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Can anyone advise me on how to graduate college as an RN and do so debt free?

Looking towards the future is always important. I have to have goals in place to motivate me and give me direction in my life. I was raised by a single mother and Financial responsibilities can consume and control you. I want to start a nursing career someday and help others, and how is anyone to do so if they are struggling so much with themselves? #registered-nurses #nurse-practitioner #nursing #nurse #college #debt

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Bev’s Answer

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One of the primary things you can do is get really good grades in high school. This serves to open up more opportunities for college scholarships. You can still get scholarships with mediocre grades, this I know as a student who entered nursing school with mediocre grades. There is a great site that can provide you with some information: ttps://www.nursingschoolhub.com/places-where-nurses-can-get-free-money/

You can also participate in a debt-forgiveness program for loans you need to take out to finish nursing school. Usually it involves signing a contract for a certain number of years and working in a hospital that is in a rural environment, or underserved community: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps/lrp

Another way to get out debt-free is get an associates degree in nursing at a community college. These institutions are very inexpensive, and you can pursue a BSN online while you are already working after graduation. Some workplaces will pay for your BSN if you were hired and are working as an RN, because they want nurses to have that degree and stay at the facility.

Lastly, you can do what I did: work your way through. It is not fun, I can tell you, working full time while attending nursing school. It can be done if you are young, single and very disciplined with your time. I worked a 3pm to 11:30pm job Friday through Monday at a hospital as an admissions clerk while attending school.
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Lisa’s Answer

I absolutely agree with the previous answer as looking for scholarships and grants. You might also want to check within your state community colleges as often times they are cheaper than traditional larger colleges. I also found that with the smaller campuses, you get a more personalized education as there aren't 100 + students to a class where you are a number on an excel spread sheet. I felt that my education was by far superior to the larger colleges. Good Luck to you in school.

Lisa recommends the following next steps:

Try the library for scholarship and grants or even on line opportunities.
try looking at smaller in state colleges, as sometimes they are less expensive.
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Cecily’s Answer

I think it’s great that you are thinking ahead.

1) look for scholarships. Some are specifically for a certain type and you will be told once they realize that you are a candidate for admission.

2) Do not spend a lot of money on nursing school. They are under pretty big oversight regarding material taught and clinical hours

3) although the non bachelors is falling out of favor, you can still get a RN license with an associates degree from a community college and then there’s a really good chance your job will pay for your BSN

4)pack your lunch and snacks every day! Don’t eat in the cafeteria. Expensive.

5) try to get as many used textbooks as you can as long as they the appropriate Editon. And sell them back right away.

Lastly I admire that you want to graduate debt free. But graduating is the most Important. You absolutely will have a job within a few months of graduating so a very small debt will get paid off...and oddly may help your credit rating down the road.

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