Please help, Info needed on hospitals that pay for nursing school.

keng67goat · Feb 11, 2005

GI Bill is somewhat complicated. I'm not suprised that most people don't use it.
To first get started, you need to take your contribution paperwork (that you got when you set up your allotment, etc) to the college VA office. I think you also need your DD214. There will be a couple of things to fill out (I think).
You will also have to take a copy of your class schedule (you're paid by full time, part time, etc). You will also probably need your 'degree plan' from you advisor or whomever does that. For me, it was my nursing advisor. They have to go through your transcripts to determine what classes you need for your specific degree. Keep in mind that you can only take the specific classes that are required for your degree. So, they will write down a plan for what classes you will take in what semester to finish your degree. Then you take that to the college VA office. I would do that before you do anything else.
Then you register for the classes that are on your degree plan and take that to the VA office. You may have to have your advisor sign a paper each semester saying that you are taking the right classes. I had to do that at one school, but not the one I'm at now. Then, VA will fax all the papers to the head VA place for your area. Keep checking back on this because it could take up to a month and you dont' want to fall through the cracks and not get paid when you were expecting it.
When it is all set up, then you go online to the WAVE site and log in. You can't verify your enrollment until the last day of the month. So, you log in, verify enrollment for that month and that's that. Then you will get direct deposit to your bank acount in a few days. I do it the last day of the month and get paid by the 9th of the next month.
Right now the payment for full time (21 credits) is $1154 per month. It goes up each October.
Also, if you are going to have extra time left over (36 months total), then sign up for a minor and you can take those classes too and get paid. For example, I have a nursing major and psych minor. I took 1 full year of full time classes to finish my BSN prereqs. Got paid each month and through the winter break. Then when summer came around, I applied for the psych minor and I take 2 classes each summer to get paid for part of the summer. Remember that you can't get paid for longer than what the course runs so if you take 5 week summer classes then you get paid for full time (6 credits in summer) for 5 weeks. If you took 1 or 2 classes that was the full summer term then you would get paid the full summer and for the short break before fall starts.
Oh yeah...you don't ever have to finish your minor and you can change your minor once or twice I think. You just have to be willing to take and pass the classes to get paid.
You can get paid through winter break if you want. If you have extra time on your payments then you can do that to use as much benefit as you can. If you aren't going to have any extra time, then you dont' have to get break pay. They count the actual time down to the day so you will probably have more benefit than what you think.
I am going to end up with about 2 full months left over when I graduate next May. I am going to use that pay for an NCLEX review course. They will also pay for things like that if you have extra time left over.
I hope all of this makes sense to you. It is complicated and the VA people don't always tell you everything you need to know. I have found things out the hard way in the past 1.5 years. No one ever sat down and explained all of the ends and outs. Now I know how to get the most from my benefits. I'm using every cent that they will give me. I paid for it and I earned it in many ways.
I also get VA disability. I'm rated at 80% and that pays even better than GI Bill. GI Bill is counted as financial aid and that really ticks me off. So, if your school has a student budget of $15K per year, then GI Bill will take up over $10K right there. You will only be able to get loans/grants, etc for the other $5K. GI Bill and disability are both tax free and are not reported as income.
Please ask questions if you need to. I want other people to be able to use their benefits to the fullest.

Dude, thank you for all your info, I know what question to ask and have an idea about the process. Now if you do not mind me asking how does VA work.

I am in the process of my med board and will get 80% disability as well.

HOw does that process work? Is there any problem with choosing nursing as a degree paln and does VA pay for everything?

rebeccainlv · Feb 11, 2005

I dont' know if you're being boarded out of the military or if you were active and separated and now applying for VA disability.

I was AD Air Force for 8 years and separated Aug 2003. I turned in my disability application when I did my final outprocessing. I also turned in my medical record then and got a complete copy of the entire thing. Then, it took awhile before I heard anything. I got a letter about once per month from VA that said they are processing my claim. Then after about 6 months I got a letter that had other paperwork for me to fill out (statements about a medical condition, etc) and I filled those out and sent it back. After about 7 months I got a letter with a bunch of appointments. They don't ask when you can go, etc, they just send the times and dates and you are expected to be there. So, I did my appointments with civilian medical providers then all of those reports had to be sent to the local disability office. Then I went to my VA physical at a local VA clinic. That was it for the appointments. I didn't start getting paid until almost 1 year after I separated. Now I get paid on the first of the month. After all of the appointments, etc, VA will send a packet with every medical condition you claimed and what they are paying for it. I had more things that they rated, but the 2 main things got me 80%. If they counted all the ratings, I would be over 100%. So, they don't count everything. Yu don't get your rating until they are done with everything. The main thing is that if you ever have any problems with the things they didn't put in your main rating, you can get medical treatment for those conditions as well. I haven't used VA medical facilities yet so I can't comment on how that works. I have applied and I'm assigned to a VA clinic, but I've never called for anything.

I learned alot by looking at my state's VA website. Otherwise, the phone calls to the VA don't tell you very much. Those people aren't quite with it.

VA doesnt' pay for school other than the GI Bill amount you get each month. You can spend it however you want to. So it's up to you to pay tuition and buy books with whatever money you want to.

I have checked into vocational rehab, but there isn't much to help me. It would be good if someone had learning disorders or needed to learn skills to enter the workforce. It's sort of like what the state employment office offers. Nothing really for people that are able bodied, intelligent, etc.

I haven't had any problems with choosing nursing. Like I said, you can only take the classes on your degree plan so if you want to take easy classes to boost your GPA or like to take music or something like that, they wont' pay. Not unless you are a music major or need an elective or something.

Your nursing program should have a list of prereqs that you have to have before you apply and they will also have a semester by semester plan for your actual nursing classes. You can use that to plan your schedule until you graduate. And it's a huge hassle to change around the classes once it's done and turned in. So make sure you do it right the first time. You know how the military is about being accurate. It just keeps going on with the VA.

Basically, GI Bill is the bulk of your financial aid. It sucks, but noone seems to understand that we put money into GI Bill. It's not free. It's a paid benefit but it's counted against us when we apply for other aid.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Feb 11, 2005

This is excellent information for students that are looking for ways to finance their college education. However, this thread belongs in the general student discussion forum. So, I am going to move the thread there and leave a re-direct of where the thread went to.

Please remember, the student assistance forum is for students to ask questions relating to school assignments or to work directly with a Registered Nurse on school related projects.

Thank you for your help.

RNPATL - Patrick

Co-Moderator

Student Assistance Forum

keng67goat · Feb 12, 2005

I dont' know if you're being boarded out of the military or if you were active and separated and now applying for VA disability.
I was AD Air Force for 8 years and separated Aug 2003. I turned in my disability application when I did my final outprocessing. I also turned in my medical record then and got a complete copy of the entire thing. Then, it took awhile before I heard anything. I got a letter about once per month from VA that said they are processing my claim. Then after about 6 months I got a letter that had other paperwork for me to fill out (statements about a medical condition, etc) and I filled those out and sent it back. After about 7 months I got a letter with a bunch of appointments. They don't ask when you can go, etc, they just send the times and dates and you are expected to be there. So, I did my appointments with civilian medical providers then all of those reports had to be sent to the local disability office. Then I went to my VA physical at a local VA clinic. That was it for the appointments. I didn't start getting paid until almost 1 year after I separated. Now I get paid on the first of the month. After all of the appointments, etc, VA will send a packet with every medical condition you claimed and what they are paying for it. I had more things that they rated, but the 2 main things got me 80%. If they counted all the ratings, I would be over 100%. So, they don't count everything. Yu don't get your rating until they are done with everything. The main thing is that if you ever have any problems with the things they didn't put in your main rating, you can get medical treatment for those conditions as well. I haven't used VA medical facilities yet so I can't comment on how that works. I have applied and I'm assigned to a VA clinic, but I've never called for anything.
I learned alot by looking at my state's VA website. Otherwise, the phone calls to the VA don't tell you very much. Those people aren't quite with it.
VA doesnt' pay for school other than the GI Bill amount you get each month. You can spend it however you want to. So it's up to you to pay tuition and buy books with whatever money you want to.
I have checked into vocational rehab, but there isn't much to help me. It would be good if someone had learning disorders or needed to learn skills to enter the workforce. It's sort of like what the state employment office offers. Nothing really for people that are able bodied, intelligent, etc.
I haven't had any problems with choosing nursing. Like I said, you can only take the classes on your degree plan so if you want to take easy classes to boost your GPA or like to take music or something like that, they wont' pay. Not unless you are a music major or need an elective or something.
Your nursing program should have a list of prereqs that you have to have before you apply and they will also have a semester by semester plan for your actual nursing classes. You can use that to plan your schedule until you graduate. And it's a huge hassle to change around the classes once it's done and turned in. So make sure you do it right the first time. You know how the military is about being accurate. It just keeps going on with the VA.
Basically, GI Bill is the bulk of your financial aid. It sucks, but noone seems to understand that we put money into GI Bill. It's not free. It's a paid benefit but it's counted against us when we apply for other aid.

Dude, you are awesome, Thanks so much for all the input. wow, I have to ge read it again. Ok I am still in the army and getting a medical board. I had a really bad accident, I tore my aorta, had to have hears surgery and a graft. Fractured my scull, blew out my ear drum, broke my neck, had to have a spinal fussion, shattered my elbow, snapped my radius and una,Have a rod in my radius and plates holding my arms together, fractured spine, broken spinal processes, puntured lungs, collaspsed lungs, broken ribs,a DVT, blood clot in my left leg, paralized vocal cord, had a surgery to use the other one, the rest is all little stuff. but 2 years later I funtion like thing ever happened, you would never know, it has slowed me down a little but you would ot notice, I am still high speed. Out of 26 doctors no one can explain how I survived and funtion like nothing happened.

Hey I thought VA pays for your school, through voc rehab? So the only way to get paid for school is the GI bill? I better get that kicker or boost where they up the total by $60k.

The wife and I exactly half way with our nursing. We just tranfered to the 4yr college. I want ER or a full on trauma hospital, she wants OB/GYN.

What other benifits does VA have for us.

beautimouslove · Feb 12, 2005

come on now, you have ur own place to write. this is for RN students not pre-rn-students:angryfire

miya · Feb 12, 2005

that wasn't very nice. life is too short. relax.

come on now, you have ur own place to write. this is for RN students not pre-rn-students:angryfire

keng67goat · Feb 12, 2005

come on now, you have ur own place to write. this is for RN students not pre-rn-students:angryfire

Sorry bro, It is the military in me. See if you want to know some thing or deal with a situation you go straight to the source to get the info. I figured who better to talk to then YOU RN's who have already done it. I do not want to know fro us little students who are going through it, I wanted to hear from those who have gone through it. I thought that is what this board was about was helping your fellow nurses, at least that is the way the military is.

I appolgize, I'll go back to my corner.

rebeccainlv · Feb 13, 2005

Dude, you are awesome, Thanks so much for all the input. wow, I have to ge read it again. Ok I am still in the army and getting a medical board. I had a really bad accident, I tore my aorta, had to have hears surgery and a graft. Fractured my scull, blew out my ear drum, broke my neck, had to have a spinal fussion, shattered my elbow, snapped my radius and una,Have a rod in my radius and plates holding my arms together, fractured spine, broken spinal processes, puntured lungs, collaspsed lungs, broken ribs,a DVT, blood clot in my left leg, paralized vocal cord, had a surgery to use the other one, the rest is all little stuff. but 2 years later I funtion like thing ever happened, you would never know, it has slowed me down a little but you would ot notice, I am still high speed. Out of 26 doctors no one can explain how I survived and funtion like nothing happened.
Hey I thought VA pays for your school, through voc rehab? So the only way to get paid for school is the GI bill? I better get that kicker or boost where they up the total by $60k.
The wife and I exactly half way with our nursing. We just tranfered to the 4yr college. I want ER or a full on trauma hospital, she wants OB/GYN.
What other benifits does VA have for us.

OK...I can tell you some tips about the medical exams that you will go through but I don't want to write them here. Email me at [email protected]

I worked in the hospital in the Air Force and we had many medical boards come through so I know the system and how to get the most of what you deserve for your injuries.

The only way I know is GI Bill. Voc rehab is more for job skills. They do pay some fees for tutoring or special supplies you need due to your disability. Army has some different things like kickers. Air Force doesnt' routinely have them. I did pay an additional $600 into GI Bill before I separated so I get an extra $150 per month for 36 months. That was just something that the AF did and not many people knew about it or took advantage of it. There might be some programs to bump up your monthly amount. But like I said before, the total amount they pay is based on 36 months and not a total amount of money. Mine will be over $40K when I finish using up all my benefits, but when I enlisted I was told $30K. So I bumped up my amount by $5400 by putting in the extra $600. I invested a total of $1800. If that makes sense. You can look on the VA benefits site and they have a payment chart for GI Bill benefits. It's the same base pay for everyone but increases each Oct and also depends on if you paid a kicker, etc.

CarVsTree · Feb 13, 2005

come on now, you have ur own place to write. this is for RN students not pre-rn-students:angryfire

Actually, this thread was hijacked. It was a thread regarding hospital scholarships and it was hijacked into a GI bill thread. If someone wanted to bring up GI Bill, they should have started a new post. It is inpolite to the OP to change the thread subject to GI Bill. Just a little Web etiquette. Don't think there's any reason to get :angryfire though.

I have lots of info on GI bill and will post it if someone starts a new thread.

keng67goat · Feb 14, 2005

Actually, this thread was hijacked. It was a thread regarding hospital scholarships and it was hijacked into a GI bill thread. If someone wanted to bring up GI Bill, they should have started a new post. It is inpolite to the OP to change the thread subject to GI Bill. Just a little Web etiquette. Don't think there's any reason to get :angryfire though.
I have lots of info on GI bill and will post it if someone starts a new thread.

You are right it was my fault, I got off topic. I thought it was aonly a few hospitals who will pay for your schooling and hire you while in school.

After talking with people here I found out it is very common. I have started calling hospital in diffrent states I want to end up to see if they have any good programs. I really do not care where I end up just wan to finish school and work for a good hospital, which is why I posted to hear from you RN's and not students. I has tod of a few hospitals thourgh this post that has some good programs, I totally thank you guys, and I really am sorry for posting this in your RN sections, but who better to talk to than you guys at the top of the food chain and already gone through what I am going through.

You guys are awesome, If you have any to other ways how to pay for nursing I am all ears. thanks again.