Paying for Nursing School
Nursing is a career field that is growing by leaps and bounds. Due to the shortage of nurses in recent years and a growing population of aging and elderly people for nurses to care for, there is a dire need for well trained, hard working nursing personnel. Hospitals, colleges, and the state and federal government are just some of the ways for aspiring nurses to get scholarships.
To help lower tuition costs, nursing students might consider going to associate's degree or diploma programs which last shorter amounts of time than bachelor's degree programs. Most hospitals offer programs that train nursing students who work as aides while attending school. These students are often paid more than aides who are not in nursing school. Tuition reimbursement and sign on bonuses are offered by some hospitals in exchange for agreeing to work in the hospital system for a set amount of time. This type of agreement is sometimes very beneficial for new nurses; not only do they get assistance with paying for their education, they also are assured a job within the institution of their choosing. Often, this type of agreement occurs in larger hospitals or medical systems that offer a wide range of nursing jobs. Hospitals that offer this kind of tuition reimbursement are also usually well versed in providing training to new nurses and have a large number of seasoned nurses to act as mentor to a new nurse.
Some hospitals offer associate or diploma prepared nurses tuition reimbursement to continue their education and obtain a bachelor's or master's degree. The financial aid department of colleges and universities are also able to give students information about federal and state scholarships, loans, and grants. Scholarships are also available from private benefactors of various schools. Scholarships for students can be merit based, need based, awarded for essay writing, or clinical excellence. There are also scholarships that are awarded to nursing students based on specialty, like family practice, emergency room, critical care, or even nursing education. Students who work or attend school in areas where the nursing shortage is severe can even get scholarships because of the need for more nurses.
All students should fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. This application entitles students to money the federal government has for students pursuing a college degree. Financial history and tax returns are needed and the application might take several hours to complete but are well worth it if the student is able to receive grants or loans. Many nursing loans from the federal government do not need to be repaid if the student continues to defer and work in a medical field. Nurses that work in underserved areas generally get one year of their loan repaid for each year they work in an underserved area.
Just like the opportunities for nurses are unlimited, the opportunities for paying for a nursing education are also unlimited. Most nurses can have most if not all of their education paid for by someone else. Scholarships are available for everyone in the nursing profession if they utilize the appropriate resources to obtain information.
Published: 2009-11-03
