How can I change careers to Nursing if I can't pay for it? I feel stuck!

ArmaniX, MSN, APRN · Nov 25, 2015

How do you plan on paying for CRNA school and housing/life expenses while unable to work once/if you get into a program?

What happens if you can't get a job right into an ICU. Are you willing to work medsurg or will you take your mother and move across the country if necessary for that first RN job? If CRNA school never comes to light is being an RN sufficient for your life goals or will everything be for nothing?

beekee · Nov 25, 2015

Almost no one has a rich uncle who pays tuition. You haven't even completed the courses necessary to apply to nursing school, so let's break it down and make this a more manageable problem.

First, you need to finish those courses. I'd suggest finding the cheapest option, like a community college, if you can. You can take one class at a time to make the cost more manageable. You could start in the fall of 2016, which gives you plenty of time to save up by getting a second job and/or cutting expenses.

Second, apply to nursing school. I know the accelerated program gets you to your end goal faster, but it may not be the best option for you. Accelerated programs are extremely expensive and extremely competitive. Plus, many people are unable to work during those programs because they are so demanding. You also may not qualify for financial aid due to your previous bachelor's degree.

Again, a public school is going to be your best best. It'll take longer, but you will be able to afford it. You can spend the money on CRNA school.

A community college will take 2 years or so, once you start. It costs considerably less and many people are able to work full or part time through their programs. You can then do a RN-to-BSN program in about a year.

A public university is also a good option. With the prior bachelor's, it'll take less than 4 years. I'd guess you are still looking at 3 years.

Third, you get a job. Most new nurses don't get their dream job right away, so it may take a couple years to get to the ICU. Once you start working as a nurse, you will have more money to save for graduate school.

Fourth, you apply to graduate school. You will have access to loans as a graduate student, plus, because you took the slower route, you'll have money saved as well.

It may not be the fastest, but it's affordable and really not that much longer.

Good luck

AshBuggin · Nov 25, 2015

I'm experiencing something salient now. I've applied to RN school in the past- got accepted but couldn't find a job that could offer a decent wedge with hours that would allow for me to focus on school. Ive worked as a CNA in the past and the hours allow for School and OT when I have a break between semesters. I've decided to work as a PCT and do odd jobs on the side like freelance writing (thepennyhoarder.com), dog walking and dog sitting( doggievacay.com ) I think I've got it all planned out.

In the past when I tended bar and worked nights I could not make school work. It was difficult bc I was always juggling sleep and studying.

I hope this helps! Keep on truckin'

BeachsideRN, ASN · Nov 25, 2015

Break it down into small steps.

Step 1 take pre req classes for RN program at comm college (or state university).

Step 2 apply to ADN (cheapest), BSN, or ABSN (most expensive) programs. Keep in mind that since you still have to do pre reqs it may be more time and cost effective to go the traditional 4 year route or ADN + RNBSN bridge. This last option has the advantage that you can work, as a nurse, while doing the bridge and sometimes (as in my case) ADN +bridge was cheapest option.

Step 3. Work as an RN. --- at this point you may decide CRNA isn't your cup of tea.

Step 4 apply for CRNA schools of that is still your plan.

EllaBella1, BSN · Nov 26, 2015

I think you need to re-evaluate your plan. Unfortunately strong B grades may not cut it for either an Accelerated BSN program or CRNA school. Both of these types of programs tend to be very very competitive, and while many require a minimum 3.0 GPA to apply, they tend to have most applicants far above this mark. That's not to say that you can't do it, but I think you need to slow it down and take your time, especially if you plan on working while completing the program. I agree with the former posters who suggested a slow climb to the CRNA level- maybe start with an ADN at a community college. Then you can start working as a RN and receive tuition reimbursement from your hospital to help finance the BSN/CRNA degrees. That way you would only need to take out student loans for your ADN, and trust me, minimizing student loans is the way to go.

I'm a very strong student- graduated my first degree with a 3.78 GPA, and I still struggled and had to work REALLY hard through my accelerated BSN program. I was able to graduate with a 3.8 GPA, but when I tell you that all I did was study/go to class/sleep and repeat I really mean it. I had initially planned on working part time, but it just wasn't possible with the workload that I was given if I wanted to achieve the grades I wanted to get. I did have many classmates who worked part time as PCAs/bartenders/waitresses/other shift-type work and they were constantly exhausted/overwhelmed. Only 50 students were admitted to my accelerated cohort, and we lost 4 within the first 3 months- three of whom tried to work full time during the program. After graduation I started working in an ICU setting through a nurse residency program, and I'm currently 5 months in. In order to get this job I had to provide my BSN transcripts, and my grades did matter to the nurse recruiter, so you're going to want to make sure your BSN grades are strong. There is so much to learn starting out in an ICU that I STILL have to go home and study a few hours per week and try to catch up on all of the things that I don't know/have never seen before. I should add that before I started my accelerated program I planned and saved for two full years so that I would be able to support myself (on a VERY VERY tight budget) without having to work. I also took out student loans to finance tuition.

The last point I want to make is that you should try not to limit yourself to that one career path. There are SO many things you can do within the world of nursing that you won't even have the chance to discover until you start working in the field. I also thought I was interested in CRNA initially which is why I followed this path, but the more experience I get the more I'm falling in love with palliative care. Keep your eyes open and enjoy the experience :).

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Nov 29, 2015

Why did you decide you wanted to become a CRNA? What knowledge or experience do you have about this career? You have a long way to go to achieve this if you still want it after you become a nurse. First you need to get all your science prereqs done and get good grades then you need to get into a nursing program and your GPA may limit you to more expensive private colleges as most public colleges are very competitive re GPA. Then you have to figure out how to pay for it. I don't know if you would still be eligible for govt student loans since you stated you already had a BA. There is no way to know that you will want to do this or be able to do this till you first get your nursing degree and then are working as a nurse and see how that goes. I would take my time explore all options such as other healthcare jobs that are easier, quicker and less expensive to achieve.

What is it about your current job you dislike the actual job or the pay. Yes CRNA's make very good pay but not everyone can do it! The science and nursing courses are much different than a BA in communications and I would say are more difficult in general. I would suggest trying to find a way to use the degree you already have to get a better paying job or something more enjoyable. I would suggest shadowing people whether nurses or someone in your field and seeing if it would be something you like to do. Volunteering either at a hospital, nursing home or public relations/communication field before spending money on schooling.

How much do you currently owe in student loans? Are you current with the payments? Are they public or private? What are the interest rates? Student loans are the most dangerous debt out there as they have no bankruptcy options if things don't work out as you plan and you aren't able to make the payments. With federal student loans the only option is income based repayment of 20-25 years of your life renewing yearly till you either don't qualify or till times up and then they can be forgiven, but you will owe income taxes on what is forgiven. You must stay current because if you default you would be ineligible for govt jobs, be unable to bill medicare/medicaid if you succeed in becoming a CRNA and can even lose your license to practice in some states!

If you pursue this dream start with a science class at your local public community college and see how that goes. Basic science classes that are required included anatomy & physiology, microbiology, chemistry, possibly biochemistry and/or organic chemistry and even physics depending on what college you go to and they must be the correct class so check this out first. The science courses should transfer to your college nursing program that way and would save you money. Also college algebra is usually required and statistics is often required.

If you are unable to get govt student loans for a nursing degree and can't afford to pay for it out of your pocket, you might want to pursue a direct entry MSN RN to NP program. Personally I would think being an NP would be much more enjoyable than a CRNA though less lucrative but there are many more NP programs than CRNA. CRNA would be the equivalent of med school in my opinion and you aren't supposed to work during it, while most nurses in NP programs work at least part time. If I had a choice of direct entry RN vs RN-NP I would choose the RN-NP because I think you are getting more for your money and would be the better option. The plus of doing a direct entry MSN is that you would then be eligible for govt student loans, although the interest rate is higher currently 6.8% and there is no grace period any longer, unlike undergrad loans, so the interest accumulates and capitalizes, grows if you don't pay it off as you go! The downside aside from no grace period is that these programs are not as widely available and tend to be more expensive than ADN, BSN, or accellerated BSN.