Know hospitals that pay for school?

Published

Does anyone know of decent hospitals that will pay for nursing school if you agree to work for them so many years afterward? I would be more interested in the KC area, but I'm not opposed to other areas. I wouldn't mind Springfield or Columbia.

Specializes in Pain Management.
I'm finishing up school at Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, MO. They have a traditional and accelerated option for nursing students. Both options have a pay-back system such as the one you are asking about. It's basically referred to as the "loan forgiveness program" and it's through HCA. A traditional nursing student will go through a four year program, with 2 and 1/2 years focused on nursing specific courses. The accelerated option is for students with previous bachelor (four year) degrees. The accelerated program is one full year, and very intensive.

With the traditional option, HCA will pay for half of your tuition as a sophomore, 3/4ths of your tuition as a junior, and full tuition your senior year. In return, you owe three years to working at an HCA hospital, preferably in the area. As an accelerated student, after one intensive year of course work, in which HCA will fully pay for, you will owe two years of work at an HCA hospital. Once you graduate from either program, you will recieve regular pay checks. The only money taken out of your pay checks during the years that you owe HCA after graduation, are taxes on the loaned out money.

Another option is that if you graduate and move out of the area, and can not work at an HCA hospital (and have the existing loan), you will be responsible for paying back 50% of the full loan amount within one year after graduation. You can pay partial amounts, or pay the full amount at once.

This program is through HCA pairing up with Research College of Nursing. There are some other great schools in the area that have the same kind of program, but this is the one I know so much about, because I'm in the program now. I love Research College! The classes are small, and teachers are incredible student advocates. We have students of all age, and although nursing school can be a tough transition, I have loved being a student there!

Good luck on your quest for a good school!!!!!!

I start the accelerated BSN in August 06 at Research so I am curious to hear about your experience. If that is okay, we can start another thread or we can do it via PM.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.
I'm finishing up school at Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, MO. They have a traditional and accelerated option for nursing students. Both options have a pay-back system such as the one you are asking about. It's basically referred to as the "loan forgiveness program" and it's through HCA. A traditional nursing student will go through a four year program, with 2 and 1/2 years focused on nursing specific courses. The accelerated option is for students with previous bachelor (four year) degrees. The accelerated program is one full year, and very intensive.

With the traditional option, HCA will pay for half of your tuition as a sophomore, 3/4ths of your tuition as a junior, and full tuition your senior year. In return, you owe three years to working at an HCA hospital, preferably in the area. As an accelerated student, after one intensive year of course work, in which HCA will fully pay for, you will owe two years of work at an HCA hospital. Once you graduate from either program, you will recieve regular pay checks. The only money taken out of your pay checks during the years that you owe HCA after graduation, are taxes on the loaned out money.

Another option is that if you graduate and move out of the area, and can not work at an HCA hospital (and have the existing loan), you will be responsible for paying back 50% of the full loan amount within one year after graduation. You can pay partial amounts, or pay the full amount at once.

This program is through HCA pairing up with Research College of Nursing. There are some other great schools in the area that have the same kind of program, but this is the one I know so much about, because I'm in the program now. I love Research College! The classes are small, and teachers are incredible student advocates. We have students of all age, and although nursing school can be a tough transition, I have loved being a student there!

Good luck on your quest for a good school!!!!!!

I was also accepted at Research but couldnt afford it without their loan repayment thing. What I didnt like was feeling like I would be an endentured servant--having to work in areas they wanted me in for three years after grad?? But I have heard they are a great school. Anyway, I chose Penn Valley CC instead (CHEAP--but great school-97% pass rate) and will get my BSN from KU (they have an online program). Good luck all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I live in the Dallas,TX area and everything is going well academically, however, I haven't been successful finding a way to help financially. Does anyone know of hospitals that would pay for nursing school in the Dallas area?:mad:

Hopeful7

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

This is the Missouri Board, so you'll be better off in the Texas Forum instead!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I just learned today that if you attend school at St Lukes in Kansas City, and you sign a two year agreement to work night shift in select units they will pay for a portion, but I am not sure how much. It may be worth looking into....

Good Luck!

When I went there, they would pay for your senior year. But you also had to go through an interview process with the different units, you weren't guaranteed to get the one you wanted, and you might not get accepted at all. (And then you would have to pay for your last year yourself.)

I paid for school with loans, got hired at KUMed after graduation, got a decent signing bonus, which I immediately threw towards my loans.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is a long shot, but I'm from St. Louis and the BJC system paid for most of my BSN tuition. I had to work two years in return for the tuition help. It saved me thousands and thousands of dollars!!! You never know, it may be worth it to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This is a long shot, but I'm from St. Louis and the BJC system paid for most of my BSN tuition. I had to work two years in return for the tuition help. It saved me thousands and thousands of dollars!!! You never know, it may be worth it to you.

I'm in St. Louis, too and about to start working on my BSN in the fall. How did that work out for you? Did you have a say in what dept. you worked in and the shifts you had to work, or was that all pretty much in their hands? I've heard that some people regret doing this because they feel taken advantage of and at the mercy of the employer once they begin working. Was this your experience? How did you go about applying for this? Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm in St. Louis, too and about to start working on my BSN in the fall. How did that work out for you? Did you have a say in what dept. you worked in and the shifts you had to work, or was that all pretty much in their hands? I've heard that some people regret doing this because they feel taken advantage of and at the mercy of the employer once they begin working. Was this your experience? How did you go about applying for this? Thanks!

I started working as patient care associate at a BJC hospital during nursing school. I had never worked in a hospital before and wanted the experience.

The financial help they gave me was great! I honestly feel like I came out ahead! During nursing school they paid me $4500 per year just so my grades were a C and above. They describe this money not as a gift but a loan. You repay the loan by working for them one to two years after school as an RN. (The one to two years depends on the school that you go to.) It's free money because you get paid an hourly wage too.

Some people may have said they feel "stuck" in the system. BUT you really aren't because I believe the only requirement for this loan is that you stay at a BJC entity. And St. Louis has tons and tons of BJC hospitals/clinics.

Once you graduate from school you turn in your grades and 50% of the "loan" is automatically paid off. This is great because, if you, for some reason cannot work for them you only owe 50%.

After school, I still had two small loans from two different lenders. They say on paper that they will give you $3-4000 each year for a maximum of $12,000 toward your loans. This, however, is taxed largely and the fine print seemed very skewed! I had to submit my loan balances to my employer each year and they gave an additional amount to go towards my loan balance. Every year I would call them and they would give me more money. Literally, I just kept on bugging them. :D

Long story short, :bugeyes:I have a BSN from UMSL. I started as a nurse in Jan. 2004. I have no loans since May 2007, and payed a very small amount to go to school. Even though it was a pain to figure everything out financially. It was worth it because I had to work somewhere and BJC is a great hospital to put on your resume because it has a good reputation nationally.

This website gives some official documentation on what I've been talking about:

http://www.barnesjewish.org/employment/default.asp?NavID=1682

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for you helpful response about BJC. Did you have a say in what shifts you worked and in what area of the hospital, or did you have to take what you were given? Also, when did you approach BJC about helping out with tuition? Before entering school or once you were in? I begin in the fall of this year and I'm wondering when to do this. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks for you helpful response about BJC. Did you have a say in what shifts you worked and in what area of the hospital, or did you have to take what you were given? Also, when did you approach BJC about helping out with tuition? Before entering school or once you were in? I begin in the fall of this year and I'm wondering when to do this. Thanks!

There was an opening for an RN on the floor that I worked on as a tech. I was hired with a job description that said what shifts I would work-- Day/Evening. So, it wasn't like they could use me and abuse me and put me on any shift they wanted. Also, some places take into account how long you have worked for BJC, even as a tech, for your seniority. And the seniority determines how many day shifts you get. That is...if that's what you want. For example, the longer you work there you will work more days than nights...or more nights than days if thats what you want.

I was given information about tuition assistance once I was hired into the system. But i'm sure you could ask for info if you just call Human Resources. When I started working there I already was in nursing school. So if you begin in the fall you could start applying for a job now and start working. Or you could just apply in the summer and hope they call you by the fall and hire you. For me, it initially took 3 months for them to call me back. But you know...the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Just keep calling and calling!

Good luck...I hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work for the SSM system they will pay for tuition I'm not sure what the commitment is. They will also pay you for back school loans that you acquired prior to working for them. Go to SSMHC.com. :yeah: If you want to know more from an employee feel free to e-mail me [email protected]

I do not work for human rescources:smokin:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion