Loan repayment programs

[kellilou3]

Hi everyone,

I am planning on starting nursing school next fall at Columbia State and am interested in having my education footed by one of the hospitals here in Nashville. I would be required to work at their facility for the same length of time as my training, though. If I quit, I have to repay them.

Have any of you experienced this, and what are your thoughts (even if you haven't experienced it)?

Thanks!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Just be very, very sure of the following:

1. that you have all the fine print. For example, can the hospital force you to take any job? or do you get to choose your specialty area?

2. What happens if? ... you don't graduate for some reason ... you become one of the 16% of new graduates who doesn't pass the state board exam on the first try ... there are no jobs available that you are even remotely interested in ... you take a job with them, but it doesn't work out for some reason ... you develop a health problem that prevents you from completing your committment to them ... etc. etc. etc.

In other words, make DARN sure you are prepared to fulfill the agreeement you sign BEFORE you sign it. A lot of people have entered into such agreements and then regretted it. However, others have been happy to fulfill their committment when the time came.

For me, I would not want to "sign my life away" easily. I like my freedom of choice. But others have been happy with arrangements such as these.

Good luck,

llg