MO student seeking employment in Tulsa after graduation

[mozarkian]

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping to get some advice from you all about my current situation. Any helpful pointers will be greatly appreciated.

I'm starting up my 2nd semester of the nursing program at St. John's/SBU in Springfield this August and I'll be graduating in Dec. '09 with my ASN. My fiancee has recently accepted a position with a company in Tulsa and therefore will be moving there for this great opportunity. My question really is how to best finish my nursing education and become licensed in Oklahoma in order to begin working in Tulsa.

I currently work as a MICU tech and have the opportunity to receive tuition assistance thru St. John's (that extra money would come in very handy, believe me...), for every semester paid I would contract to work for St. John's for a year. Knowing now that I'll be wanting to seek RN employment in Tulsa is it wise for me to accept this tuition assistance? Would I be able to negotiate with a potential employer to pay this money if I were to contract with St. Francis or St. John's-Tulsa, perhaps?

I'm just looking for some practical advice about this and any and all answers will be so appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[babynurselsa, RN]

St John is a good employer, not the highest paying, but a good employer. Some of the higher paying places are not so great places to work.

I doubt that you will find another hospital willing to pay off your debt to St John so I would be sure that it will be a place you want to work before committing.

[kgrl819]

I heard rumor that since there is a nurse shortage, some hospitals are buying out contracts that you have signed elsewhere. I would check, the most they could say is "NO". St. Johns has tuition reimbursement for those who become an amployee after graduatuion. It's a good place. Pay is pretty equal to other hospitals (from what other people tell me). The benefits are good.

Also, some girls where doing Perkins loan. Saw a paper at the end of Dec. that said that it did not require a commitment due to short supply of nurses.

Good luck and best wishes for whatever you decide.

[cherryamesfan, BSN]

This may be way out of timing for you but speaking as an RN at Saint Francis, having worked around new graduates a long time... normally the Tulsa hospitals don't 'buy out' scholarships directly however most all offer a sign on bonus which grads use to 'pay off' the debt to the original hospital. The sign on bonus is given shortly after getting the RN in Oklahoma. The buying out of scholarships is interpreted in several hospitals as a counterproductive philosophy. The hospital wants to encourage commitment in their scholarshipped students. Although it is very hard to know 2 years before you graduate, where you will want to work! Tuition reimbursement benefit at Saint Francis is very generous and I know that they work off their commitment (most of it) while they are going through school. Hope this helps.:)