Registered Nurse (RN)-Former Nursing Student & Current Nurse Blog My Journey of Becoming & Working as a Registered Nurse

I am still trying to catch up on some older questions I never got to. Here is a great question about affording Nursing School College Programs:

Hey Sarah,

I am REALLY interested in becoming a nurse. The only problem is, I am really not doing very well financially. I know that college or nursing school can be really expensive. I really can’t see how I can afford paying for school for the next 2-4 years. Can you offer any suggestions to help me finance nursing school? Thanks

Rita

Hey Rita,

Thanks so much for your question. First of all, Nursing School can definitely be expensive. Luckily, there are many great programs and opportunities in this day and age that will allow you to realize your dream of becoming a nurse. There are lots of ways you can help to pay for your education. So I would like to cover some methods you can use.

How to Pay for Nursing School or Medical College: Ways to Finance Your Education

1. Financial Aid–The government offers a free financial aid application to see if you qualify for state or federal funds. Most of the time, these are grants that do not need to be repaid. This is a great way to take get a nursing degree! You can often get enough financial aid to cover your full costs, or at least most of it. You can apply for free at fasfa.ed.gov.
2. Nursing Scholarships–Most nursing colleges will offer scholarship packages for new students. There are often several different scholarships available for different people. Example: you may get a scholarship based on income, or grades, etc. So definitely check with your local college’s scholarship or nursing department to find out if you can obtain any scholarship assistance.
3. Employee Tuition Reimbursement–Many employers (such as hospitals and organizations) will offer a tuition reimbursement program. My job offers this, and many others do as well. In this situation, if you work for a company or organization, they will often pay for your schooling as long as you agree to continue working for them. It benefits them to have your expertise, and it benefits you because you can move up the career ladder. So, for example, let’s assume you want to be a nurse. You could always go and work part-time at a hospital or place that offers tuition reimbursement (as a CNA or Entry Level Worker), and then they will help cover the cost of your tuition for nursing school. This can be a great way to not only cover your schooling costs, but also build a relationship with your employer.
4. Student Loan Programs–The other 3 options above would be best, as you don’t have to pay back the funds. But if you can’t get any of those (or need a little extra help), you can always apply for School loans. Student loans are available at almost any major college or university. You can contact your local college or university for more information regarding student loans. Just remember that you must pay them back once you graduate, and often have to pay interest charges. So be careful. =)
5. Credit Cards– Credit cards are one more way you can help cover the costs of tuition. Credit cards are not the best option, but they are one possible option. Even if you don’t use a credit card to pay for tuition, you can use them for other things such as buying textbooks online. In any event, just be sure to use credit cards responsibly, and only spend what you  have to (and pay it off as soon as possible).

Conclusion: There are Many Ways to Pay for Nursing School, Don’t Give Up

I had to make a lot of financial sacrifices while I was a student, but it was definitely worth the effort. I am so glad that I pursued my dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. It may be hard to stay focused and afford the rising tuition costs, but just know that there are programs and ways to help you realize your dreams of becoming a nurse.

Good luck =).

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Hey Everyone,

Here is another great nursing-related question regarding becoming an Obstetrician. Here is the question:

Hi Sarah,

I just LOVE your blog! and you are an amazing person. I need your help to guide me.

I am 18 yrs old. I really want to become an obstetrician.I am currently in high school. I want to know the steps i should take to become a successful obstetrician.

Unfortunately I have to support myself financially so I am planning to attend BMCC for my nursing degree and I don’t know what i have to do after that. I am working very hard.

My backup plan is if I cant seem to support myself in order to further my nursing education to become an obstetrician then, I will try being an R.N or a nursing assistant but it is my dream to become an obstetrician . Please help me

Anita

First of all, thanks so much for the very nice things you said Anita. I think it is great that you are so ambitious about wanting to become an obstetrician! If you really want it bad enough, then trust me you will one day be an obstetrician. I will do the best I can to give you some tips on how to realize your dream.

How to Become an Obstetrician out of High School

High school is a great time to really start making moves for your future career goals. You said you are 18, so I assume you are about to graduate very soon (if you haven’t already).

At this point, I would recommend that you talk to your guidance counselor to see what classes can help prepare you for your college courses. Any health or nursing related classes would be great, and it can start laying a foundation for your future academic success.j

This is also a great time to begin applying to the college you hope to attend, to see if you will get accepted (if you haven’t already done so). Once you do get accepted, I highly recommend getting a catalog of classes, and also speaking with an advisor in the health department of the college. An advisor can tell you which classes to take to ensure you can meet the necessary requirements to become an obstetrician.

I also think it would be a very wise move to start with an RN degree, since obstetricians usually require a more advanced degree than a BSN. Nursing would not only give you some good experience, but it would also enable you to network with other obstetricians and medical people, and also give you a good income if you decide to continue schooling.

How To Afford Advanced Medical Training and Degrees College Programs

You did say that you were going to have to support yourself, and I completely relate with that. Both my husband and I came from single mothers and we had to support ourselves through college. It was very difficult and quite a struggle to do. So I can relate with you on that.

However, there are many great things you can do to help you financially while you are seeking your education. I thought I would share a few tips in case you haven’t tried these yet, so you can realize your dream of being an obstetrician or Registered Nurse:

1. Talk to your High School guidance counselor about any scholarship programs. Many states have scholarship programs that will cover the full or partial expenses of your schooling. I was able to get a “lottery scholarship” based on my GPA, which helped tremendously.
2. If you come from a family with a lower income, or you yourself have a low income, you can apply for financial aid from the government. This is totally free, and you may be able to get grant money that you don’t even have to repay. You can do this only at www.fafsa.ed.gov/.
3. Check with your local college to find out about potential scholarship programs. Many colleges have tons of scholarship programs and you will likely be eligible for many of them. This can help you cover your educational expenses.
4. Consider working part time either before or after you get your nursing degree. Many companies in the medical field will give you tuition re-reimbursement if you complete a college degree and agree to work with them. So this can help you both while you get your undergraduate degree, and also if you plan to go back to get your further medical degrees. So I would definitely keep that in mind.

Conclusion: Good Luck and Don’t Give Up!

Being an obstetrician would be a great career. If this is something you are truly interested in doing, then don’t ever give up. You can and will become an obstetrician if you set your mind to it and work hard.

I hope the tips I have provided will help you on your path during nursing and medical school. I wish you the very best of luck, and thanks again =).

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Posted under Ask A Question, Nursing School