I need some Advice: can you work and go to NS?

Trauma_Queen · May 11, 2006

i used to think that you could work and go to nursing school. i worked two jobs that equaled out to 40 hours a week, one of which was two 12 hour shifts on the weekends. i made it all the way to the final a couple of days ago and unfourtunately did not pass by 2 points. so i have to repeat the whole last year again. the fall semester i'm going to work because i'm only required to attend lecture one day a week. but in the spring they're making me take clinical over again along with lecture. so for that semester i will take out loans and not work.

you can do anything you put your mind to. our school advises you not to work, but i also know this is the real world and some people just can't not work. it can be done, obviously, since i made it this far, but i can honestly say i was miserable this whole last semester. i was busy every day of the week, had papers to write every week, and basically had no time to study. i thought i could pull it off, but i'm not superwoman. if you can find a way around not working, then i wouldn't work. i unfourtunately, had no choice.

good luck!

NaomieRN · May 11, 2006

I am planning to work fulltime and go to school part time. I know I can do it. My sister went to nursing school 12 years ago. She got pregnant after the first semester. She went back, worked overnight shift 32 hours a week and was enrolled fulltime.

morganvibes · May 11, 2006

i used to think that you could work and go to nursing school. i worked two jobs that equaled out to 40 hours a week, one of which was two 12 hour shifts on the weekends. i made it all the way to the final a couple of days ago and unfourtunately did not pass by 2 points. so i have to repeat the whole last year again. the fall semester i'm going to work because i'm only required to attend lecture one day a week. but in the spring they're making me take clinical over again along with lecture. so for that semester i will take out loans and not work.
you can do anything you put your mind to. our school advises you not to work, but i also know this is the real world and some people just can't not work. it can be done, obviously, since i made it this far, but i can honestly say i was miserable this whole last semester. i was busy every day of the week, had papers to write every week, and basically had no time to study. i thought i could pull it off, but i'm not superwoman. if you can find a way around not working, then i wouldn't work. i unfourtunately, had no choice.
good luck!

thanks for your reply, but it sounds like maybe you were taking pre req courses as well which would be a lot bigger load? or do you have to write papers in nursing school? i will only be taking nursinf courses, not that that is easy but it would be totally impossible to work and take al the classes in 2 years for sure.

MIA-RN1, RN · May 11, 2006

You can do it if you want to, but you maybe want to ask yourself this: If you are serious about running for city council, wouldn't it look better to already BE a nurse first? If the constituents see you as someone who's energy is divided and not 100% towards them, they may not vote you in.

Plus the unpredictability that you mentioned could be a drawback. WHat if there is a board meeting and you have clinical at the same time? Again, you'd have to choose.

not now, RN · May 11, 2006

I did it through LVN school and will do it through the LVN to RN program. I have no choice. It's possible but it's exhausting.

If you do this be prepared to be really tired. You have to be driven. You have to make sure you study and/or do homework even when all you want to do is sleep a few more hours.

morganvibes · May 11, 2006

your right, but the other factor is that I have a high profile right now and people want me to run for next years election, which wouldn't be the case at another time. Of course everything in life has to happen at once, doesn't it? or what fun would it be!

ha

are you still in school?

Travellpro · May 11, 2006

Coopergrrrl makes a very good point since your situation is so different. I worked full time and went to school part time doing my prereques and I did just fine. Now when nursing school starts this fall, I am planning to work part time and go to school full time. My school recommends you work no more than 24 hours per week. Of course some work full time and raise children. I am thinking about just working 16 hours a week. I could always add a day if I felt like I could do it once the program begins.

Maybe you could ask the current council what it's like and see what hours you need to be devoted so that it doesn't conflict with your schooling.

Whatever you choose, best of luck!

morganvibes · May 11, 2006

Also, did any of you know about the health insurance question?

I spoke to someone who said you don't always get insurance as a nurse. can that be true?

one thing about the city council job is that you get health insurance.

Trauma_Queen · May 11, 2006

thanks for your reply, but it sounds like maybe you were taking pre req courses as well which would be a lot bigger load? or do you have to write papers in nursing school? i will only be taking nursinf courses, not that that is easy but it would be totally impossible to work and take al the classes in 2 years for sure.

no i had all of my pre reqs done and just taking nursing courses. i don't know how it is at other schools, but in our program you are required to write formal papers and in the final semester you have a formal paper due every monday morning.

morganvibes · May 11, 2006

Oh dear, I hate writing papers! I thought I was done with that after psychology. Yikes!

MIA-RN1, RN · May 11, 2006

your right, but the other factor is that I have a high profile right now and people want me to run for next years election, which wouldn't be the case at another time. Of course everything in life has to happen at once, doesn't it? or what fun would it be!
ha
are you still in school?

well, maybe put school on hold for the term of your office?

Working full time with a possibly erratic schedule will be tough. I am just about to graduate (two days of classes and a final to go!) and I only worked 18 set, regular hours but it was stressful always running to one place or another. Plus carting the kids around to the myriad of things they do AND being a girl scout leader...lol. I did lots and it was HARD sometimes to carve out the time I needed to study.

If people want you to run, and you want to run, then by all means go for it! But understand that Nursing school demands a LOT of out-of-class time and preparation. In my school we didn't write papers like research papers etc but we had LOTs of Process Papers (like assessment/care plans sort of) and many clinical observations (that were not always on the same day as clinical) that we had to write about.

ANd I am not sure what its like where you are but here, we have ZERO ZIP ZILCH say in our schedules. Meaning you are given your schedule a few weeks before the semester starts and have to move your life around.

I sound negative but I am not really. Nursing school has been one of the best things I've ever done and something I have loved. But its also demanding and time consuming.