4 answers
Sherika
Student
Sunrise, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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How can I find additional funding to pursue my career in nursing?
I've been in healthcare for 18+ years. Im currently living in south Florida where private schools are expensive and so is the cost of living. There doesn't seem to be a balance. Some public schools have limited seats or are making the programs more competitive than prior years. Pre-reqs change often and school seems more and more expensive.
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4 answers
Magdalena Strzyzewska
16
Answers
Updated
Magdalena’s Answer
Hi Sherika! Here are three practical steps to help you move towards a more sustainable and empowering future:
1. Explore Alternative Education Options
Consider checking out charter schools, magnet programs, or homeschool co-ops/microschools nearby. These often provide excellent academics without the high cost of private schools. Some even offer flexible or hybrid learning models that can ease financial and scheduling pressures.
2. Assess Your Career Leverage
With over 18 years in healthcare, your experience is incredibly valuable. Look into remote healthcare roles, consulting, telehealth, or even teaching and training positions in your field. These options could offer a better work-life balance or higher income potential while utilizing your skills.
3. Map Out Your Ideal Lifestyle Vision
Picture and jot down what “balance” truly means to you—where you’d live, how you’d work, and how your kids would learn. Then, take one small step towards that vision, whether it’s researching a new city, setting a savings goal, or talking to someone who’s already made a similar change.
1. Explore Alternative Education Options
Consider checking out charter schools, magnet programs, or homeschool co-ops/microschools nearby. These often provide excellent academics without the high cost of private schools. Some even offer flexible or hybrid learning models that can ease financial and scheduling pressures.
2. Assess Your Career Leverage
With over 18 years in healthcare, your experience is incredibly valuable. Look into remote healthcare roles, consulting, telehealth, or even teaching and training positions in your field. These options could offer a better work-life balance or higher income potential while utilizing your skills.
3. Map Out Your Ideal Lifestyle Vision
Picture and jot down what “balance” truly means to you—where you’d live, how you’d work, and how your kids would learn. Then, take one small step towards that vision, whether it’s researching a new city, setting a savings goal, or talking to someone who’s already made a similar change.
Thank you for your feedback. These are all thinks that I am currently working towards.
Sherika
Cindy Muhonja
Registered Nurse
58
Answers
Ashburn, Virginia
Updated
Cindy’s Answer
Hello Kazi,
You have to be flexible and resourceful. Free funding for nursing school is hard to come by. That is because the demand is way higher than the supply. The only easy applications you may find may be from your state government, so google for programs that provide healthcare for rural and low equity areas in your state. I have even seen some people move states to get into cheaper nursing programs. I have seen others go to community college while using the grant money given by the college to pay for nursing school on the side.
if you have your heart set on nursing and funding is an issue, I suggest starting as a CNA. Use the funds from your CNA job to pay for a private LPN school. Private LPN schools cost anywhere from 8000 to 22000 dollars and last about 8 months to 2 years. You might have to move states or counties to get this done. I can tell you from my experience that the best thing I ever did for myself was to do LPN school. People will tell you LPNs are being phased out, but that will never happen. If not accredited (but licensed so they are ok), you may have to pay out of pocket. To get financial aid, a school has to be accredited. You don't have to go to an accredited school, but make sure it is licensed by the board of nursing for your state. Also check the NCLEX pass rates for the school on the board of nursing website - must be above 80 percent.
How do you choose an LPN school? Go to the board of nursing website and print a list of existing LPN schools in a state. Then google their webpages one by one. The private LPN schools tend to be affordable without a waitlist, The community college options are even cheaper although they are more competitive,
After finishing your LPN, move to an LPN to RN bridging program. These are less competitive compared to trying to get into RN school directly. There are both private and public options.
Do not join anything that lacks state licensing. Some schools offer classes, but the license is given by the state. You will have to provide school, documentation by a school to get licensing.
All the best.
You have to be flexible and resourceful. Free funding for nursing school is hard to come by. That is because the demand is way higher than the supply. The only easy applications you may find may be from your state government, so google for programs that provide healthcare for rural and low equity areas in your state. I have even seen some people move states to get into cheaper nursing programs. I have seen others go to community college while using the grant money given by the college to pay for nursing school on the side.
if you have your heart set on nursing and funding is an issue, I suggest starting as a CNA. Use the funds from your CNA job to pay for a private LPN school. Private LPN schools cost anywhere from 8000 to 22000 dollars and last about 8 months to 2 years. You might have to move states or counties to get this done. I can tell you from my experience that the best thing I ever did for myself was to do LPN school. People will tell you LPNs are being phased out, but that will never happen. If not accredited (but licensed so they are ok), you may have to pay out of pocket. To get financial aid, a school has to be accredited. You don't have to go to an accredited school, but make sure it is licensed by the board of nursing for your state. Also check the NCLEX pass rates for the school on the board of nursing website - must be above 80 percent.
How do you choose an LPN school? Go to the board of nursing website and print a list of existing LPN schools in a state. Then google their webpages one by one. The private LPN schools tend to be affordable without a waitlist, The community college options are even cheaper although they are more competitive,
After finishing your LPN, move to an LPN to RN bridging program. These are less competitive compared to trying to get into RN school directly. There are both private and public options.
Do not join anything that lacks state licensing. Some schools offer classes, but the license is given by the state. You will have to provide school, documentation by a school to get licensing.
All the best.
Vasiliu Marina
4
Answers
Updated
Vasiliu’s Answer
Hi Sherika,
You might want to take a look at these scholarships:
- **Palm Beach County Friends of Youth Services Nursing Scholarship**: The Florida Nurses Foundation offers lots of scholarships across the state, like the Edna Hicks Fund and the Ruth Finamore Scholarship Fund. They match applicants to scholarships based on what they qualify for. Usually, the award is about $500, and applications are due by June 1 each year.
- **University of Florida (UF) Line Fund Scholarship**: This is for students who already have a bachelor's degree in another field. It covers full tuition and books, offers monthly mentorship from faculty, and guarantees a job at UF Health once you finish the program.
Hope this helps!
You might want to take a look at these scholarships:
- **Palm Beach County Friends of Youth Services Nursing Scholarship**: The Florida Nurses Foundation offers lots of scholarships across the state, like the Edna Hicks Fund and the Ruth Finamore Scholarship Fund. They match applicants to scholarships based on what they qualify for. Usually, the award is about $500, and applications are due by June 1 each year.
- **University of Florida (UF) Line Fund Scholarship**: This is for students who already have a bachelor's degree in another field. It covers full tuition and books, offers monthly mentorship from faculty, and guarantees a job at UF Health once you finish the program.
Hope this helps!
Thank you. Looking into the information provided
Sherika
Kazi Rubayee
Oriental medicine health professional, Acupuncturist, Holistic health practitioner
82
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kazi’s Answer
You have a solid foundation, and now you want to further your education. You are right, there are changes, competitive as well.
But still, there are options, and you can pursue your desired degree with a strong mindset.
Let us discuss some options here,
Scholarships and grants,
National level options
• HRSA: Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
• Tylenol Future Care Scholarships
• National Health Service Corp, NHSE
Florida specific
• Florida-Nurse Foundation scholarships
• Florida Student Assistance Grant
• Jose Marti's Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund
Repayment and forgiveness
• Nurse Corps loan repayment program
• Public service loan forgiveness
Some community colleges offer ASN, and later, you can do an online RN-BSN program.
Employer assistant program if you work for them for a couple of years: Baptist Health South Florida, Memorial Health Care System, Cleveland Clinic Florida
Talk to a financial assistance counselor in detail.
There are also hybrid program options:
Chamberlain. WGU
I hope this helps you.
Best,
=
But still, there are options, and you can pursue your desired degree with a strong mindset.
Let us discuss some options here,
Scholarships and grants,
National level options
• HRSA: Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
• Tylenol Future Care Scholarships
• National Health Service Corp, NHSE
Florida specific
• Florida-Nurse Foundation scholarships
• Florida Student Assistance Grant
• Jose Marti's Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund
Repayment and forgiveness
• Nurse Corps loan repayment program
• Public service loan forgiveness
Some community colleges offer ASN, and later, you can do an online RN-BSN program.
Employer assistant program if you work for them for a couple of years: Baptist Health South Florida, Memorial Health Care System, Cleveland Clinic Florida
Talk to a financial assistance counselor in detail.
There are also hybrid program options:
Chamberlain. WGU
I hope this helps you.
Best,
=
Thank you so much for the information. I was not aware of a few of the loans. Some deadlines have passed but I set reminders for when they reopen. Again, Thank you for your feedback.
Sherika