how to finance them. Also I am have not studied in years. Now many years &4 children later I am going back. My husband is not hapy about my decision, but school here I come. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lisa,

A good place to start is the financial aid office of the school (s) you are interested in. There is money available for you to go to school, although much of it is in the form of student loans. However, if you do not already have a degree in another subject then you will be eligible for state grants.

I'm not sure what area of the country you are in, but if there are any diploma programs through hospitals in your area check with them. Many hospitals will pay for your nursing courses provided you agree to work for them for a predetermined length of time (usually 2 years). There are not many diploma programs left in many states...

Good luck! If you have any other ?? feel free to email me.

Tonya

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Tanya, I just want to say thank you for the response. I am going to check with the two local hospitals here and see what they have to offer. Are you currently a student now? What program? LPN, RN, ASN, BSN? I am trying to get into the BSN, but the Gen Ed classes are rediculous. English and math I think are silly I did this in high school, but oh well. I want this degree very much so I do anything that I have to do. ( I am in Indiana by the way where r u from)

Thank you again

Lisa

:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lisa,

I am in an ADN program in Pennsylvania. I already have a bachelor's degree and it's nearly impossible to get money for a second bachelors so I decided on this route. Eventually I want to get my BSN, but I figure I'll wait until I am working as a nurse and have my employer pay for it. :)

Tonya

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lisa, I am doing the same thing as Tonya. Because this is my 2nd degree, there is not much help for students like us. I just keep a full time job and a weekend job to pay for my school and city living. Will let my future employer pay for my BSN and higher ed. Many of my friends taking this route.

I am sure you would do well in school. Hopfully your husband will soon be supportive of your new decision. I wish you smooth sailing from here!

Christina

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Lisa!

I am also in Indiana and I go to Ivy Tech. I am in the LPN program. All of my schooling has been paid for, but I will have to get a loan for summer. I have Pell Grants and Indiana Higher Education Grants and apply for anything and everything I can, because if it wasn't for Financial Aid, I wouldn't be able to go to school.

As far as which way to go, I chose the LPn program because I am a "want it now" type of person, and waiting 4 yrs to get my RN seemed a lifetime away for me. I am going to get my Rn, but I wanted to be able to work while I was going to school to get it. Some folks feel otherwise, so that is a personal decision you have to make on your own.

The best of luck to you and know in your heart that you want this, and it will come!

Julie:)

PS Oh! And by the way... I am proof that you can do it. I still have 5 children at home (4 mine and a niece) and just turned 39, so if I can, I know you can! Go for it!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Good idea to check with your Fin. Aid office, also after January 1st you can fill out the FAFSA form to see what you qualify for. Also go to Fastweb and enter your information, maybe there are some scholarships that you could qualify for even with a bachelors already. Also I recently heard of a site called scholarshipcoach.com.

As for the KIDS.. I really give you guys a lot of credit with young kids and being in nursing school.. I wanted to enter nursing school several years ago but didn't.

Now my boys are 12, 13 and 19, the oldest is in college. Right now it's nice since I'm doing the prereq's and getting a lot of the classes out of the way as many as I can before clinicals. It seems like it takes forever !

I'm actually thinking about transferring to an LPN school, find a job and get the RN, then I want to finish a bachelor in psych, I love psych, and you can't do much with it but I'm hoping it will help with treating the overall patient.

Sorry this got so long. If you have any questions about Fin. Aid, I used to work for a college in the Fin. Aid office while taking classes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, Lisa. Welcome.

A lot of us are embarking on second, or even third careers, and have kids, so we know how you're feeling.

As far as finance, the school financial aid office is helpful. Also, check into your state. Maryland offers grants for up to 3k a year for any full-time nursing student, as long as you agree to work in the state for every semester you use money. Not bad, if you don't plan to go anywhere. You have to pay it back, otherwise. It is not needs based, which is good for middle of the road people-not rich, not poor.

Also, if you and your husband belong to a credit union, you might get a great deal on a low interest student loan. Sometimes they're lower rates than the government loans.

Check with Fastweb.com. You enter info and they come up with scholarships and grants. It's free, and though I didn't find it terribly helpful, they did list a lot of scholarships I would never have thought of-like grants and scholaships based on hobbies, associations and where you went to high school.

Good luck.

Kathy

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am going to try all the resourses that was mentioned. As far as getting my Lpn first, I don't know if that would be for me. Yes I would love to get it done asap, but I do not wat to work in the Nursing home. From what I understand a LPN in Indiana has limited options. I thank everyone for all of their help. I a very grateful for all the support.

Lisa

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lisa~

About LPN's in Indiana having limited options... I don't think so. There are LPN's everywhere you look here! Hospitals, Dr's offices, clinics, AND nursing homes. How about Home Health Nurses?

All of these areas have LPN's in them, and darn good ones!:)

Good Luck in your search! Hope I helped a little bit!

Julie:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lisa~

About LPN's in Indiana having limited options... I don't think so. There are LPN's everywhere you look here! Hospitals, Dr's offices, clinics, AND nursing homes. How about Home Health Nurses?

All of these areas have LPN's in them, and darn good ones!:)

Good Luck in your search! Hope I helped a little bit!

Julie:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry guys!

Hit the button one too many times!

:eek:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment