Full Ride Scholarship or Not? Advice needed!!

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Hello,

I have been accepted to a practical nursing program with my pre-req's completed along with half of my RN re-req's. This is a technical college ranked in the top five of the nation, it's an amazing program and I am more than ready to get started.

The only problem is that this last week I was interviewed for a scholarship that would be a full ride but only as far as my LPN and then either require three years of work, or to pay back a pro-rated amount. Now, the program is expensive, we all know that. Everything would be paid for by this clinic- scrubs, books, tuition, you name it. My goals, however, are to be an LPN for one year getting experience in Universal Pediatrics or my current Nursing Home and then complete my RN and work while getting my BSN a year later. Then I want to get everything in order to work on a cardiac unit of some sort, preferably the CVICU and work towards my NP. I understand goals change all the time, so I put this into pro's and con's.

Pro's: guaranteed job out of school, school paid for, clinic setting would give me a good range of experience. With family as it is, I would need all the financial help I can get.

Con's: It's 8-5 M-F, they don't want an RN, it's an hour away, and it's only .50 more than what I make now as a night shift CNA 8 miles from my house. I could get sufficient experience as a night shift home care nurse making 7 dollars more, but the area is not a guarantee.

How do I decide between all of that? Where do I put the priority? Experience? Driving distance? End goals?

Any and all advice will be much appreciated!!!

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By reading your post - you've already made your decision now all you have to do is realize it.

when you list the pro's of this offer, it's basically 1.5 lines and it is purely about the financial assistance.

on the con's side you have 3 lines and you list * don't want to stop at LPN * don't like the position * don't like the drive * don't like the pay * either work 3 years or pay back the assistance given.

truthfully, if you have no vision of being an LPN for 3 years this is probably not as good as it seems. the last thing you want to find yourself if trying to figure out how to pay for your RN while having to repay the assistance given for LPN and still having to take care of your family financially.

I wish you the best of luck

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Specializes in MSICU.

Agree with 203bravo. Becoming a LPN isn't really going to be THAT much of an advantage toward your goal of becoming a RN. So why waste their time (and money) and yours by going through that program?

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Thank you both.

It is just so hard to turn down a scholarship that would ease things in the here and now.

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Specializes in Clinical Social Worker.

I hear you, @ThirdGenNurse.

It's easy to focus on what's available right now, and how it might affect you right now without thinking too far down the line about how a three year commitment might impact your longer-term plans.

If you're feeling flexible and willing to be committed to someone else's ride, it might be worth it to take the scholarship.

But if you're clear about what you want and don't want to change your plans because you're really clear about what you want, stick to your guns in spite of the temptation to say yes to the scholarship that takes you on a different track.

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I received the formal offer of the scholarship this afternoon and I am still struggling. No, I do not want to work there 3 years. But would 1 year there be worth the experience regardless of hours?

My next question is this:

When I pass my RN year, and start looking for a job, what are the experiences hospitals look for in ICU nurses?

Wherever I go for my year of LPN, I want it to add to my resume. Does LTC experience say as much for me as trach/gtube experience?

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