2nd BS...Tuition Reimbursment? Loans?

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Specializes in NICU.

OK, I'm in a very small boat...I have over $75k in loans from my first degree (I just finished in December) and if I go to Hopkins, I'll have another $50k for the BSN. I don't even know for the MSN.

Does anyone know how to find Tuition Reimbursment programs at hospitals? Also, I'll probably be taking out loans anyway, but does anyone know what the cap is for a 2nd BS? And what banks/loan institutions have the lowest interest rates?

I'll be signing on loans with a cosigner because I'm a dependent, so I think that lowers the cap on how much I can get from like Sallie Mae (from whom I borrowed everything for my first degree)

Thanks!

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I believe getting a co-signer with good credit actually increases the amount you're allowed to borrow, I sure do know it helped me!

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I would suggest you find someone financially gifted to help you think through these decisions. Unless you have a trust fund waiting for you somewhere, carrying over 100k in loans- with any interest rate- is going to be a very heavy burden. I have friends who are making 75k plus who are having difficulty paying back those size loans. Can you use your first degree to get a job and hunker down for a couple years, gaining some additional life experinces and paying down that previous debt load?

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If you're considering going on to an MSN and already have a Bachelors degree, maybe you should skip the BSN and go immediately to an MSN or MN. I know that here in Cincinnati there are a couple of schools that offer second degree programs (Xavier and Mount St. Joseph). This route might save you some money. Check out the schools in your area.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in NICU.

Right, but the second degree programs are FOR the BSN. I can't skip it because the RN is within that BSN. I have no nursing training from my first degree.

And I can't wait a few years, because by then it'll be late and I may have to retake courses, I may not feel like going back to school for another few years (part of the reason I didn't want to go to med school), and putting years in between schooling just isn't a good idea. By the time I do go back, I'll be an independent and the school itself will give me a lot less grant money. Its just not practical. Plus I've been trying to get a job for the past 3 months...NADA Mostly because I am taking AP2 right now and people can't/won't work around the class.

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I think you may have misunderstood me. I'm starting the MN program at Mount St. Joseph in May. I currently have a BS in Management. The MN program includes the RN for non-nursing degree holders. See the following link. It'll explain it better:

http://www.msj.edu/academics/majors/graduate/nursing/index.asp

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Specializes in NICU.

Ok, but what you misunderstand is this:

What the MN degree program is not:

  • A program that prepares the nurse for advanced practice positions, such as a clinical nurse specialist, or a nurse practitioner
  • A Master of Science in Nursing degree

I want the MSN to be a Nurse Practitioner...what's the point if I'm going to have to get the MSN later anyway? Plus I don't think I've even seen any traces of such programs existing that are accredited by NLNAC.

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Aren't you talking about Direct Entry Master's programs? There are tons of them! I'm looking at doing the same thing, although my plan is to (hopefully) do the Direct Entry, graduate with a generalist MSN, and work for a few years as an RN before returning for Post Master's AP Certification for CNM. Try this link to the list of programs.

http://www.allnursingschools.com/featured/accelerated-msn/

Check out a few, and Please, if I am misunderstanding, clarify for me. I am hanging a lot on this!:)

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Yes, you are correct that the program I will attend is not an MSN. In Cincinnati, there were two programs to choose from; an MN at Mount St. Joseph and and MSN at Xavier University. I am 40 years old, and have little plans to do any post-masters programs, so it didn't matter to me if I earned an MN or an MSN. Should I change my mind, I would likely have to take a few extra courses to make up the difference. The MSN program at Xavier (MIDAS) is one semester longer (5 semesters).

http://www.xavier.edu/MSN/midas.cfm

I'm curious...are there programs out there that combine the MSN with NP, or are they completely separate?

Good luck!

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chaundrah,

Yes, I think you're correct, but I would certainly check each of their websites to be sure. Sometimes I get bogged down in the terminology of "accelerated" and "direct-entry". But yes, there are two programs here in Cincinnati that are Masters-level programs for people with BS/BA degrees in some other field than nursing.

The best part is more loans/funds/grants open up to you vs. getting another BS degree. Always a good thing!

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Ok, but what you misunderstand is this:

What the MN degree program is not:

  • A program that prepares the nurse for advanced practice positions, such as a clinical nurse specialist, or a nurse practitioner
  • A Master of Science in Nursing degree

I want the MSN to be a Nurse Practitioner...what's the point if I'm going to have to get the MSN later anyway? Plus I don't think I've even seen any traces of such programs existing that are accredited by NLNAC.

The program at Mount Saint Joe's and Xavier are both CCNE accredited. If you wish to become an NP (or CRNA or CNS) ou would just need to add a post-Masters certificate in your desired advance practice field.

Xavier graduates are able to take the clinical nurse leader (CNL) exam upon completion of their MSN program.

Graduates from the MN and MSN program at Xavier and MSJ have both been given liberal transfer credit for the graduate work they did at both schools.

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Thanks for the clarification, sunnyjohn!

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