3 CRNAs Share the One Thing They Wish They Knew Sooner: Up to $90K in Student Loan Repayment
What if your future employer could help pay off up to $90,000 of your student loans—before you even graduate?*
That’s not hypothetical—it’s already happening.
In a recent live webinar hosted by Clasp, CRNAs and healthcare recruiters from Memorial Sloan Kettering, Novant Health, and Saint Alphonsus (Trinity Health) shared how their hospitals are offering Nurse Anesthesia students full-time job commitments and future loan repayment of up to $90,000, while students are still in school.*
For SRNAs graduating in 2025, 2026, or 2027, this is a rare opportunity to land a job and a financial safety net before finishing your program.
Couldn't make the webinar? Don't worry. You can catch the recording — or read up on the key takeaways below!
💬 “I hate paying student loans.”
The webinar began with a discussion of financial planning for CRNA school—how panelists prepared for the cost, and how having access to employer loan repayment would have changed things.
“I hate paying student loans... This [loan repayment] is something we've been pushing for at my hospital… and I think it's great for anybody, regardless of what their loans are.”
— Emily Van Dyke, CRNA, Saint Alphonsus
Emily wasn’t alone. Amanda Chilton from Novant Health, who has four children, said she likely would have started school sooner if she had this kind of support:
“$90,000? That's pretty close to what my loans are... I probably would have went to school a little sooner… I definitely feel like that would have been fantastic to have had access to.”
— Amanda Chilton, CRNA, Novant Health
And Kimberly Conlon from Memorial Sloan Kettering shared that this kind of program may have changed the way she evaluated her options:
“Had I known that a program like this existed, it probably would have affected my decision.”
— Kimberly Conlon, CRNA, Memorial Sloan Kettering
🏥 Why These CRNAs Chose Their Hospitals
When it came time to choose an employer, the panelists emphasized three core factors: clinical autonomy, team culture, and variety of experience.
Kimberly, who joined Memorial Sloan Kettering, shared that she was drawn to the opportunity to work on advanced cases in a collaborative environment:
“All the CRNAs [at Memorial Sloan Kettering] do a lot of all the big cases, thoracic, neuro, spines, everything, and that's what I really loved about it… and you kind of just work together as a team.”
At Novant, Amanda returned to the same system where she began as a new grad ICU nurse. She described a strong sense of support and mutual respect between CRNAs and anesthesiologists:
“We have a lot of autonomy. And we’re doing cardiothoracic, neuro, peds... I love, absolutely love, the team collaboration.”
For Emily, the decision to join Saint Alphonsus in Boise came down to lifestyle and clinical mix. She wanted trauma experience—and the ability to enjoy the outdoors:
“I picked Saint Alphonsus because I wanted to do trauma... I wanted a season ski pass again, is really what it came down to... There’s just so much to do outside the hospital, and that’s what drives me.”
🧠 What to Expect as a New CRNA
Each CRNA spoke about what their first year on the job has really looked like. The common thread? A high level of independence and the chance to grow quickly.
Amanda described the Novant practice as one where CRNAs manage a wide range of patients without interference:
“We don't have residents there that are taking our cases. Our docs don't sit cases. So we have a lot of autonomy.”
At MSK, Kimberly appreciated the trust she was given from day one:
“We are completely autonomous... You're having a nice conversation with [the doctors]... And then you go ahead... and they really allow you to have your full autonomy... which I really, really like as well.”
And at Saint Alphonsus, Emily shared how her team’s trust in her judgment has grown over time:
“When I say autonomy, that's what it is... They know I've looked, they've looked... Sometimes we don't even have to have that [discussion].”
📌 How the Program Works
Through Clasp, Nurse Anesthesia students can apply for in-school commitments from top employers that come with up to $90,000 in student loan repayment, paid out monthly after hire.*
Here’s how it works:
- Get matched to a participating hospital or health system
- Interview and receive a job commitment before graduation
- After hire, receive monthly loan payments (federal or private loans are eligible)*
- No dollars taken back if you leave early*
- No impact to your salary or benefits
💡 Some students are even able to complete final clinicals at the hospital where they’ve accepted a full-time role, making the transition smoother.
✅ Who’s Eligible?*
- Current SRNAs graduating in 2025, 2026, or 2027
- U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
- Students looking for strong mentorship, meaningful clinical experience, and help reducing the burden of student debt
⏳ Apply Early—Spots Are Limited
Each hospital accepts a limited number of students per cycle. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early applicants have a better chance of matching.
🔗 Ready to Explore These Opportunities?
This isn’t a scholarship. It’s a full-time job commitment—plus real loan repayment you earn.
👉 Learn more & apply today at clasp.com/crna
*Program terms vary by employer. Eligibility requirements apply. See full details at clasp.com/crna.