Nursing Student balance Preventing NCLEX-RN attempt

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I’ve excelled through my ADN program achieving high honors. Completed each courses with A’s and/ or B+’s throughout my rigorous nursing program. However I’m unable to take my HESI exit exam and sit for my NCLEX-RN because of my outstanding balance. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point just to be prohibited from obtaining my dreams. All of the stress, tears, and sleepless nights just to get to this point. Just to be informed by the bursars office that until my balance has been paid in full. I’m ineligible to sit for my HESI exit exam, and my transcripts along with degree will not be sent to the board of nursing. Transcripts have to be sent to the board of nursing from the institution you’ve attended. To verify you’ve attended an accredited institution to be deemed eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.

Any information on grants or scholarships would be really appreciated. Like many other students personal loans aren’t an option right now. I feel like I’ve exhausted all my options and I’m uncertain as of what to do at this point. Thanks in advance! Positive responses only ?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Unfortunately, you have no choice but to get your balance paid in order to take the HESI and have your info sent to the BON. Are you currently working? If not, it's time to find a job. If you are, evaluate whether you have the ability to take on another part-time job or do other one-off opportunities to earn money (think babysitting, petsitting, etc.). As for grants and scholarships, I don't know that you can retroactively apply for their use but rather need to have them lined up ahead of time. Speak with someone in financial aid to see what they can help you set up to get caught up. Reconsider the personal loans- will you be able to pay them back at an accelerated rate with a nursing salary as opposed to your current/a non-nursing salary that would make them more palatable? What other expense can you cut out to put money towards your balance?

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16 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:

Unfortunately, you have no choice but to get your balance paid in order to take the HESI and have your info sent to the BON. Are you currently working? If not, it's time to find a job. If you are, evaluate whether you have the ability to take on another part-time job or do other one-off opportunities to earn money (think babysitting, petsitting, etc.). As for grants and scholarships, I don't know that you can retroactively apply for their use but rather need to have them lined up ahead of time. Speak with someone in financial aid to see what they can help you set up to get caught up. Reconsider the personal loans- will you be able to pay them back at an accelerated rate with a nursing salary as opposed to your current/a non-nursing salary that would make them more palatable? What other expense can you cut out to put money towards your balance?

I'm hoping that I can find an
organizations thats willing to pay off my nursing graduate balance. In return I'll sign a 2 year contract stating I'll work for the organization for 2 years. There's so many organizations here that are offering 7500 k- 15000 k bonuses in Michigan. I'm hopeful that the sign on bonus can be applied directly to my balance. Some organization here give new grads 90 days to obtain RN license. I don't qualify to take out personal loans. I owe 8500k to my school.

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I’ve never heard of anything like that, but perhaps you can get a job with a hiring bonus that’s contingent on you passing the NCLEX. I highly doubt anyone would give you money prior to passing the NCLEX, however.

Be warned that many places offering significant financial incentives to get you in the door are horrible places to work. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

If you can, get a loan to pay off the balance. If you can’t, work as much as you can and cut your expenses to the bare minimum until you can pay it off. Otherwise, you are going to be trying to pass the NCLEX years after graduating, which, statistically, is extremely tough.

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I don't know anyone who has applied for this, but it could be an option:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loans-scholarships/nurse-corps/loan-repayment-program

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36 minutes ago, beekee said:

I’ve never heard of anything like that, but perhaps you can get a job with a hiring bonus that’s contingent on you passing the NCLEX. I highly doubt anyone would give you money prior to passing the NCLEX, however.

Be warned that many places offering significant financial incentives to get you in the door are horrible places to work. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

If you can, get a loan to pay off the balance. If you can’t, work as much as you can and cut your expenses to the bare minimum until you can pay it off. Otherwise, you are going to be trying to pass the NCLEX years after graduating, which, statistically, is extremely tough.

That's what I'm so worried about taking such a long time to come up with 8k+ and decreasing my chances of passing the nclex because of the amount of time to come up with the money. I'm not able to take out a loan nor do I have a co-signer it's just me literally.

35 minutes ago, 2BS Nurse said:

I don't know anyone who has applied for this, but it could be an option:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loans-scholarships/nurse-corps/loan-repayment-program

Thank you!!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
2 hours ago, Nursinglife090 said:

I'm hoping that I can find an
organizations thats willing to pay off my nursing graduate balance. In return I'll sign a 2 year contract stating I'll work for the organization for 2 years.

Most places require one to be employed for a set time before eligibility for tuition reimbursement, followed by continuing to work for a set amount of time after receiving the last reimbursement payment.

A sign on bonus typically goes to one who meets requirements to hold the job. You are not eligible for either a license or a temporary permit to practice without your school sending everything to the BON; therefore, you would not qualify for a nursing position (whether with or without a sign on bonus. You are looking for something that simply doesn’t exist. Don’t pin your hopes on that and continue finding other ways to pay your balance.

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2 hours ago, Nursinglife090 said:

I'm hoping that I can find an
organizations thats willing to pay off my nursing graduate balance. In return I'll sign a 2 year contract stating I'll work for the organization for 2 years. There's so many organizations here that are offering 7500 k- 15000 k bonuses in Michigan. I'm hopeful that the sign on bonus can be applied directly to my balance. Some organization here give new grads 90 days to obtain RN license. I don't qualify to take out personal loans. I owe 8500k to my school.

Typically, a sign-on bonus is paid through or with your first check, after you have your license and work for 2 weeks. Also, taxes are paid on it, so you do not get the whole amount of the bonus. You are going to have to find a way to pay your debt some other way, unfortunately.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Research HRSA thoroughly. It is not guaranteed and many more apply than are granted, plus it limits the areas one can work in. Additionally, you do not qualify.

“Are you eligible for the NCLRP?

Review the following NCLRP requirements to find out.

You are one of the following:

Licensed registered nurse;

Advanced practice registered nurse, such as a nurse practitioner; or

Nurse faculty member with qualifying nursing debt.”

2 hours ago, 2BS Nurse said:

I don't know anyone who has applied for this, but it could be an option:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loans-scholarships/nurse-corps/loan-repayment-program

This program requires one to be licensed and thus is not a solution for OP’s situation.

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Hi. Sorry for your predicament, but inquiring minds want to know...

Did you not know you owed this balance the whole time you were there? I'm going to assume, if it's like most schools, you sign into your account and see there is a balance so I'm curious how you were even allowed to register for classes owing this much? Typically balances have to be paid in full in some way before you can continue to the next semester/quarter.

Or was this a set amount due every semester/quarter and this just so happens to be the final installment?

As other people have mentioned, there is no way out of this and you have to find a way to pay somehow. Perhaps just going out and finding a regular non-nursing job just to gather money?

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I wont pile on here, you've enough posts telling you this (looking for grants or sign on bonus) isn't a viable option. How much time is the college giving you?

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

Here are some thoughts:

1. Could the balance be paid off with Federal Direct student loans? Sometimes these can be obtained retroactively for the past year.

2. Would the school "take a payment plan" that would allow you to sit for the boards? After all if you cannot obtain employment they get nothing.

3. Do you have a house that you could take a loan that would pay these payments?

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