Let that CNA be a jump off point. Get your RN, then go to graduate school and be a Nurse Anesthetist or Nurse Practitioner. Way too many subspecialties and jobs available in the medical field.
Just saying, I know someone who went to Medical school at 48 years old.
And yea, it will get thrown at you daily. I would say sky is the limit, go holler at a MD!
Alot of bigger hospitals and medical care (like Kaiser) will pay for you to go to RN school provided you work for them.
Nursing schools can be expensive, and you may not have the salary or resources to pay. Luckily, there are many hospitals that pay for nursing school.
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Tuition Reimbursement
It is the most common method that most hospitals use to pay for your nursing school. If you are accepted into the hospital’s educational program, they will reimburse part of the tuition for each module that you complete.
Some employers require candidates to work for them first and then apply, while some allow students into the training as long as there is a slot open.
The requirements may vary from one employer to another, but generally, the minimum requirement is at least two years of experience in a healthcare environment before applying. The purpose of this kind of program is to attract motivated nurses that have already acquired experience, so it’s unlikely that you would be denied entry even if you did not pass with flying colors on your board exam.
Usually, hospitals can provide an educational program offering continuing education units (
CEUs) which are re-certification credits for registered nurses. While the majority of employers offer this kind of program, there are some that don’t handle any part of certifications.
You can be assured that after completing your training, the pay is still going to be good enough to compensate you for working at the hospital for a couple of years in exchange, and some tuition reimbursement will help anyone in need of financial aid.
Earning an advanced degree such as
Nurse Practitioner or
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) opens many doors that wouldn’t necessarily be open if you didn’t have it. Earning one enables you to work independently without a doctor present, which means more money even in entry-level positions.
Most hospitals have different reimbursement policies as some will only pay up to $5,000, but they might also be willing to cover 75% – 100%. It is recommended that you inquire about this when going for an interview so you’ll know what to expect and how much money they can offer.
Work-Study Programs
In some hospitals, nursing school students can also work as clerical or cleaning staff to help pay for their education. Normally, they are assigned to the administrative department or another place in the hospital that doesn’t require any special skills. If you decide to do this, it may be possible that you’ve also paid for overtime hours.
This kind of program is not offered by all hospitals, but some have been known to help pay for school if there is a position available. The fact that you can work during college means that you’ll earn more money since tuition costs and living expenses will need to be covered as well as support yourself while studying, which isn’t cheap either.
Work experience at a healthcare facility is very important, so working part-time while doing your studies allows you to gain hands-on experience and gives employers an opportunity to assess how good their future employees are.
You may also get a chance to do regular clinical practice while in your nursing program, and if you can, you should take advantage of it as much as possible since it will be the most effective way to familiarize yourself with being a nurse while earning some money at the same time.