Question & Advice Needed (Please read)

[bopeep82]

I received a scholarship application today that would pay 100% of my tuition as long as I gave 2 years back to the local hospital. This is great, however, my husband is active duty in the military. I'm staying back to go to nursing school (the next 2 years). If I went ahead with this opportunity then I may be risking being geographically separated for 4 years, worst case scenario. The pros are that I will get a promised job immediately upon graduation and passing the NCLEX.

I keep reading and hearing how hard some are having finding a job out of nursing school. I believe I'm going to apply for the scholarship, as worst case will be that I just pay my tuition back.

Is it really that difficult to find a job afterwards? I'm going for my ADN. My husband are working on 12 years of marriage and have 3 kids. For all the deployments we've been through, I believe we will survive this. I'm just a little fearful. What would you do?

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

That's a tough question to answer. As far as getting a Job, it's not impossible, but it all depends on where you live. It also depends on what you're willing to settle for. As an ADN prepared nurse, you will not be the proffered candidate for any job, unfortunately.

What will happen if you take th scholarship and cannot pay back the time? Would you owe the money back? If so, is this a chance you are willing to take.

I personally am hesitant to plan anything that far ahead of time, you never know what your life may be like in 2 or 4 years. But that's just me.

[wyogypsy, RN]

Wow, this is a hard one. It really depends on what part of the country you live in as to whether getting a job as a new grad is difficult or not. Where I am from (Wyoming), it is very easy unless you want ER or Labor/Delivery, areas that a lot of nurses want to enter. It is also easier in many areas to get a job in long term care as opposed to a hospital. I would imagine there is no way of knowing where he will be in 2 years? If you knew, you could check out specifically for that location by asking others on the internet, calling the local hospital and asking. Unless you know you are going to stay in that location, I would not take the scholarship if there is any way you can afford to go without it. Best of luck to you and your family!

[bopeep82]

I imagine I could pay the amoubt back if it didn't work out. I'm in NC, but plan on doing rn to bsn option at University of MD and settle in the Baltimore area. I have to do adn right now bcmI'm not geographically in a position to attend a 4 year school.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

You are very smart to ensure your own future ability to support yourself & kids if the need arises but you are the best person to make this decision. Only you can evaluate the potential impact on your marriage. Just attending nursing school can be very stressful by itself - even without the added problems associated trying to maintain a long distance relationship and functioning as a single parent.

FWIW, many smaller community hospitals across the country have similar scholarship arrangements so there is a high likelihood that you would be able to connect with something similar in a new area. Even though it may seem like it, this is not your "last chance" or a "now or never" situation to attend nursing school.

[MissM.RN, BSN, RN]

Agree with previous posters - you're being very smart, and it's a tough situation. 4 years is a long time to be separated from your hubs. I might decline the scholarship to be honest. I work for a hospital that qualifies for federal loan repayment. Tons of hospitals across the country qualify (check out http://www.hrsa.gov - nursing loan repayment), so maybe that will take the financial pressure of tuition and location worries out of the equation. Also agree with Hou Tx above - you will probably need the support of your spouse to allow for study time, and the first year of work after sitting for the nclex is always especially stressful (that's when the real learning begins!). I know you'll make the right decision for your family though. Best of luck to you! I'm sure everything will work out.