Was your education worth it?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

This post is particularly about the financial aspect of nursing & becoming a nurse. I'm a pre-nursing major (sophmore) & have already had to take out several student loans.

Has anyone else had to take out loans while working towards their degree? How successful were you at paying them back? Was it worth it?

I know college can be looked at as in "investment", yet I'm so stressed about this because I really want to be a nurse, but then again I'm afraid of the debt I will accumulate & not being able to pay it back.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

When I went to nursing school I was a single mom with no child support or family financial support. I could t even get food stamps. The only aide I got was a $750 pell grant each semester and discounted child care. Turned out it was all I really needed. I waitressed full time and worked at a Dairy Queen decorating ice cream cakes part time while i went to nursing school full time. My mom helped with the extra child care because that was the only way she could help me. I paid for each semester with my waitressing tips lol! ...the place was just a neighborhood pub where a bunch of regulars came. Nice people and very fond memories of THEIR support knowing I was juggling all this with a 4 yr old. Ahhhhhh I miss those days!!! I loved school!! I remember the first day of school when an instructor asked those who had jobs to raise their hands an about 6 of us did and she told the rest of the class "take a look at these people with their hands raised.. You won't be seeing them next semester" sent chills down my spine.. But they saw me, the next semester and the next and the next lol

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Specializes in 4.

I owe a considerable amount for my LVN & now for my RN (still taking pre-req's). I don't care cause I don't put a price on my education. I've always wanted to be a nurse & I will be d*mned if I let anyone or anything stand in my way. Being a nurse isn't about money, whether that be how much money I make or how much money I owe. If I lived my life worried about money, I would never stop to enjoy it.

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I owe a considerable amount for my LVN & now for my RN (still taking pre-req's). I don't care cause I don't put a price on my education. I've always wanted to be a nurse & I will be d*mned if I let anyone or anything stand in my way. Being a nurse isn't about money, whether that be how much money I make or how much money I owe. If I lived my life worried about money, I would never stop to enjoy it.

Well, that's all fine and good, but unfortunately there are plenty of people who put a price on other things, like housing, food, transportation, medical expenses, etc. Some debt may be necessary for many to get their nursing education. However, there is definitely a point where too much debt is foolish and can be absolutely crushing. Debt should be incurred thoughtfully and kept to a minimum. I would encourage anyone trying to get a nursing education to explore as many options aside from loans as possible. That would include applying for grants, scholarships, and working part time to offset the cost as much as possible. Stay away from expensive privates if finances are an issue-you can get just as good an education at a public university at a fraction of the cost.

I don't dispute that worrying too much about money could make life less enjoyable. However, trying to work your way out of crushing debt has a way of taking some of the joy out of life as well.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I owe a considerable amount for my LVN & now for my RN (still taking pre-req's).

*** Why would you take, why would there be pre-reqs fro an LPN to RN program? My LPN to RN didn't have any. Of course I did a lot of searching to find a program that would let me start ASAP.

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Specializes in 4.

Well, that's all fine and good, but unfortunately there are plenty of people who put a price on other things, like housing, food, transportation, medical expenses, etc. Some debt may be necessary for many to get their nursing education. However, there is definitely a point where too much debt is foolish and can be absolutely crushing. Debt should be incurred thoughtfully and kept to a minimum. I would encourage anyone trying to get a nursing education to explore as many options aside from loans as possible. That would include applying for grants, scholarships, and working part time to offset the cost as much as possible. Stay away from expensive privates if finances are an issue-you can get just as good an education at a public university at a fraction of the cost.

I don't dispute that worrying too much about money could make life less enjoyable. However, trying to work your way out of crushing debt has a way of taking some of the joy out of life as well.

That was my opinion. You have to look at the big picture & stop looking focusing on each obstacle. I know I will be able to pay back my student loan, once I do get my RN but my point was....I'm not putting a price on MY education. I have owned 3 houses & had it all then lost it all before I became a nurse. Sh*t happens in life period.

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Specializes in 4.

*** Why would you take, why would there be pre-reqs fro an LPN to RN program? My LPN to RN didn't have any. Of course I did a lot of searching to find a program that would let me start ASAP.

Welcome to California! For an LVN to RN program pre-req's are required in my lovely state & the 1 bridge program that has a program for a working LVN is a private college. It's just how it is here & if checked out colleges from San Diego to Sacramento to San Luis Obispo.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Welcome to California! For an LVN to RN program pre-req's are required in my lovely state & the 1 bridge program that has a program for a working LVN is a private college. It's just how it is here & if checked out colleges from San Diego to Sacramento to San Luis Obispo.

*** Ya I know. I am from San Diego and was an LVN in California. I went to Palomar and some other ADN programs to find out what I had to do to become and RN. I was shocked. When I learned I could do LVN to RN in just 2 semesters without pre-reqs in Wisconsin for less than $3K I threw my stuff in a truck and drove.

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No it wasn't.

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Specializes in 4.

*** Ya I know. I am from San Diego and was an LVN in California. I went to Palomar and some other ADN programs to find out what I had to do to become and RN. I was shocked. When I learned I could do LVN to RN in just 2 semesters without pre-reqs in Wisconsin for less than $3K I threw my stuff in a truck and drove.

I should so follow you!!! hahahahaha....California is so inundated with nurses period. If I didn't have a solid job in a hospital & an older parent, than I would totally think twice about moving out of state. I keep hearing about how much easier it is out of California. Housing, education, everything just seems to easier.

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

I had a partial scholarship for going to school for my RN, however I needed money to eat and live; so I took out loans to the tune of over $15,000 dollars. Was it worth it? Yes. Once I had my nursing degree my yearly salary doubled in the first year. And it has steadily increased since.

That said, I think it depends on where someone is coming from in their station in life. In my situation I had no prior degree, so I worked any job I could get and made a little above minimal wage. So the RN degree changed my whole income status. I went from living paycheck to paycheck to being able to make my bills.

For others, they may already have another degree or be working a job that pays decent money. In these cases, no the return would not be as great.

Certainly these are factors one should weigh before going back to school and taking out loans.

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Loans can be the key to getting one's education. Just keep them to the minimum. Research FA (lot of people don't realize they qualify for aid), scholarships (again, every year there are merit scholarships which are not applied for by many people-be that person), grants, etc. If you work, find out if there is tuition assistance. Anything to keep your debt down will help you later. My D is not a nurse, but will graduate in a few years with a Ph.D and not one dime of debt. She knows how lucky she is-she is in school with other students who already have a lot of debt, and they know this will impact them for years.

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I had a partial scholarship for going to school for my RN, however I needed money to eat and live; so I took out loans to the tune of over $15,000 dollars. Was it worth it? Yes. Once I had my nursing degree my yearly salary doubled in the first year. And it has steadily increased since.

That said, I think it depends on where someone is coming from in their station in life. In my situation I had no prior degree, so I worked any job I could get and made a little above minimal wage. So the RN degree changed my whole income status. I went from living paycheck to paycheck to being able to make my bills.

For others, they may already have another degree or be working a job that pays decent money. In these cases, no the return would not be as great.

Certainly these are factors one should weigh before going back to school and taking out loans.

Im 19 yrs old, straight out of high school, no prior degree, never held a job before in my life. With that being said I think that if I keep my debt $12k-15k (at the MOST) and under by the time I graduate it will be well worth it. Thanks for the response!

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