Experience with School Workload and holding a job

metal_m0nk, BSN, RN · May 17, 2012

If you can afford to, not working is probably best. I worked 20-36 hours per week all through school and I'm a single mom of one, so I didn't have a whole lot of other options. I still managed to maintain a 3.3 GPA (will likely be 3.65 by after I take this last class) and I'm one class away from graduation. It can be done.

Jazzyjazz · May 17, 2012

If you can afford to, not working is probably best. I worked 20-36 hours per week all through school and I'm a single mom of one, so I didn't have a whole lot of other options. I still managed to maintain a 3.3 GPA (will likely be 3.65 by after I take this last class) and I'm one class away from graduation. It can be done.

I plan to take the first semester off but I wanted to take the time and start to look for a part time position at a hospital.

BTW can I just tell you. I think that any person with a child while working and going to school - - Is amazing and a role model. Kudos to you Triquee. I have a friend that works full time, just finished her masters and is a single mother, I don't know how she did it, but it is truly inspiring as well as motivating.

This past semester I worked full time and took 11 credits. With my average 2 hour commute from work to school+home (public transportation) I thought that I was just about to die.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to taking the semester off and being a full time student... even if it's just for one semester. :)

RN_Sarah · May 17, 2012

I worked an average of 24 hours per week when I was in school. For the last two years I worked two 12-hour night shifts every Friday & Saturday night. It worked pretty well for me, since I have a family. I was able to study as much as I wanted to on evenings and weekends (& @ work on slow nights). It also worked b/c if I had to prep for clinicals or anything I could do it in the evening rather than working. I'm not sure how it would have possibly worked had I been working during the week! I would say, if you don't have to work, that would be the easiest for school. But, it is also good to get your foot in the door at a hospital. Maybe find a job where you're not required to work so many hours per week, so you can pick up more hours during not-so-busy weeks, and less hours during busy weeks. Good luck! :)

jennabean55 · May 17, 2012

You do what you need to do when it comes to school and work. I had to work while I was in Nursing School. I had no choice. My bills weren't going to pay themselves. I also needed a car to get me from 'A to B' and it was nice to have some extra spending money. I worked an average of 12-40 hours a week while in school depending on the time of year. It was strongly encouraged by my Nursing Program to NOT work. I was bummed, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from attaining my dream of becoming a Nurse. I let my employer know well in advance what my school situation was. They were very understanding considering that they had several nursing students work there previously and currently there were two other nursing students (I waitress at an Italian Restaurant/Lounge).

Like I said, you do what you need to do. If you need to work to pay the bills, it's understandable. If you can afford to not work, then take advantage of it. Nursing School is very difficult and is going to require a lot of your time, effort, emotion, and patience. The way I look at it: If I can do it, then you can do it too!

Best of Luck!

shannag1881 · May 18, 2012

I worked nights 24 hours a week through my second semester - I was in school full time and I'm married with 5yo twins. It was hard, but not undoable. What was rough for me was my second class - sometimes I'd go to school right after a shift and when it got to about noon, I was DYING. It was a Micro class so it wasn't anything I couldn't get from a book.

Come Fall, I'm dropping one shift because I'll have more clinicals and logistically I can't get in that 3rd day some weeks.

If you have to do it, you find a way.

Good luck!

Jazzyjazz · May 18, 2012

Thanks guys, I think that I will take my first semester off of work. During this time, I will look for a part-time job.