This blog post discusses 5 NEXT STEPS to consider when deciding to start your academic journey to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).  The need for APRNs is on the rise as healthcare advances, populations age, and the healthcare shortages continue.   APRN benefits include higher pay, increased autonomy, and advancing your professional education. There are many different types of APRNs and include: nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives.  These advanced nursing roles come with different types of educational requirements, work schedules, and pay scales. It is recommended to review all aspects of your potential new career prior to searching for specific programs that fit your lifestyle and professional preferences.

1. Program track selection. Once you have decided what type of advanced practice nurse that you would like to become, then searching for a program would be next. At this time most schools are transitioning to include doctorate programs.  Deciding on whether you would like to continue in an MSN vs. DNP program would be a next step.  Most nurse anesthetists’ programs are doctorate level, but other APRN categories have MSN and/or DNP options. What level of education will be required for desired jobs or nursing positions in your future as your nursing career advances? Other considerations include venue of education.  Is the program online or is attendance at brick-and-mortar school a requirement? Is there travel required to visit the campus for skill assessment or DNP defense? What are the clinical hour requirements and are preceptors/clinical sites provided by the school for your chosen education track?
2. Financing considerations for your studies is another step during program track selection as this can influence your educational path. Will you be taking out student loans or self-paying for your new education? Does your current employer offer tuition reimbursement and if so, what are the stipulations? Are you interested in applying for scholarships or considering work programs associated with the completion of your degree?  Considering your budget and cost of living needs during the program is vital.
3. Program track progression and time line. Will you be attending full time (6 credit hours) a semester or part-time? Does your potential program allow for time off or breaks between classes?  How long do you have to complete the program once starting it? What program would be the best fit for your lifestyle and current work schedule?
4. Evaluating program entry requirements and prerequisites. Some APRN programs require entry level tests like GRE or MCAT exams.  This is good to consider as they require additional upfront cost to sit for examination and time devoted to preparation.  Some programs also require different GPA requirements and admission documentation including essays and professional references.  Knowing what each school requires can expedite your admission process and guide your APRN program selection.
5. Understanding program processes and work flow.  What kind of work will be required of you during the week/ semester?  Most schools that are online have many papers and discussion posts weekly that account for attendance and overall work completion.  This is good to review with potential program academic advisors on what to expect as a new student when school begins to set yourself up for success.

Knowing these details prior to program selection can help avoid pitfalls when applying for APRN programs and set you up for success as a student.  Stay tuned for more APRN advice and considerations regarding the next steps in the world of academia for APRNs.

Graduate school is not cheap.  Here are 6 penny pinching tips to save money while in grad school.

• Budget your expenses prior to starting school. I was amazed to know what I truly spent my money on prior to creating a budget. Monitoring 100 % of your income and expenses reveals areas of financial improvement where you could tighten up or splurge. Examples of nonessential expenses may include dining out, clothing, and online subscriptions.  Everydollar budgeting app is Dave Ramsey approved and can help you monitor your money.  Knowing and planning your expenses prevents unplanned stressors and is a good tool for planning your financial future in general.

• Request a student ID. Most schools offer this.  If you are attending a school online you can request this and use for everyday purchases with available student discounts.  This includes some restaurants, most large movie theater chains, vacations packages, and more. It may not seem like much as first, but discounts over time can mean more money in your wallet. Examples of digital services that provide student discount include: Amazon Prime, Apple Music, and Hulu are just a couple to mention There are lots more!

• Do not accept all student loan disbursements as a refund. When utilizing FASFA government loans for your education you have the opportunity to decline any extra funds received. The subsidized loan received may exceed your schools’ tuition cost resulting in a refund.  Rather than take a cash refund on borrowed money with increasing and accruing interest, consider only accepting what you need.  This can be discussed with your student advisor and finance department upon acceptance of your institutions financial award package.

• Rent your textbooks or find them online for free. Many online rental services like Chegg, Vitalsource Bookshelf, and Amazon are great places to find rental textbooks for cheap. There are also other options including eBooks as a virtual book option that are cheaper than paying full price for a new textbooks. Access is normally for duration of semester and can be extended if needed. Check out PDFdrive for free online versions of the textbook you may need.

• Adjusting large personal payments. When I first started grad school my mortgage and car payment all were due the first of the month.  This left little money to live off of during the first half of the month.  For a small one-time bank fee, I was able to move my large payment due dates around to better accommodate my limited income as I dropped down to part-time while obtaining my FNP.  This may seem trivial, yet made a huge difference in the way my expenses were distributed in the month.

• Apply for scholarships. Scholly is a low-cost scholarship app that you enter the amount of money desired to cover your academic expenses and then reveals specific scholarships to apply for to help with school cost. Also research your local nurse practitioner chapters as they often have scholarship opportunities for student members. Currently my Virginia Counsel of Nurse Practitioners offers a scholarship for DNP students. Every extra penny is helpful

These are just a few ways to better financially prepare and save money while in graduate school. If you know of any extra helpful hints or students resources please share them below.