How do u go to nursing if you have to work full time?

yurnurse · Dec 12, 2007

Girl you get an exceptional support system, plenty of caffeine and alot of prayer. It is difficult but definately doable. I work 2 weekdays 8 hours and doubles on the weekends for my hours. I study at work, in the car, in the bathtub etc. You get the point....it just takes alot of determination and will. I am in third semester and have remained on the honor roll since the beginning. 3.47 GPA

kgard7777 · Dec 12, 2007

Well what if your current career only has 8am to 5pm hours and its req. Monday - Friday? How do u manage then?

rn-jane · Dec 12, 2007

I went to nursing school and worked fulltime. My nursing school has a part time evening weekend progam. You would go to class 2-3 times a week from 6-10pm and do your clinicals every weekend from 7-3. It was difficult but was very do able. There were lots of 2nd career students and stay at home moms raising young families in my class.

lklin09 · Dec 12, 2007

Well what if your current career only has 8am to 5pm hours and its req. Monday - Friday? How do u manage then?

Find a school that has classes after your work ends. See if you can adjust your schedule at work. My normal hours at work are 9-6, my school is 5:30 - 10:30. My work agreed to adjust my schedule to 8-5 so that I could make it to school by 5:30. You never know what your work is willing to do for you until you ask. Save up all your vacation time, use it during the school year for days you need to get off early or just need a full day for studying. Good luck.

queenjean · Dec 12, 2007

Maybe you need a different job, then, while you go to nursing school. If you can't find a job and a school that have opposite hours, that is.

Perhaps you can get a job as an aide in a facility that will pay for part or all of your school.

If you want it bad enough, you can usually make it work. You just might be eating beans, rice and ramen noodles for a while.

kgard7777 · Dec 13, 2007

Thank u all for the advice.. now my next question is .... will the nursing field be worth all of the trouble? I hear so many negative things about it

jla623 · Dec 13, 2007

Everybody qualifies for student loans. Get a private loan.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Dec 13, 2007

Do like I did, have 3 jobs, 2 kids under 5, live a 100 mi commute, never see the kids, study all the time, strive for Dean's List, not sleep and have a VERY understanding and loving spouse.

And no it wasn't worth it even all these years later.

Weeping Willow · Dec 13, 2007

All of the above plus look for scholarships. Go to scholarship web sites.

Ask for grant money, gift money, scholarship money, no matter how small the amount, from your church, local hospitals, friends and family in lieu of birthday or holiday gifts.

Take in a boarder who will pay rent or who will not pay rent but will be a housekeeper/babysitter.

Go part-time to school. Get your general education courses done first, one or two classes per semester. Then you will have only the nursing courses to do.

It's not easy but many of us have trod this road before you and it can be done. I wish you all the best.

Agnus · Dec 13, 2007

Take the loans and quit work, or at least only work part time. This will get you thought the first year of school.Believe me the next year you will qualify for all kinds of financial aide.

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Dec 14, 2007

I worked full time through school. However, I did not have children, but knew of some people in my program who worked and had kids. Like others have stated, you have to make school a priority. I am a firm believer that if you want something bad enough you can do it!

screamcat · Dec 14, 2007

You CAN do it. I'm doing it now and had baby # 2 smack in the middle of the program. I am in my senior year of a 3 yr fulltime Nursing program. I have been working fulltime since I started. I work three 12hr shifts Fri-Sat-Sun 6p to 6a, then, dependent on the semesters of course have class and clinical during the week. This semester I had lecture on Mondays from 830a to 3p, which did kick my butt, cause I was just getting off of work...Thank God for tape recorders!!! And if it was a test day I would take off Sunday night to be well rested for test day. Then clinicals this semester where Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:45am to 3pm. You have to exhaust all of your options. Family, friends. I found a babysitter that watches my baby in her home along with her son of close age, on Craigslist!!! Big chance....soooo glad I took it, I lucked out. And my other in in 2nd grade now. Don't procrastinate a minute longer because in 2 years you'll be saying I could've been finished by now. Sometimes you have to be brave!! You CAN do it. My husband is in school too doing a Masters in Anesthesia. We will both be finished our programs in May. It hasn't been easy! But it will be soooooo worth it in the end! Good Luck!