If you are interested in improving your degree through RN to BSN programs, you have plenty of financial aids.
You can apply for scholarships, grants, private loans, and cash payments.
All accredited online schools with nursing programs have financial aid available for students who are interested in student loans.
The majority of schools meet the set criteria.
Each student should think carefully about the pros and cons of taking student loans.
Some of the questions that each should think about before taking a loan are will the degree help him to make more money and better career options.
Completing an RN to BSN program is indeed going to help students to earn more money and will open plenty of educational and carrier options.
Many students rely on the employer’s raise in the salary, as a reason to take the loan as well as the possibility to take management positions.
Also, ambitious students who want to obtain an MSN degree and earn a higher salary than ADN-prepared nurses often take student loans to complete RN to MSN studies.
Students who have the goal to complete a Master’s program should consider the possible raise and if a BSN degree is required for an MSN degree.
Also, there is a large number of RN to MSN programs that students can attend.
These are less popular than RN to BSN programs.
The program requirements and length are different across the states.
Scholarships and Grants
Nursing students have a variety of available scholarships and grants.
You can research to find more information about requirements and conditions.
Several nursing organizations help nursing students to finish nursing schools, and there are more students interested in a nursing career.
The promotion of nursing programs and financial aides improves the health of the nursing field and helps to overcome the current shortage of healthcare professionals at the moment and in the future.
Some of the organizations that offer scholarships are The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Health Resource and Service Administration, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Gates Millenium Scholars Program.
There are also scholarships for nurses coming from minority groups.
You can check the website of the National League for Nursing and find more information about available nursing grants.
Forever nursing, Barbara Rhomberg Nursing Scholarship, and Meland Foundation also offer financial aid for nursing students.
You should research to find all the necessary information and apply for the option that works the best for you.
Scholarships and grants have requirements for keeping the money they provide.
A GPA requirement and program competition are the most common requirements.
If a student fails to maintain the required GPA or complete the program within a set deadline, a student needs to repay the money.
Before you accept the money, make sure that you fully understand the requirements and stipulations.
Also, some facilities provide tuition reimbursement for the nurses employed in the facility.
The reimbursement covers BSN bridge programs, online and classroom.
Sometimes the reimbursement covers one class per semester, and sometimes it is 100% reimbursements for the complete program.
If you are employed, you can check with the HR department what are the requirements for tuition reimbursement.
Private Loans
Students who qualify for private loans can also benefit from this type of financial aid.
Sometimes, tuition at some schools exceeds the amount of money provided by national or state scholarships or grants.
In those situations, students need to find additional financial aid.
For many students, taking a second loan, especially a private one, is intimidating.
Private loans usually have a higher interest rate than federal loans.
However, a student should consider raise in salary and other factors to determine what is the best decision in the long term.
In general, BSN-prepared nurses have more job opportunities than those with an Associate’s degree, so it might be wise to invest in the BSN program.
If there is no student loan, grant, or scholarship or the requirements aren’t suitable, students can apply for incremental cash payments programs.
Cash Payment Programs
Many schools offer cash payment programs for their students.
The total costs of the program of tuition per semester are broken up into several monthly payments, or even weekly.
For example, a program costs $2000 per semester and lasts for five weeks, students can pay $400 each week.
There is no interest rate with cash payment programs, as it isn’t a loan.
Finding the best way to pay an RN to BSN program takes time and research, but there are so many benefits of obtaining a BSN degree.
A BSN degree can significantly improve the career options and salary for both less experienced RNs.
The trend of obtaining a BSN degree is seen in the last few years.
Also, the results from many studies show the importance of highly educated nurses.
Therefore, in the future, you can expect that a BSN degree becomes obligatory for the position of the nurse.
Also, there are diploma programs, designed to train nurses and provide necessary theoretical education and clinical skills.
Usually, diploma programs are conducted in a hospital setting, by physicians and other nurses.
Once a nurse completes the diploma program, he or she is ready to start working.
With RN programs gaining more popularity, students are losing interest in diploma programs.
Many of the nurses who completed diploma programs are now retiring.
Those who aren’t might need to earn an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing to maintain their registered nurse license.
The nursing field and education are rapidly changing because more and more BSN-prepared nurses are entering the workflow.
At some point, all ADN-prepared nurses will have to obtain their Bachelor’s degree in nursing.