Nursing School By The Numbers

Higher Education is expensive, we all know that. But over the past few weeks, I’ve realized that nursing school, the last semester especially, is costing me my parents a pretty penny.

Lets Break it down.

Fourth Semester Nursing school Tuition: $ 687.00

This included a $200 dollar lab fee for our state board review class. No one could ever explain what the fee was for or how it was used.

Books. All of our nursing text books had to be purchased the first semester. They cost 1,100 dollars. If we break it down by semester….

Fourth Semester Books:                           $275.00

Then there is our nursing pin.

At the end of nursing school, each student is pinned in a ceremony that I have been describing to my friends and family as nursing graduation. I went cheap, so the pin only cost me my parents…

Nursing Pin                                              $ 40.00

It is tradition to wear all white at pinning. Since finding white slacks is impossible outside of Miami, we have decided to wear white scrubs. Classy. I went cheap again and that only cost me ( Yes! I paid for something myself!) ……

Classy White Scrubs                                 $15.00

Two weeks ago the process to apply for a state nursing license was explained to us. We have to pay to apply for a license, pay to have our photo and finger prints taken, and pay to take the exam.  The Texas board of nursing charges premium prices.

License application fee                            $139.00

License exam fee                                     $200.00

Fingerprinting                                          $ 10.00

I.D. photograph                                       $ 10.00

So we have finally made it to graduation. Gotta have a cap and gown!

Cap and Gown                                          $ 47.00

Being a member of Phi Theata Kappa honor society has its rewards. One of those rewards is the honor of paying for your graduation regalia.

Honors Regalia                                        $ 50.00

So for the fourth semester of nursing school, I my parents have paid…….

Grand Total                                              $1473.00

Thanks Mom and Dad!  I could have never done this with out your check book you!

Gotta have a J O B

A major goal of this last semester in nursing school has been getting a job.

So back in February, like hundreds of other nursing students graduating in May, I wrote a resume, filled out on-line applications, collected letters of recommendation, and sent off transcripts. I was worried that I would have a hard time choosing which job to take. So I sat by the phone, waiting for the phone to start ringing off the hook.

It never did.

Apparently, unlike cats and bird poop, you cannot expect job opportunities to just fall into your lap.

So with some help from a friend and a little hustle, I got myself an interview. They offered, and I accepted the job the next day. On June second I will officially be a surgical intensive care unit nurse intern.

It’s exciting, terrifying, and amazing. The work I’ve done over the last three and a half years is finally paying off.

The Most Important Test

So the nursing students took their exit exam today.

This is the test we must pass, not only as a requirement for graduation, but also to be eligible to sit for the state boards and get a nursing license. The anxiety leading up to this test has been HUGE. I feel like I’ve been put through the wringer.

I am so glad its over, and that I passed.

I am going to enjoy the weekend, but its back to the grind on Monday, we still have two more tests before we graduate.