The Hidden Costs of Nursing School

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2011

SO glad i go to comm college (sort of)....gov grants already helps pay for everything and now that im in the program i am eligible for extra money :)

also i too am asking for nursing supplies...but good ones that i can keep well after school. alot of my friends are nurses and went to my school and they still have their own bp cuff and steth...

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2011

Check craigslist too. You can find new stethoscopes for cheap, new BP cuffs, sometimes uniforms (if you are lucky and wear that size).

CrazierThanYou · Nov 1, 2011

I know that nursing school is an expensive adventure for many people, myself included. However I just wanted to compile a list for all to see about the "hidden" costs that we incur ---
Clinical fees
Thank God we don't have any clinical fees! What the heck are they for??
Name badge
We didn't have to pay for this. Its included in tuition I guess...
School patch for uniform
Stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, pen light
We don't have to have our own BP cuff, although I have one
Clinical Uniform
Shoes for clinical
Parking money each week for clinical
Again, thank God we don't have to pay to park at clinical. Where on Earth do you live??
Gas for driving to clinical and school sites + car expenses, or bus fare
I hear that. Probably the biggest hidden cost for us!
Laundry money for washing uniforms
Printing money, or printer paper, ink
School supplies
Books
Laptop purchase, internet fees
Clinical skills bag (IV sets, needles, catheter kit, etc)
Our school will soon be requiring purchase of "Ipod touch" (ridiculous)
We're not allowed to use an iPod so I sold mine

This message is more than five characters.

sugarmagnoliaRN · Nov 2, 2011

FYI: yahoo had a great video the other day about how to save money on printing (which fonts to use, where to buy or refill ink cartridges)... may help y'all save some money!

mangopeach · Nov 2, 2011

Not sure if this will help anyone else - I'm in my 3rd semester. We take Peds, OB & Psych in 3rd Semester. However, Peds & OB are half semester courses. You either do Peds or OB first then switch. Most of us traded textbooks so we didn't have to buy both books. So if you did Peds first, you switched books with someone that did OB first.

I feel your pain. I don't have help from anyone either so I have to watch every penny.

Eat frugally - Bring your own lunch to class and clinicals. This is something I still try to work on. I get lazy sometimes and end up buying lunch or picking something up for dinner but you save so much by cooking your own food. I cringe everytime I spend 8 bucks in the cafeteria on crappy lunch when I could buy 2 whole chickens @ the superparket for what I'm paying for a dried up piece of chicken and wilted lettuce. I used to splurge on the best cuts of meats. But lately chicken thighs @ 89cents a pound has replaced Ribeye Steaks @ $14 per pound.

Oh, you never know how many ways there are to prepare eggs until you are broke. LOL! - When I'm super broke, eggs a thousand ways are on the menu for the week and canned mackerel and sardines. Yeah they are cheap, not steak but good protein and Omega 3 Fatty Acid and Calcium. Just because you have to eat cheap, doesn't mean it has to be junk.

Home Made Soups and Stews are cheap and go a long way.

Cuddleswithpuddles · Nov 2, 2011

Hi sagremus,

Congratulations for entering nursing school!

Don't forget to factor in the costs of taking your board exams. Check your state board's website for fees to file an application and actually take your NCLEX-RN. There may also be fees for background checks too. In CA, these fees totaled around $400some. I definitely had a hard time with them at the end of the semester.

Cuddleswithpuddles · Nov 2, 2011

Totally not nursing related but...

1. Here in CA, the 99 Cent Store chain has produce that is absolutely passable. I buy 3 organic romaine heads for 99 cents there all the time. They have eggs, milk, cream, basic breads etc. Even if your 99 cent stores do not have produce, check what kind of canned food they have. 99 cent/lb chicken, 99 cents on canned vegetables and a $1.50 carton of eggs will truly sustain you better than any ramen could. Definitely a lifesaver during my broke periods.

2. I love the website brokeassgourmet.com. Lots of budget-friendly inspiration. You'll be needing a lot of uplifting variety and comfort food!

*4!#6 · Nov 2, 2011

I regularly shop at Goodwill and have found some great deals.

One of the biggest things I did to save money was to check local libraries for textbooks. Also, my school's library has funds each semester to buy books students request. I borrowed a lot of textbooks that way, particularly ones that I wouldn't need to carry me through each semester, or ones I had very little interest in keeping outside of the course (such as our pediatric textbook).

SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP · Nov 2, 2011

There is no free parking in the city where my clinical site is. I pay the extra $1 for valet since I do nights and it's one if the most violent cities in the US. It's worth the $4 extra a month. I wish I had free parking.

milksteak · Nov 2, 2011

um... is anyone else shocked by the requirement of an IPOD TOUCH!!!!?

Why in the world would you NEED one?

and iPad would be pretty nice tho!

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

um... is anyone else shocked by the requirement of an IPOD TOUCH!!!!?
Why in the world would you NEED one?
and iPad would be pretty nice tho!

Yes, I thought it was a little strange!

I know that nursing school is an expensive adventure for many people, myself included. However I just wanted to compile a list for all to see about the "hidden" costs that we incur ---
Clinical fees---included
Name badgeSchool patch for uniform
Stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, pen light---you'll need a good stethoscope during your carreer
Clinical Uniform
Shoes for clinical
Parking money each week for clinical
Gas for driving to clinical and school sites + car expenses, or bus fare
Laundry money for washing uniforms---you have to do laundry anyway.
Printing money, or printer paper, ink----do it at school. We have X number of copies/credit hour.
School supplies---stock up in the fall when they are all on sale.
Books
Laptop purchase, internet fees---more of a want than a need.
Clinical skills bag (IV sets, needles, catheter kit, etc)---should be provided
Our school will soon be requiring purchase of "Ipod touch" (ridiculous)--now that's just crazy!-

--

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

Yeah, I don't understand why it would be required either!