Money for nursing school?!

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 20, 2013

Did you do your FAFSA form for 2013-2014 school year? It's too late for scholarships for the coming Fall term. See your finanical aid office ASAP! Best of luck to you!

indstriou5 · Jun 20, 2013

Hey Katie!

First, congrats to you for getting accepted into nursing school! I just recently got accepted as well into my school's BSN program. Similar to you, I am trying to figure out how I am going to support myself financially. Because I really do not want to work my first semester of nursing school. I want to get adjusted first with study habits, sleep pattern, etc. before I start working like how I was last semester. One of the things that I would recommend to you is to apply for as many scholarships and grants that you possibly can and also maybe even look into trying to get a patient care position at your local hospital working part time or full time..whatever your schedule allows. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone's ideas are in this thread! Best of luck to you! :up:

ambitiousBSN · Jun 20, 2013

Congratulations! :-) I'm also starting this fall in my school's BSN program. If you have the time to do so, I'd recommend training to get a patient care technician (CNA) position at a local hospital to get some experience on a unit. This will give you loads of experience, not to mention confidence when you begin clinicals because usually the whole thought of going into clinical scares the daylights out of people. I've been a Certified Medical Assistant for over 6-years, so I at least have the confidence factor going in.

As for money, see what your college offers in regard to scholarships and grants. Did you complete your FAFSA? I receive both scholarships and a grant from my college, in addition to loans (if they're needed) to tuition assistance from the hospital I work at. That's another thing about getting a hospital position- they generally help you with your tuition as long as it's a program that they approve of, which obviously nursing is (and should be).

Good luck! I know this is all overwhelming because of the thought of how everything will work out, but things always have a way of working out! :-)

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jun 21, 2013

I second getting a job at a hospital. It will give you some experience and a lot of hospitals have some sort of education assistance. Mine will reimburse me up to $4,000 a year for books, fees, and tuition.