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Financing the return to school
AORN Scholarship Board
Financing the return to school The changing attitudeof the consumer and the wish of nurses to upgrade their qualifications have made many of us consider returning to school. This wish is often stifled when we recognize the tremendous costs of educationoften so overwhelming that the nurse decides a degree is totally out of reach or just not worth the financial strain. But, if the motivation to return to school is deep and an individual searches, money is available. The AORN scholarship program is, of course, one most OR nurses think of first and rightfully so. However, many other sources of funding are also available to qualified applicants. The best place to start the search for funding is the financial affairs office of the school you will be attending. The financial counselor can tap sources of funds most students are not aware of. The financial aid officer should have the booklet Meeting College Costs, or you can obtain it yourself by writing to College Board Publication Orders, Box 2815, Princeton, NJ 08540.It gives detailed information on what monies are available and how to obtain them. When looking for funding, the student must plan in advance to have the best chance of receiving the funds when they are needed. Annually about $9 billion are available to students who qualify. There are three basic steps to determining what you qualify for: you must estimate your educational expenses, determine the amount your family budget can expect to contribute, and subtract the contributions that will be coming in from steps 1 and 2. This will give you an idea of the total funding
1162
a
you can expect to receive upon qualifying. You will need to obtain a FinancialAid Form, complete it, and mail it to the College Scholarship Service, part of the College Entrance Examination Board. They will do an analysis using national guidelines to determine your or your family’s ability to pay. When applying for financial assistance, it is best to work with the financial aid office of the school you plan to attend. This office can outline a package plan, whereby funds can be obtained from several sources at one time to best meet your specific needs. The package may also be tailored to your postgraduation income capabilities. Then, you won’t end up only with loans to pay back; you will also receive grants and scholarships, which usually don’t have to be paid back. Financialaid comes in many forms and from many sources. The aid that is administered by colleges includes institutional scholarships or grants, institutional loans, and work-study programs. Most of these programs are based on student financial needs. The majority of colleges also administer federal programs to which both full- and part-time students can apply. Some of these are: Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. These grants can supply $200 to $1,500 a year, not to exceed $4,000 over four years. The amount may not exceed 50% of a student’s need. National Direct Student Loans. This federal program is based on financial need, providing loans at no interest while the student is enrolled in college. Repayment starts at 3% interest after the student finishes school. College Work-Study Program. This federally funded program provides jobs for
AORN Journal, December 1978,V o l 2 8 , N o 6
students with a need. Studies show the average student earns over $700 annually under this program. Basic Educational Oppoflunity Grant. This program provides grants as high as $1,400, but the average grant is about $800. These grants, too, are based on need. Application forms are available at high schools, libraries, colleges, and community agencies. This important source of funding should not be overlooked. Other federal programs, such as traineeships, are specially designed for students entering nursing and the health fields. The health occupations department or school of nursing at your college should have all the latest details on these. Scholarships or grants may be available to
you from the state where you live. You can find out about them from the schools in your state or, if there is one, from the state scholarship agency in the capital city. You should also check with local community agencies, foundations, unions, corporations, religious organizations, clubs, and civic and cultural groups for additional sources of funds. When you make the important decision to return to school to help upgrade the nursing profession, be assured that money is available if you look for it in the right places. It is hoped this information will help OR nurses in their quest to continue their education so they will become the best educated nurses in the pro‘fession.
Larry Pester, RN Battle Creek, Mich
Extended wear contact lenses may aid sight of cataract patients Contact lenses that can be worn for as long as six months without removal may be the best alternative for patients who have had cataracts removed. While extended wear lenses are still experimental, two Rochester, NY, ophthalmologists, report that patients have worn such lenses, with controlled medical supervision, for up to one month. James V Aquavella, MD, and Gullapalli N Rao, MD, told the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in Kansas City, Mo, that they regard the new lens as an “attractive and reasonable” alternative for correcting aphakic vision. Studies indicate an ideal extended wear contact lens would combine several properties. The lens would be disposable. In addition to being resistant to bacteria, the lens would allow for adequate fluid and oxygen transmission. The lens must also be well tolerated by the cornea, producing no variation in visual acuity or harmful side effects to the eye surface or related structures. While glasses are most commonly used after cataract surgery, Drs Aquavella and Rao reported many ophthalmologistsalso
consider the surgically implanted intraocular lens a safe and efficient treatment. They observed that, “although the overall percentage of serious complications seems low, given the large number of implants performed yearly, the potential for damage is great.” The extended wear contact lens, which does present possible complications and requires medical supervision, was presented as a convenience for older patients who would have difficulty inserting and removing conventional contact lenses. The two suggested that ophthalmologists consider “the patient’s ability to insert and remove a lens, his life style, as well as his age and general physical status.” They said an older individual living alone would not be a good candidate for extended wear contact lenses, but that “the process should be limited to highly motivated patients who are closely observed and who are aware of the potential risks.”
AORN Journal, December 1978, Vol28, No 6
1163
Financing the return to school The changing attitudeof the consumer and the wish of nurses to upgrade their qualifications have made many of us consider returning to school. This wish is often stifled when we recognize the tremendous costs of educationoften so overwhelming that the nurse decides a degree is totally out of reach or just not worth the financial strain. But, if the motivation to return to school is deep and an individual searches, money is available. The AORN scholarship program is, of course, one most OR nurses think of first and rightfully so. However, many other sources of funding are also available to qualified applicants. The best place to start the search for funding is the financial affairs office of the school you will be attending. The financial counselor can tap sources of funds most students are not aware of. The financial aid officer should have the booklet Meeting College Costs, or you can obtain it yourself by writing to College Board Publication Orders, Box 2815, Princeton, NJ 08540.It gives detailed information on what monies are available and how to obtain them. When looking for funding, the student must plan in advance to have the best chance of receiving the funds when they are needed. Annually about $9 billion are available to students who qualify. There are three basic steps to determining what you qualify for: you must estimate your educational expenses, determine the amount your family budget can expect to contribute, and subtract the contributions that will be coming in from steps 1 and 2. This will give you an idea of the total funding
1162
a
you can expect to receive upon qualifying. You will need to obtain a FinancialAid Form, complete it, and mail it to the College Scholarship Service, part of the College Entrance Examination Board. They will do an analysis using national guidelines to determine your or your family’s ability to pay. When applying for financial assistance, it is best to work with the financial aid office of the school you plan to attend. This office can outline a package plan, whereby funds can be obtained from several sources at one time to best meet your specific needs. The package may also be tailored to your postgraduation income capabilities. Then, you won’t end up only with loans to pay back; you will also receive grants and scholarships, which usually don’t have to be paid back. Financialaid comes in many forms and from many sources. The aid that is administered by colleges includes institutional scholarships or grants, institutional loans, and work-study programs. Most of these programs are based on student financial needs. The majority of colleges also administer federal programs to which both full- and part-time students can apply. Some of these are: Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. These grants can supply $200 to $1,500 a year, not to exceed $4,000 over four years. The amount may not exceed 50% of a student’s need. National Direct Student Loans. This federal program is based on financial need, providing loans at no interest while the student is enrolled in college. Repayment starts at 3% interest after the student finishes school. College Work-Study Program. This federally funded program provides jobs for
AORN Journal, December 1978,V o l 2 8 , N o 6
students with a need. Studies show the average student earns over $700 annually under this program. Basic Educational Oppoflunity Grant. This program provides grants as high as $1,400, but the average grant is about $800. These grants, too, are based on need. Application forms are available at high schools, libraries, colleges, and community agencies. This important source of funding should not be overlooked. Other federal programs, such as traineeships, are specially designed for students entering nursing and the health fields. The health occupations department or school of nursing at your college should have all the latest details on these. Scholarships or grants may be available to
you from the state where you live. You can find out about them from the schools in your state or, if there is one, from the state scholarship agency in the capital city. You should also check with local community agencies, foundations, unions, corporations, religious organizations, clubs, and civic and cultural groups for additional sources of funds. When you make the important decision to return to school to help upgrade the nursing profession, be assured that money is available if you look for it in the right places. It is hoped this information will help OR nurses in their quest to continue their education so they will become the best educated nurses in the pro‘fession.
Larry Pester, RN Battle Creek, Mich
Extended wear contact lenses may aid sight of cataract patients Contact lenses that can be worn for as long as six months without removal may be the best alternative for patients who have had cataracts removed. While extended wear lenses are still experimental, two Rochester, NY, ophthalmologists, report that patients have worn such lenses, with controlled medical supervision, for up to one month. James V Aquavella, MD, and Gullapalli N Rao, MD, told the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in Kansas City, Mo, that they regard the new lens as an “attractive and reasonable” alternative for correcting aphakic vision. Studies indicate an ideal extended wear contact lens would combine several properties. The lens would be disposable. In addition to being resistant to bacteria, the lens would allow for adequate fluid and oxygen transmission. The lens must also be well tolerated by the cornea, producing no variation in visual acuity or harmful side effects to the eye surface or related structures. While glasses are most commonly used after cataract surgery, Drs Aquavella and Rao reported many ophthalmologistsalso
consider the surgically implanted intraocular lens a safe and efficient treatment. They observed that, “although the overall percentage of serious complications seems low, given the large number of implants performed yearly, the potential for damage is great.” The extended wear contact lens, which does present possible complications and requires medical supervision, was presented as a convenience for older patients who would have difficulty inserting and removing conventional contact lenses. The two suggested that ophthalmologists consider “the patient’s ability to insert and remove a lens, his life style, as well as his age and general physical status.” They said an older individual living alone would not be a good candidate for extended wear contact lenses, but that “the process should be limited to highly motivated patients who are closely observed and who are aware of the potential risks.”
AORN Journal, December 1978, Vol28, No 6
1163