My D is going to a BSN program and wants to be a nurse anesthetist - but its a lot of expensive school AFTER the BSN and she is our 5th kid. I cannot really do graduate school tuition too. How can one defray the cost of these kinds of programs?
She needs to carefully research each program to find out what scholarships are available.
Given the projected return for an investment in a nurse anethetist program, I expect most students pay for those with loans.
My D is in pharmacy school and they do have some scholarships you can apply for at her school.
Also there is a Health Professions Loan Program that might provide some limited subsidized loans (need based).
But aside from that, she will need to borrow (we might be able to help with some living expenses, but we have two other kids).
You can see what the program’s financial aid office says about possible aid available.
I think there is a Nursing Student loan program too, and there might be loan forgiveness programs for nurses if they work in underprivileged areas.
And as a nurse you can get a job with a BSN and then go back to school later, or maybe the employer might even pay for an advanced degree.
One step at a time. Get her through the BSN first. Right now, she doesn’t even know if this a kind of nursing she’d like. Additionally, Nurse Anesthetists programs require some years of experience in critical care before she can even apply. You have the 4 years of undergrad and her time practicing as a critical care nurse (usually 2 years) before you even have to think about this. Like most professional degrees, this isn’t one for which there is much free money. Most people borrow.
@ordinarylives I definitely told her that about the time and the experience requirement! One of her top BSN choices (we are going there to visit tomorrow) has this program so she was intrigued as there are not all that many out there. I think the websites I saw said at least 1 year experience.
She can do the anesthetists school while she is using her BSN to earn a living…
Agree with Ordinary Lives. She may decide she wants NP/PA, transplant team, or public health.
Lots of post grad programs for a nurse with a few years experience in the trenches.
I agree @OHMomof2 – It is a longer program than I first realized though!