Reimbursement Question

I can't speak for all employers, but they usually require proof of payment (like a cancelled check or credit card receipt).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that you're asking if as an RN, you can double-dip? As in, receive grants/scholarships for tuition in addition to being reimbursed by your employer.

Highly doubtful. For one thing, if you are earning a full-time salary and are thus eligible for tuition reimbursement programs, it is doubtful that you would qualify for grants. For another, it is highly likely that most tuition reimbursement programs would have built-in safeguards against an employee's ability to profit monetarily from the program.

@Immediately preceding poster, family size is also taken into consideration when calculating eligibility for grants. Not just amount of income.

And gosh, it was just a question! I'm fairly new to the workforce, as I've only had a steady job for the past two years.

I can only speak for my employer but all they require is a statement showing how much my tuition was and a copy of my grade transcript. I have had all of my tuition covered by loans, grants and scholarships (and even received refunds) but I still get tuition reimbursement. I'm assuming the reasoning behind it is that I am going to have to pay back the loans so it's still money out of my pocket.

I'm getting tuition reimbursement through the VA, which is awesome!

No, you can't double dip. If you got school paid for by grants and scholarships then by definition there's nothing to reimburse.

I can only speak for my employer but all they require is a statement showing how much my tuition was and a copy of my grade transcript. I have had all of my tuition covered by loans, grants and scholarships (and even received refunds) but I still get tuition reimbursement. I'm assuming the reasoning behind it is that I am going to have to pay back the loans so it's still money out of my pocket.

It might be wise for you to do more than assume that your tuition reimbursement is appropriate and according to your facilty's guidelines. As the previous poster noted, if your tuition is being paid for by a grant or a scholarship, then you technically do not have any expenses to be reimbursed for. A loan might have different criteria since you will be paying the $$ back.

Thank you Rose, but Im not even employed at a healthcare facility yet. This was just a general question.

Whenever I have received tuition reimbursement, and this was non-nursing, these had to be met:

1. Prove how this course or this degree is relevant to the job, and possibly justify that what you learn there can be directly applied to the job or a future position with that employer.

2. Get prior approval from the supervisor and whomever else to take the course. Prior approval, because if I dumped receipts on them afterward but didn't have approval to take the course, they would not pay for it.

3. Make the arrangements, pay for the course, pay for the books, myself. Find out exactly which books and supplies will be covered. Computers and software, for example, probably won't be.

4. Complete the course with a C or better (sometimes a B or better), then submit grade and receipts to the employer and wait to be reimbursed. In most cases, they'd pay 75%. I'm not sure what % most healthcare employers pay.

Unless it is a specific program (like working in an underserved area with loan forgiveness) the tuition reimbursement is a benefit of employment. You must be working full time when you start the course (sometimes you must apply for permission to have a particular course covered)...you often pay for the course upfront. After you receive your grades you can apply to your hospital for reimbursement. The reimbursement will be considered "income" and you will be subjected to tax on it.