chemteach

I just received my first payment. At some point I remember they asked if I wanted them to hold money from the monthly payments for taxes and I said yes. They kept about 20% for taxes, but I just made that up with my own money to get them paid off faster. I also went to my work W2 and am withholding an extra $200 a paycheck just in case. This money will be considered income, so it might bump me into the next tax bracket and I'm trying to avoid a huge bill come tax season. I'd rather be happily surprised and get a refund, then spend it on a Summer vacation! No matter what, even if you're taxed, this program is still completely worth it. It just might mean you owe extra money now for taxes but its far less money than you'll pay in the long run paying off these loans. I know we have to show every 6 months that all the money is going towards student loans, and I'm not sure if that includes the taxes withheld (for example, if my monthly award amount is $3000 but they only deposit $2400 in my account because $600 is kept for taxes, am I still responsible for putting $3000 towards my student loans every month?). I'll probably continue putting the extra $$ myself towards the loans each month anyway, but might be good to know the answer in case I'm in need of extra cash one month. For those asking how the payments work, about 3 weeks after I was converted to a finalist the money just showed up in my account one day. When I log in, I can see all 24 scheduled payments for the next 2 years scheduled and the amount. I then immediately went to my loan servicer and paid what they deposited + they amount they withheld for taxes (again, not sure if this is necessary, going to call this week to ask). As far as the amount, it was 60% of my loans divided into 24 equal monthly payments, so its about 3x more than my monthly payment for me. I feel so blessed to be getting this money, its life-changing. I had such a weight on my shoulders with these loans, and having this help paying them off gives me the extra push I need to be aggressive and pay them off ASAP. I will NEVER let my kids take out student loans. Good luck to all of you, I hope you get it as well!

you'll notice my username is chemteach, actually made an account here when I was a teacher looking to get into nursing. I was a high school biology and Chemistry teacher before I went to nursing school. Teaching actually gives you a lot of skills necessary to be a good nurse, and I felt very prepared to talk to patients and other healthcare providers in nursing school and once I was in the field. I actually went back and taught high school again for a couple of years after getting my nursing degree, I taught a high school clinical rotations class which I really loved. Now I'm working on my PhD and teaching at a nursing school. Nursing education is a Big Field if you ever want to return to teaching in a different environment. I eventually went back into academia because I didn't like working nights, weekends, and holidays.

Does anyone know how many people that apply for the 3rd year extension get it?

Same, first signature July 8th, and then after reading your comment went to check and I got a counter signature today!! So excited!!

I'm in the same boat, waiting for countersignature.

Nurse faculty, first time applying. Received an email today that I'm a finalist! Just signed my contract. Who has to cosign it?? Is it someone at HRSA or someone at my place of employment?

Anyone else apply as a nurse faculty? This is my first time applying.

I am a lurker but I wanted to comment because I am former teacher turned med/surg nurse turned school nurse. I love being back in a school! I love the schedule and the environment is just so much more positive than a hospital. Being a school nurse is very different from being a teacher, though, not in a good/bad way just different. I also hated my peds rotation in nursing school but I work in a high school so my students feel more like adults than kids anyway. I didn't need a certification to get this job (Texas) but I think some states require it. I get tons of opportunity to educate because my principal expects me in the classrooms a lot teaching (partially because of my teaching background and partially because my clinic is fairly slow, small school). In your interviews emphasize your teaching background, that you are familiar with IEPs, ARDs, 504s, discipline, how important it is that students are in class as much as possible (as long as they arent contagious of course), almost all principals seemed very exciting about my teaching background. Also, keep your teaching certification current, I think that is a great thing to put on your resume and its much easier to keep up with it then than to let it lapse and and try to renew it later. Plus, I see it as having a back up plan in case budget cuts/other circumstances eliminate my position. Good luck!

I live and work in Katy. There is a scrub shop in Katy Mills Mall and I can find cute printed tops at about $15 each. I have several pairs of black scrub bottoms that I rotate through to wear with them.

woops accidental post!

Hi! This is my first year as a school nurse and (as my screen name implies) I am a former teacher. I work at a career and technology high school and my principal would like me to teach health lessons in all of the career and technology classes. Some of them are easy, but there are a few classes that I have no idea what topic I should teach. Any ideas? Architecture Audio Engineering Film Education Computer Maintenance/Internetworking Technologies Automotive Law Enforcement STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics)

Also new and also in Texas! School starts for kids on Monday!

I have an interview for an elementary school nurse position at the school my kids will go to although my oldest won't start until August 2017. A few questions: 1) should I bring up in the interview my kids will go there? Is that viewed as good/bad/neutral? I was thinking I could talk about how invested I'll be in the school since my kids go there 2) will my kids be mortified that I work in their school? When does all that start? Elementary too young? 3) should I worry about being a nurse for my neighbors kids? Has it ever been awkward because you know them outside that setting? Like they get upset because I sent their kid home and then have to see them at the mailbox/a birthday party? thanks in advance!!

Hello all, I am currently in a BSN program, will graduate in December 2013. We have one son, almost a year old, and are thinking about another. I am having so much trouble trying to decide the right time to have another one since I am in the midst of a career change. Here are my concerns about each option: 1. Have baby at the end of nursing school: I'll be pregnant during school and clinicals, be tired, pray there are no complications that wold keep me from finishing I'll have the baby and then potentially miss the hiring season for nurse residencies or not be ready to go back to work so soon. My advisor said I may have to wait until may when the next class graduates. Will they even hire me knowing I'm having a baby and then expected to start a job 6 weeks later? 2. Wait until after graduation to get pregnant: I'll be pregnant while learning a new job I'll have to take leave without being in a job very long Babies will be further apart in age I was just wondering if anyone has any experience or advice. I want to make the best decision for my family. Thanks in advance!!!

I got two emails-one that said "Congratulations you have been accepted" and then another one that told me to check myuth for an update in my admission status. Does anyone's to-do list include anything about prerequisite courses in progress? My stats: Nursing GPA: 3.7 Science GPA: 3.8 Hesi Composite: 91% (Didn't do too hot on the A&P portion)