How do you do school and work?

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I am a full time student. I go to school from 8 am to 4 pm. I have a nine year old step son that lives with my husband and me. Finacial aid is helping with my cost of school but I am also making monthly payment to the college that I attend. My husband is the only one working at the moment. He has a nice income but we are still strapped each month. I feel like I need to work atleast part time b/c of the holiday being right around the corner.

My question is to all the students that work, take care of children and their house.

HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU DO IT AND STILL MANTAIN A GOOD GPA, MARRIAGE AND LIFE?:eek:

what job would you recommend to help finances and get experince?

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Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.

Good luck on getting a straight answer to that question. Too many depends. If you can get a part time job, then you will have less time for hubby, family and school work. No way around it.

Lots of people do work, I'm one of them, but my schooling is at night and on the weekends and I was working full time when I started back to school. I try and squeeze in the study time whenever I can. I'm not sure where you live, but from what I can tell most everywhere its a struggle to find any job and lots of companies that used to hire extra for Christmas, are not doing so this year. It may all be moot if you can't find something that works for you.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

Time management. Many students have employment and family commitments. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Time management, spouse assistance and possibly a lean Christmas this year. It is only for a relatively short time. You will find what works for you as you go. Hopefully your spouse is on board and you can count on an lot of support from him for the time you need to study - meaning HE takes care of the stepson and dinner and putting stuff in the dishwasher, etc.

You say your husband has a nice income but you are still strapped every month. Whittle down those expenses wherever you can. Find cheaper ways to eat and don't eat out. Cut down on cable or whatever other monthly bills you have that are optional. Figure out where your money goes and then control what you can. Finding a part time job may be a challenge right now and finding one that is flexible with school even moreso.

Lots of people have to deal with this and you will find a way to do so as well. Nobody with a family gets through this alone; the whole family has to be on board and focus on this next few years as being ones requiring effort and compromise. Then when you graduate EVERYONE feels like they have had a hand in making that happen, kids included.

Best of luck.

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

A lot depends on your study skills, reading rate, etc. as well as your home support. I work 40+ hr/week in a non-medical field (IT) and am going to nursing school. It's NOT easy. The reasons I am doing relatively ok: 1) my job is EXTREMELY flexible - I can work from home and evenings around my RN school schedule; 2) I'm divorced and my kiddo is 14 and helps around the house/cooking and doesn't demand much of my time; 3) I was a paramedic years ago and so a lot of this isn't new to me; 4) I have a very high reading rate with good comprehension - I can read everything for a week in about 3 hours; and 5) the stuff that is new to me, makes sense and I learn it quickly without having to review over & over. The only things I have to work hard at are the straight memorization things like pharma and lab values.

Like someone else said, there are many variables. You hopefully have an idea by this point in the semester how your study habits are working, and how much time you have to put in to get good grades. Look at the rest of your time, subtract out time for good sleep, and see what you have left, and realize you'll end up cutting corners - house may be dirty, you may use a lot of frozen foods (but remember they cost more), and you may fall asleep a lot trying to watch movies with hubby/kiddo. :)

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I feel ya!!!

I work 3 days a week, attend school 3 days a week, and then I get one day off to rest....I don't have any children per say....but I have 7 4 legged children...4 dogs, 2 cats and a rabbit, they require constant attention from the moment i wake up in the morning to when I go to sleep at night...I'm up at 6 am every morning, and asleep by 11 or midnight every night....I'm also happily married for 3 years...

I make it work because I told my husband before i started that I do love him but for the next 2 years it isn't going to be the same as it used to be...we won't be spending as much time together and all that....and he understands that 2 years is nothing compared to what this is going to do for the rest of my life...

As for studying....i believe it just has to do with your study style...as for myself I highlight everything once, then read over it a few more times and i'm good...but everyone is different, you may need postcards, or create a study guide etc....

but just think about it...2 years is going to mean the rest of your life, if you can make it through that, do whatever you need to do...take out loans if needed...it can work....

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Although I do not have as many responsibilities as you do, my time is no longer my time anymore. I just decided to suck it up for a while. What I mean is that I devote my time to work, school, and family and enjoy my hobbies, etc. only after tests to keep my sanity. School is not an indefinite task; remember to be as productive as possible and use your time as well as possible. Don't forget to get plenty of sleep because you will enjoy your time much more.

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