Hospitals pay for nursing school?

Argo · Apr 24, 2010

Either you have to work for them while in school or you go and work for them after school and they pay Your loans off with a contract for you to work for them for a certain amount of time. That's how my place works anyway. Never heard of them paying for random people off the street to be put through school.

lkwashington · Apr 24, 2010

You have to go to the Human Resource office. They can give you details how it works because they would be the arranging how and when you will be receiving your reimbursements.

ItsTheDude · Apr 24, 2010

very few places do it these days with the economy. 2-3 yrs ago it was very common and easy to get.

Intern67 · Apr 24, 2010

If the the nurses at the hospital you are wondering about are union members, you can often read their contract online and find out the tuition reimbursement policy. This gives you the specifics such as hours you need to qualify and how long you have to work for the organization following the education to avoid repayment penalties.

allnurses Guide · Apr 24, 2010

I was just awarded one of these contracts. At the facility that gave this to me, I get a set amount per semester (enough to cover tuition, books and a little extra) and agree to work for them for one year for each year of school they cover or pay the money back should I choose not to work there. I have to maintain and prove a B average every semester to remain eligible. There is no interest on the money in the contract. It is basically a student loan with a guaranteed job at the end if I want it, and without having to pay it back if I work there according to the terms. The hospital gives internship consideration priority to the recipients of this, which they refer to as a "scholarship". Even without an internship the hospital will still have a position for me - internship would help not land in whatever icky opening they are having trouble finding a warm body for.

You have to already be accepted into nursing school to qualify, turn in an application, take a personality test, submit transcripts and letters of recommendation and then go before a panel for an interview. They only give away a certain number of these per year. It is not a union thing here...no unions.

rotteluvr31, ADN, RN · Apr 24, 2010

This used to be a common occurrence where the hospital would help to reimburse your tuition in exchange for some many years of committed employment.

Where I currently work this program is long gone. Instead, they offer tuition reimbursement to all employees based upon the number of hours you work and the degree you are pursuing. Full-time employees working on a degree in a critical needs area, such as nursing, get the best reimbursement. There is a BSN completion program being offered to ADN prepared nurses where they will reimburse 100% of your tuition - but again, you must commit to a certain number of years of employment or else the deal is off and you are responsible for your own bills. Lots of nurses I work with have taken advantage of this program.

Jessie88 · Apr 25, 2010

I was just awarded one of these contracts. At the facility that gave this to me, I get a set amount per semester (enough to cover tuition, books and a little extra) and agree to work for them for one year for each year of school they cover or pay the money back should I choose not to work there. I have to maintain and prove a B average every semester to remain eligible. There is no interest on the money in the contract. It is basically a student loan with a guaranteed job at the end if I want it, and without having to pay it back if I work there according to the terms. The hospital gives internship consideration priority to the recipients of this, which they refer to as a "scholarship". Even without an internship the hospital will still have a position for me - internship would help not land in whatever icky opening they are having trouble finding a warm body for.
You have to already be accepted into nursing school to qualify, turn in an application, take a personality test, submit transcripts and letters of recommendation and then go before a panel for an interview. They only give away a certain number of these per year. It is not a union thing here...no unions.

You are so lucky! Congratulations on landing this offer. :)

Where I'm from in Southern Cali, we are happy if we're hired at all at this time. Openings for new grads have become so scarce at hospitals in our area. Many of us relocate or wait for a long time to be hired, and then we are very likely to settle for an area that is not our first choice, just to get the foot in the door somewhere. A friend of mine waited for over a year to be hired after she graduated, and she was constantly looking and applying wherever she could.

May I ask which hospital you work at and what your location is? I'm curious which place is still so fortunate in this economy. Might be good to know if things don't improve by the time I graduate.

Thanks, :redbeathe

Jessie

lkwashington · Apr 26, 2010

The facility I work changed their policy....if you have worked there for 2 years full time or will be by the time you finish school you dont owe them anything. This was just changed about 3 yrs ago.

Crux1024 · Apr 26, 2010

I agree with the other posters who have said the economy made hospital pull that particular type of offer back.

I received my ASN completely FREE from the hospital where I was already an employee. I paid for books and unis, but the schooling (even Gen Ed Prereqs) was paid for.

This hospital however revamped thier policies this summer and totally got RID of the program except for RNs that wanted to start the BSN program, but they had to start by a certain time.

I know there should be some hospitals still left that do his, but with things going the way they are, they certainly dont have to. There are no jobs (or they are unwilling/unable to hire) to give the ones that DO have an education, much less educating someone to work there.

Good Luck in your search.