Maryland Hospitals Make Careers in Health Care Affordable and Accessible
Are you interested in a career in health care but are wondering how you can afford the education? Rising education costs can be a major obstacle when considering a career in health care. Fortunately, there are financial assistance opportunities for students interested in medicine and related fields including scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.
Many Maryland hospitals offer tuition assistance programs, loan forgiveness programs, free GED programs, and other opportunities for employees who want to pursue higher education while working. These programs help potential nurses, lab technicians, diagnosticians, doctors, and administrators to build lifelong careers at hospitals and health systems across the state.
The impact of these programs can be seen in the success stories of medical staff working across Maryland who have built careers with the support of their hospitals.
Explore Education Programs in Maryland
Education OpportunitiesEarn While You Learn
Some degrees will allow you to work while you learn. For example, in nursing, you can become an LPN within as soon as one year or an RN within two years. While you are working, you can continue your education.
Allison, a certified registered nurse practitioner (NP) at Atlantic General Hospital, shares her career path from starting as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to NP.
“I started working at AGH to support patient safety. So, watching the dementia patients that are on the floor on med-surg, or the confused patients that may have different acute medical illnesses going on.
Then I went to college after high school. I went to Wor-Wic Community College. I became an LPN and RN (registered nurse] on the medical surgical unit, and I most recently graduated with my master’s degree as a nurse practitioner. So, I will be practicing as a family nurse practitioner for AGH, which I’m very excited about. I’ve had a huge journey there. They boosted my entire college career, and I was the recipient of the Wor-Wic’s scholarship through the hospital and did tuition reimbursement countless times so they were definitely there for the education run and the long haul.”
Maryland Hospitals Offer Tuition Assistance & Reimbursement
Many hospitals offer financial assistance for health care careers. As a full-time or part-time hospital employee, you may be eligible for tuition reimbursement. Some hospitals offer scholarships for students — this may be for a specific program, such as nursing, or to attend a specific school. These programs may require a commitment to work at the hospital for one to two years upon graduation. Additional benefits may include paying for licensure testing, prep courses, and certification.
Kevin, a manager at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore shares how he built his career.
“I started off as a bedside nurse on the ICU (intermediate care unit). And then I was able to move to the ICU after a year… I was able to progress to an assistant nurse manager on my home IMC floor.
And then after a year there, I’ve been able to jump to nurse manager [for three South and that is all] with the help of the tuition reimbursement and you know, the help of my leaders, my team members just having trust in me and being there for me when I have questions.”
Scholarships
A variety of local, state, and national organizations offer scholarships. Scholarships can be based on criteria such as your financial need, grades, or an essay, and some scholarships don’t require paying it back. Check with the program or college you want to attend for a list of scholarship opportunities. Also, consider opportunities at local civic and professional organizations, as well as health care organizations and agencies.
Find Available Grants
Grants do not have to be paid back if you complete the specific terms of the award. Grants are available from the federal and state governments. For many students, federal Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added. Forms are available for colleges and universities, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
Get Started Now
Hospitals want to build the best team they can and are actively working with their employees and prospective employees to develop many paths for finding a career in health care. These opportunities abound in Maryland as we build the next generation of health care workers.
Study for a health career or find a career that fits your goals today!
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Career OpportunitiesSome health career guidance courtesy of MissouriHealthCareers.com
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