Regarding a degree in nursing. Is a BS equal to an Rn? the sign on bonus's, are they paid to new graduates?

I would need an online program and at $500 per 3 credits how far will finacial aid get me. I could only afford $100 a month. If anyone else has experience getting thru this please let me know. Also what do they pay an unexperienced nurse straight out of clinicals?

BS (and AS and MS) are college degrees
RN is a license from the state

You could have an MS in Nursing and still fail the RN exam (though not likely). You can qualify to take the RN exam with an ASN, BSN, or MSN. The higher the degree, the greater your responsibility and pay.

A BSN start-to-finish online would be nearly impossible to do. The BSN programs you see out there that are online are for nurses who already have an RN and the ASN. You may be able to find a hybrid program where part is online and part is in the classroom/clinicals.

$100 a month won't buy books. The only way to know what financial aid you can get is to apply.

$500 per three credits is a really good price. But, it's very likely that your local community college is even cheaper.

Sign-on bonuses are paid to new employees who are hired. Some are for experienced nurses only, others for certain jobs. Some places need nurses so badly they want anyone who is an RN.

The average hourly for a new RN is just under $21 an hour. Some jobs or places pay more - some a little less. Based on a 40 hour week, that's $840 a week, $3640 a month, or $43,680 per year. Not too bad, eh? Master's nurses average over $60,000 per year.

What I'd suggest, since you don't have a bunch of money, go down to your local community college and talk to them about their ASN program. Get that first. Apply for all of the aid they will give you. Don't turn down loans automatically - consider the amount that nurses earn compared to what you earn now when you think about loans. (ie: when you make $18K a year, $100 a month payment is a lot; when you make $43K a year, $100 is lunch money for a week.)

Once you get the ASN and your RN license (2 years) then start looking at RN to BSN online programs (another 2 years) which at that point you will be able to easily afford. At that point you'd have the BSN and 2 years of experience - a really nice position to be in to negotiate for top dollar nursing jobs.

Sometimes, we have to suck it up and tighten the belt for a couple years knowing that in just a couple years our life will be much improved for it.

just a few thoughts...

The pay is usually about the same, but it varies by location. In Nebraska, 20/hr, Colorado and Idaho, 25/hr I'm not sure about anywhere else.

You will not find a program on-line that includes clinical. The on-line programs are for people who already have an associates, and desire to continue to get their bachelor degree.