The excitement of that acceptance letter into the Nursing school regardless of your first try of enrollment, or finding your proper fit, is always a whirlwind. But like with anything having to do with nursing school first comes the excitement, then the stress. Acceptance into the program leads to an introduction orientation about six weeks later. It was this meeting that the first of several monetary obligations surfaced.
#1 Supplies
The initial meeting touched upon our necessary purchases before the semester would even begin. A bundle of textbooks, scrubs, a white coat, a name badge, stethoscope. All apparel needed to be embroidered or engraved. The package of books was the bulk of the required text. The book bundle did not include the other five textbooks that would be purchased throughout the next 4 semesters. This supply list begins to grow with additional items like a digital recorder, water bottle with infuser, analog watch, and penlight.
#2 Hospital Parking
The semester starts with lectures and labs then soon the days of clinical begin. At the clinical sites for most of the hospital, you need to pay for parking. The cost depends on the hospital, but for the six to eight hours on the clinical site, you are paying $12-15 a day. The school was located half a mile from one location and a mile and a half from another these sites I walked. Many early morning waiting for other classmates and walking through New Haven at 5:30-6 o’clock in the morning. The $30 a week really add up, primarily when you’re only working part-time.
#3 Supplemental Study Material
Once you are an exam or two into your first semester, you realize that the required textbooks are not enough. Some books are out there to aid in studying for an exam whether its material to sum up the section such as the ATI series or additional questions from the Success series, Lippincott or Saunders. Midway through semester one student start to purchase the book that works through them by the start of semester two everyone has their favorite book or series.
#4 Graduation
You are getting through the program, text and other supplies are bought, and graduation is really close. I thought it would be all downhill no more surprises. Some schools require a fee to apply for graduation, about $30-50. The attire for graduation is an additional $30-50 for cap and gown. Most nursing programs have a pinning ceremony, I’ve seen some in business casual and other like my own with white scrubs. The white scrubs depending on where they are bought range $20-60. The pin is another cost sterling, gold, white gold you’re looking at $50-400.
#5 Post Graduation
After graduation after the parties and celebration, you are still not in the clear. Now it’s getting that license. My program highly recommended taking two NCLEX prep courses I only participated in one. The prep course UWorld, ATI, Kaplan, Hurst rang $100-500. Depending on the company they have the different package, online, or live classes. The license and application is a price fixed by either there board of nursing (BON) or Public Health Department that could range $80-150. The test itself through the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) which is $200.
My program had reasonable tuition. There were no extras built into the price of the education. Some other programs might have included the cost of supplemental books, or textbooks, or even have a deal with a prep company. Every program is a little different. Ask questions, and be prepared.