One of the first things that students do before entering a nursing program is look at the typical expenses for a nursing student. While you might think that you only need to worry about tuition and textbooks, nursing students often have a number of other expenses that the school won’t cover. You’re responsible for purchasing software needed for your courses and arranging for transportation to your clinical rotations. It’s important that you give some thought to whether you can afford those additional expenses before enrolling.
Uniforms
The next time that you visit a hospital or your doctor, take a look at the clothing worn by the medical professionals working there. The uniforms they wear, also known as scrubs, are lightweight, provide some freedom of movement and keep workers feeling comfortable. You typically need at least two sets of scrubs for your upper level nursing classes and clinical rotations. Some schools require that you purchase your scrubs from the school, while others let you purchase your uniforms from other sources. You’ll also need comfortable non-slip shoes in a neutral color, and your school may also require that you buy a name tag as well.
Assessment Products
Clinical rotations let you work with patients under the guidance of a practicing nurse. Before working with those patients, you need to pay for any required assessment products. This usually includes a stethoscope, a digital thermometer and glasses that protect your eyes. Other required items may include a pen light, medical scissors and a blood pressure cuff. You are responsible for ensuring that you have the necessary items before beginning your rotations, and you are also responsible for taking care of each item and bringing those items with you every day.
Travel Expenses
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, there is a shortage of trained nurses working in the country today. The AACN believes that this might relate to the rising cost of tuition and the expenses that students don’t anticipate when enrolling in a program, such as travel expenses. When you enroll in college, you expect to take all of your classes on campus. With nursing programs, you are also responsible for paying for any travel expenses that will occur as you complete clinical hours and rotations working with patients. Since this hands-on experience is required, you will be responsible for transportation costs of getting to and from those settings each semester.
Graduation Costs
Did you know that nursing programs expect you to pay certain fees and costs before you can graduate? The pinning ceremony is part of the graduation ceremony, and it gives students a nursing pin that shows they completed their studies. This pin can cost $100 or more. You also need to pay for your cap and gown and for a copy of your diploma. After you leave the program, you’ll also need to pay additional fees to take the licensing examination in your state, for the fingerprint and background check required for that test and for the photograph used on your license.
The only way that you can work as a nurse in the United States is with a degree from an accredited college and your nursing license. Before enrolling in one of these programs, think hard about the typical expenses for a nursing student and whether you can afford those costs.