Did you work when going to nursing school?

ABerryGirl, CNA · Mar 6, 2007

I work every Saturday and Sunday at a hospital as a PCT (CNA). 16 hours a week total. I go to school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. I think working in a hospital environment makes it easier to learn. If I have nursing school questions I can always ask the RNs or LPNs when I'm working. Most are more than willing to help, they remember being in school at one time. Plus you get to see things before you learn about them. Or once you've learned something you can seek those patients out and get more experience. There are several students in my class who don't work in the medical field. I think they are having a harder time than I am. Less time to study. Although some people read it once and never forget it. So I guess it would depend on your learning style.

Good luck!

caliotter3 · Mar 6, 2007

Full time and as many part time or temp jobs as I could get. If you work, I highly suggest that you keep your work and personal life to yourself as much as possible. Do not even mention it to your instructors. There are some out there that will target you for failure if they know you are working. I know, I went through that.

New CCU RN · Mar 6, 2007

I did! I also ran D1 xc and track for four years which was a 25 hr a week minimum commitment. (But it was paying for my school, so I really had to). My first two years I did work study - about 15 hrs a week - at the gym. If it was slow I could also work out some. So I always scheduled my hours for slow times so I could either study or lift and use my time wisely. My last two years I did the work study - more like 10 hrs a week, worked one 8 hr shift a week a week at a coffee shop (5am-1pm), and worked one eight hour shift a week at a hospital 3p-11pm on Sundays. I have no idea no how I did it. I always made time to go out and have the college days fun and managed to graduate with a 3.5.

RNpandoraRN · Mar 6, 2007

I am working full time (40 hours a week) while going to nursing school!! I started a thread similar to this subject and posted it shortly before I began my school's nursing program. Do a search for threads under my name and check it out. Many people responded and it was a great source of encouragement!

Oh, and I'm 1/4 of the way through my program...so far, so good...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2007

Yes I did, I worked full time most weeks. I was able to take the day off before a major test to study. I worked 34-40 hour weeks.

You do what you have to do. When there's a will, there's a way. Nowadays with schools making you take "pre-reqs", most of the work is done before nursing school and you can just concentrate on nursing, so working is a possiblity.

miko014 · Mar 6, 2007

I worked anywhere form 8 hours/week to full time (40 hrs/week) - depending on my class schedule for the quarter - as a PCT and Unit Coordinator. The experience was invaluable and I can't imagine having gotten through nursing school without it. At least, it would have taken a LOT more work.

I will say this, and I don't know if it's true of many people, but...there were 4 new nurses hired to my unit at the same time. Me and one other girl had lots of experience (at least 4 years each) of working in the hospital (both PCTs/UCs), and 2 didn't. Both of us (who worked at the hospital) passed the NCLEX the first try (I had 75 questions, she had like 260) and the other 2 both failed. They started working as techs. One passed her boards a year later, and other one took longer than that. I don't know if that was just coincidence or if working in the hospital helps you learn - and helps with critical thinking skills. I'm not saying you won't pass if you don't work - I'm saying that it does seem to help if you do (and if you can). Does that make sense? I hope so!

TazziRN, RN · Mar 6, 2007

I was a CNA with Visiting Nurses, doing home care. I was able to schedule my clients around my classes, but at the same time I was living at home rent free, so I had minimal expenses.

pcicurn7 · Mar 6, 2007

I worked during the day, Monday through Friday, full time. On the weekends, i did medical transcription at home. I was in school Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 pm to 10:30 (sometimes later when i was in clinicals).

NOT EASY. Very difficult. But it can be done. I graduated nursing school without debt. If anything, it teaches you how to manage your time, which is an important aspect of nursing. But its definitely something you do out of necessity. I had a home, a husband, and lots of bills. I didnt have a choice.

Oh, and i really dont think that working at a hospital increases your chances of passing the NCLEX. I worked as an MA at a doctors office, which gave me somewhat of an advantage in school, but by the time you get to the NCLEX, its the schooling your received that allows you to pass the exam (if anything, you have to separate "real life" experiences in order to answer some questions correctly).

My old school had a 99% pass rate. And only a few of us worked in a medical related field.

beckabeckahi · Mar 6, 2007

I worked full time nights while I was nursing school, took off the last two months and worked PRN. My week was Monday thru Thurs nursing school, into work thurs-sat night. Stay up all day sunday to flip my schedule. Not recommended, but now I have my RN, its all worth it!!

Jules A, MSN · Mar 6, 2007

I graduated nursing school without debt. If anything, it teaches you how to manage your time, which is an important aspect of nursing.

I agree with IrisRN.

I wouldn't have gone back to school if I had to either spend my savings or put my family in debt to do it. I worked around 30 hours a week and graduated at the top of my class. In fact most of the students that worked got great grades also. It is really necessary to manage your time and not allow yourself to get behind. I think in hindsight I tend to study better when I know I don't have the luxury of putting it off til tomorrow. Best to you, Jules

hikernurse · Mar 7, 2007

Local hospital, CNA then LPN; float pool so I could choose my own hours. Sometimes things get a bit tight, but the experience is invaluable.