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I was looking over the required and recommended textbooks for nursing and have counted 22 in all for the duration of school! I still have to get my titers for Varicella, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Hep B, plus get my tetenus, meningitis, and TB shots! I also need to get CPR certified and purchase medical insurance. Needless to say, being a new student for Fall 08, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the expense of it all. I don't have health insurance and I was told that health clinics don't run titer tests. Each titer test can be quite costly! Thank God I have several months ahead to get everything I need but I'm still worried about how much this will cost me. This doesn't include my steth, scrubs, nursing pack, and anything else needed. :uhoh3: How do you manage this without going broke. I live on student loans and grants. Any suggestions or info would be helpful.

Thanks.

Specializes in NICU.

Yes. I asked my Doctor and he said no problem with getting the vaccinations again. It was much cheaper than getting tiers done. A friend of mine knew that she had vaccinations but did not have the paper work, she had the titers done and ended up still needing to get the shots. Good luck

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It just felt strange, when my mother and inlaws asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I said nursing stuff. On top of what I've already spent this semester, another $200 or so just seems like such a small amount. But- it's $200 that I didn't have to use student loan funds for.

I'm doing an associates (I guess that's an ADN?) program. I want a BSN, and my school offers a 1 weekend a month RN-BSN program that you can finish within 2 years.

Bertolozzi I feel for you. The one thing that I'm thankful for is that I will hopefully not have to worry about childcare expenses. I've been real lucky with all of my prerequisites- I've been able to work around their school schedule. Nursing school though is going to be different. But the girls are almost 14 and almost 11, so leaving them alone during the day should be ok.

Spring Break's going to be the deciding point though. Our spring breaks aren't on the same schedule, so the girls will be alone M-Th of that week. I'm hoping to keep them busy with housework. If things don't work out- well we may have to find something alternate to use for the 4 or so weeks during the summer that I have school, and they don't.

Are your kids in school? If they are, is there a before/afterschool program that the school has? Youngest dd's school has one offered through the Y- but I'm hoping that we don't HAVE to use it- it's kind of pricey. And- my next door neighbor's kid is in that program, and dd doesn't like that kid much.

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Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
I was looking over the required and recommended textbooks for nursing and have counted 22 in all for the duration of school! I still have to get my titers for Varicella, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Hep B, plus get my tetenus, meningitis, and TB shots! I also need to get CPR certified and purchase medical insurance. Needless to say, being a new student for Fall 08, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the expense of it all. I don't have health insurance and I was told that health clinics don't run titer tests. Each titer test can be quite costly! Thank God I have several months ahead to get everything I need but I'm still worried about how much this will cost me. This doesn't include my steth, scrubs, nursing pack, and anything else needed. :uhoh3: How do you manage this without going broke. I live on student loans and grants. Any suggestions or info would be helpful.

Thanks.

Welcome to "pre-nursing student hell"! This year I've spent around $5,000 getting my pre-reqs, required equipment, uniforms, PDA, Laptop, etc., etc.

That does not include the $1300 in books and software for semester 1. LOL!

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ladyk, I know exactly how you feel at Christmas! I was invited to an extended family house on Sunday and was told to just bring myself, my kids, and Christmas cheer! I feel bad really bad going empty handed but I can't help it. They understand too but it's a guilt I carry.

So your nursing program is only a year long? I start in Aug. '08 and won't finish until May '10. That's great that you have only a year!

Thanks for the cost estimate too. Now I know what how much to expect. Buying a little at a time is all I can do.

Actually it's 2ys , (it's an ADN program). When you work out the mths from the start date to graduation, you will realise that it's not exactly 2yrs, just abt a mth short of 2yrs. Poverty for two years is no joke hahaha. Good luck

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Yes. I asked my Doctor and he said no problem with getting the vaccinations again. It was much cheaper than getting tiers done. A friend of mine knew that she had vaccinations but did not have the paper work, she had the titers done and ended up still needing to get the shots. Good luck

I've heard of that happening, paying for titers, not showing immunities and then still having to get the shot....just double the expense. So I guess that's what i'll do, just get the darn shots all over again...and I'm such a baby getting them. I can give shots all day long but receiving is a different story! lol. I can handle blood drawings too, but just not shots and the soreness for days afterwards, lol. Thanks and I'm going to check with the health unit after Christmas to see about getting started. And to think I need to get all the Hep B's done over...my records are from over 10 years ago where I got them from a hospital I worked for here, and they don't know if they still have those records. Their looking and will get back in touch, my fingers are crossed, that's three less shots!:lol2:

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Actually it's 2ys , (it's an ADN program). When you work out the mths from the start date to graduation, you will realise that it's not exactly 2yrs, just abt a mth short of 2yrs. Poverty for two years is no joke hahaha. Good luck

Oh, okay. I thought you were in an accelerated program or something. I don't think I could ever do accelerated. It's enough just in the 2 years. And yes, poverty, I hear ya! 2 more years of living this way is better than living this way the rest of your life! ;)

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Welcome to "pre-nursing student hell"! This year I've spent around $5,000 getting my pre-reqs, required equipment, uniforms, PDA, Laptop, etc., etc.

That does not include the $1300 in books and software for semester 1. LOL!

Geez, how did you afford that? I wish I had the money right now to get everything I need. I want to shop for nursing supplies like a kid shops for candy in the candy store. lol. I'm just excited and I want everything now! It makes me want to run a local ad in the paper and ask recent nursing graduates to call me if they want to sell anything they've used, but the only problem with that is it, the ad, costs too!

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Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
Geez, how did you afford that? I wish I had the money right now to get everything I need. I want to shop for nursing supplies like a kid shops for candy in the candy store. lol. I'm just excited and I want everything now! It makes me want to run a local ad in the paper and ask recent nursing graduates to call me if they want to sell anything they've used, but the only problem with that is it, the ad, costs too!

LOL! A decent paying job and living like a bum helps!

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It's a tough xmas this year with me in nursing school/no income and with three kids.

The students at my school were encouraged to buy the pre-bundled package from the Elsiver rep because of the cd that comes with it. Apparently, it will be a big help when we go on to do care plans....although I've tried using it to answer lecture objectives as part of my study group and found that it takes more time to use than finding the info in the books, so it doesn't seem worth the money.

If you don't need these "book rep commission producing bundles," used books would be the way to go.

Beware of thinking your health insurance will cover your titers. I have fairly good health insurance thru United Health, but ended up having to pay for most of my titers and fees and for the dr. to fill out all my forms. Bills are still coming, and am confused why my insurance didn't pay anything. That along with the reg fees, books, uniform, nursing supplies, CPR, background checks/drug tests, and a new lap top put me at $5,000 for my first quarter. And, this is without any of the "recommended texts" which I hear are necessary for subsequent semesters.

Visa is getting a work out. But my biggest problem is the extra child care expenses now that I am in school full time and can't use the local community college child care center which was subsidized. Next qtr, I will need to leave the house at 6:30am two days a week for clinicals, and classes will go until 4:30 pm afternoons, so need to figure out child care coverage at the front and back ends of the day. So far, it's been impossible to find a teenager or neighbor who is interested in helping me out even though I am willing to pay well. Husband works long days to support my lack of income; have no family to lean on.

Did get a $2,000 scholarship from the local hospital I volunteer with on weekends when hub is home w/kids....which will go towards childcare at this point...if I can find anybody. There seems to be a lot of scholarships out there for nursing students, and will spend some time during break researching this more; recommend everyone do the same.

Yes, nursing school is turning out to be way more expensive than anticipated. And this is with a California State University BSN program--I had been accepted into a couple more expensive entry level MSN programs which clearly would have been out of my league without huge loans.

I think taking the ADN to BSN route is the most affordable option, but those programs are the most impacted around here.

I've searched for nursing scholarships in the past and it's not easy to find. I will keep looking though. I'm sure there's something out there for my situation but I haven't found it yet.

I would also suggest a before and after care program with either your kids school or a facility that may pick up kids from the school and watch them for you that is if your kids are school aged. There's got to be something out there to help parents who work the typical 9-5 job.

Good Luck!

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I hear you on costs being high! My tuition and fees first semester adds up to $4200. My books are about $1000. Titers are mandatory, even if you get the vaccinations again, and those ran $296. Vaccinations were necessary because I did not show immunity, so I needed MMR (despite having the booster less than 3 years ago) and needed the diptheria/tetorifice and Hep B shots, these were not covered but I have not yet received the bill. My physical, despite having insurance, was not covered due to being considered a work physical, that was $80. Uniforms, $200. Shoes, $75. CPR, $50. Background check, $35. Plus my stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, miscellaneous supplies, etc... Oh, and let's not forget child care and the fact that our gas bill is going to be nearly doubled because I have to go to class 4 days a week. I'm grateful it's only 4 - it originally was 5 days a week.

It will be worth it in the end. I hope! LOL

Tiffany

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Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

Yes, have discovered my adult volunteer scholarship was a rare thing--have been doing some research since I last posted, and it seems there are fewer scholarships out there than I previously thought. Darn. Now that most of the book bundles have been purchased, hope the book costs will be less in future semesters.

My kids are 4, 9 and 13--but the 13 year old has LD's (dyslexia, ADD, etc) and will leave the house without shoes on, and my more responsible 9 year old daughter is still a little too young to manage the older and younger boys. Yes, will be using the before/after school care with the older two--just hate getting the kids up so early and having to pack all their lunches so I can get to clinical by 6:30. So wish I could hire a teenager for the AM's. Hub is gone by 5am in order to get home by 6pm--this the reality of commuting in the Bay Area.

It's the preschooler that will kill me financially. Before and after school care is way expensive...and I chose the best preschool I could find because my kids are late bloomers and need all the academic help they can get. Wish I looked into comparing the costs of the before/after school program there as I would have made a different choice.

Had been told that the nursing school program mostly followed a 9-3 schedule--but was warned that clinicals could fall out those hours....assumed that meant night and weekends when hub would be home. Did not anticipate the early mornings.

Great idea on just going ahead and getting all your vacinations again, if your school accepts this. Anyone have good experiences buying the bundled books used. Is there some compelling reason to buy the book bundles other than the CD?

My uniforms are all white, and therefore will need more than I had originally thought as they are likely to get stained quickly. Will buy lots of bleach to stretch the uniform costs.

Any advice on how to save appreciated. Can't trust family to buy the nursing gear I want as gifts, am picky this way.

Good luck saving

Bertolozzi

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Hey gang, I just wanted to give you an idea for your insurance covering your physical as well as your titers/injections. If your medical insurance has a clause in it that covers "Adult wellness" your physician can file your physical, titers, injections under this and your insurance WILL pay for it. I had the same run around so I went and talked to my doc. He changed the filing status to "Adult wellness" and sure enough I got a letter a few weeks later from my insurance company showing they paid!!!. I had to have titers, TB series, physical, 2 injections that I didn't show immunity for, total cost 15 bucks after insurance. Check your insurance coverage then talk to your doc about changing filing status.

I COMPLETELY understand cost..... My poor husband, lol, grits his teeth and smiles when I start a sentence like, "Hon, I got a new need list from school." POOR GUY. I just keep thinking it isn't going to last, it isn't going to last, the not having money part.

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