Nursing stipends and tuition reimbursement

[futurenursemale]

Hi I was wondering if the army is the only place that gives out a stipend and pays for your education in return for service obligation. I am 24 years old and have 3 years of previous college with no degree and served 4 years of military obligation with one year deployment to Kuwait. I turned down an rotc scholarship and served in the military and dont want to actually return because of the long hours. I hated working 60 plus hours and was wondering if there were any other programs that would provide a stipend and pay for my education, with a work week of 40 hours. Im currently taking pre-reqs for nursing school at a community college. I was Also interested in the Nursing scholarship program at HRSA but was curious as to what the salary was for a nurse working at a Critical Shortage Facility in comparison to a regular hospital. I already have huge student loans and wasnt getting to far at rutgers where i attended and paid off about 30k and broke at 24. I still have student loans left to pay and no degree with 60 credits that dont apply to nursing. I really need money badly to start a family and prepare to buy a house and dont know If i can take a job at a non profit hospital if their pay is much lower than normal hospitals.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

It is highly unlikely that you will find a medical facility that has a program similar to the military where they pay for your schooling, plus a stipend, in exchange for a commitment for future employment. The reasonis that currently the field of nursing is overrun with qualified new graduates, many many of whom are still unemployed. There is no incentive for a hospital to offer any type of program to attract new employees when 300 people apply for every job opening that is posted.

The only possible exception may be in rural, underserved areas. If I were you, I would try to search out some of those areas - I mainly recall hearing of possibilities in Texas.