How to Become a Nurse for Free
When it comes to becoming a nurse, there is a four year educational minimum that must be completed in order to achieve an RN, or registered nurse status. This achievement can often be accomplished for free.
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Instructions
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Fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA is a federal application for college students that will tell the government if you are in need of financial aid for your education. This will be the most important part of attaining that free nursing degree.
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Know the rules. If you are under the age of 23 and going to college, you will have to file the FAFSA with your parents income. But, there are ways around this. If you are married, you do not have to use your parents income or if you are considered an independent student.
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Check your EFC. The EFC, or Estimated Family Contribution, is the end result of the FAFSA. This number needs to be 0 in order for you to obtain a free nursing education.
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Get in to the college. When you fill out the FAFSA, you will need to fill in the names of your potential colleges. This will ensure a copy of your FAFSA results and your EFC is sent to that college. After filling out the FAFSA, you should apply to the college you wish to attend if you have not already.
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Reapply. You will need to fill out the FAFSA each and every year that you are in college. Each year the EFC will need to remain 0 in order to keep the nursing education free.
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Work for the military. Another great way to get a free nursing education is to sign up with a military program that pays for the college education. Often these programs will be set up so after the education is complete, there will be a certain number of years to spend in military service, but 100% of the education is free to become an RN.
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Choosing employer programs. Several states offer employer based nursing programs in which the employee will be paid to train to become a nurse. These programs are funded through grants and work programs and often come with job placement help after the conclusion of the nursing training.
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- Photo Credit Sundeip Arora
Comments
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kittyboxers
Dec 15, 2008
"When it comes to becoming a nurse, there is a four year educational minimum that must be completed in order to achieve an RN, or registered nurse status." Not true. A 4 year college degree (BSN) is not the minimum requirement for becoming a RN. There are numerous 2 year associate degree nursing programs. Less numerous, but just as valid, are hospital schools of nursing which range from 20 months to 3 years and lead to a diploma in nursing (some in conjunction with a local college may even offer associate degrees). Graduates of either of the above programs also make one eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam nationwide. Many diploma and associate degree nurses go on to achieve a bachelor's in nursing, but whatever educational route taken - the NCLEX-RN given, remains the same. And at entry level positions, there is virtually no pay differential.
