Life Expenses in Nursing School?

Nursing Students General Students

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Alright ladies and gents,

I've fumbled with my academics in the past by trying to balance work and school to keep a roof over my head. I recently lost my job and am getting back on the horse for school. I'll be finishing up my prereqs and applying for a full-blown nursing program at the end of this year. Since I've proven to myself that I do NOT balance work and school with grace, I present you all with the age old question of- how did/do you afford to live while you were/are in nursing school?

If I want to discontinue working for my time in nursing school, and being that I don't have a degree saving up is not an option, how can I afford housing? Transportation? Food?

Of course I have already filed my FAFSA and for state tuition funding, I'll apply for scholarships, but what other options are there that don't include a lifetime of interest payments?

I'd love to know your experience with paying for your living expenses, just because that alone is what I stopped going to school for in the first place a few years back.

Specializes in CTICU.

Thanks everyone! I think this is only a big deal because I know I've struggled in the past with balancing work and school, I'll really have to cross that bridge when I get accepted (keep your fingers crossed for me), but by the sounds of it, I'm hoping to have a part time job in a hospital by the time I do start nursing school. I really like the idea of alternate shifts or what someone else said about just working mega shifts over the weekends. If I get really lucky with picking my classes and rotations maybe I can even manage to work a day or two during the week. @chibiRN AWESOME that you have less than 8k in debt! That is nothing these days!

I definitely don't think I'll have enough in savings by the time I start nursing school to be able to live off of it (by which I mean I definitely won't), and I'd rather keep doors open to make a name for myself in the workforce as a reliable employee, hopefully keeping opportunities to land a job after graduating. I live in the NY metro area right now and I know it's near impossible to land a hospital job as a new grad! I'll definitely consider relocating if I can't get work here out of school, but I'd rather do what I can to ensure that I do.

I don't have a family or a husband or anything to take care of right now, so working and school should be doable, and you're only young once, right? No rest for the weary lol

Thank you all for your input :)

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LVN program = I lived off unemployment payments for the first six months. I lived off my savings for the last six months. I did not work during that year.

LPN-to-RN bridge program = I worked 32 hours per week as an LVN in a nursing home while attending the RN completion program. I worked two 16 hour shifts every Saturday and Sunday, which allowed me to have Monday through Friday off to attend school and study.

I recommend working as a CNA, dietary aide, lab tech, or something while attending school. I do not recommend taking out loans for living expenses because you're going to be in a world of hurt with $50k in student loan debt and a nursing job that you might hate.

So you are able to collect unemployment while in school? What state are you in? I wonder if than even makes a difference...

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I have not looked into LPN or CNA programs at all, simply because it is more education and more things to pay for and it just seems like another step to get to my bachelor's degree- which I'm already halfway done with.

I'd love to hear what other people did as well

I did not do this b/c I couldn't do the balancing act & I wanted to be in as much debt as possible following graduation, however, I believe some states will allow you to practice as a CNA after your 1st semester in nursing school. You just need to have completed Assessment & Fundamentals. Please correct me if I am wrong, fellow nurses & CNAs.

I will die in debt b/c I was single living in a nice, downtown, mid-rise all using private & federal student loans in nursing school...what an idiot. If you take out loans, only take out what you absolutely need. Live frugally...please. Good luck.

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Specializes in CTICU.
I believe some states will allow you to practice as a CNA after your 1st semester in nursing school. You just need to have completed Assessment & Fundamentals. Please correct me if I am wrong, fellow nurses & CNAs.

Really?? I'll have to look into that, it sounds like a pretty good route to take. As far as the debt goes, I spent my first couple of years as an undergrad at a private university. They offered me great financial aid for my freshman year, but second year came along and I got about half of what I did the year before. I eventually moved off campus and started working because living on campus was just wayyyy too much private loans... it's why I didn't finish. I have quite the pile of debt on my back as well, so I hear you. I was foolish, which is why I'll definitely be applying to state/city schools for nursing. I've learned a surprising amount from my mistakes, which is why I posted this topic! I just want to know how other people went about it. I'm really sorry to hear how buried you are, hopefully you'll find a way to pay it off before the interest takes over :(

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Specializes in CTICU.

mariebailey, I found this on another thread:

"In New York you can't become a CNA without going through a specific CNA program, they don't count the one year of RN school anymore. CNA's in our area are also required to have phlebotomy and EKG certifications as well.

However, you can get jobs as a Student Nurse Extern or Intern after a year of nursing school but you're not officially a CNA and these jobs are usually only offered at hospitals who have specific programs for nurse externs. I would have loved to do a CNA course this summer unfortunately I don't have CNA course money (here they are like 600 bucks so no thanks)."

In other states you can, on the thread they mentioned North Carolina, but in New York it can't be done. I'll definitely be looking into intern/externships and any fellowships I can when I'm in school, but that's another bridge to be crossed when I get there!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So you are able to collect unemployment while in school? What state are you in? I wonder if than even makes a difference...
No, you're technically not supposed to collect unemployment if you are attending school full-time. The purpose of unemployment compensation is to tide a person over until he/she finds another job. Unemployment is not intended to financially support a person while he/she attends school full-time and switches careers. A person receives unemployment payments under the premise that you must be available for work full-time and are actively looking for work.

I had quit my full-time factory job where I had been employed for three years to attend an LVN program full-time. In order to survive the 12 months without working, I collected unemployment.

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I had quit my full-time factory job where I had been employed for three years to attend an LVN program full-time. In order to survive the 12 months without working I collected unemployment.[/quote']

I have been at my full time job for two years now and I am sitting in a lottery for my ADN program. When I get in (and only God knows when thy will be!) I will basically be in the same situation you were when you attended LVN school. Did you have to talk to anyone at the unemployment office before you applied to get a special acceptance?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I have been at my full time job for two years now and I am sitting in a lottery for my ADN program. When I get in (and only God knows when thy will be!) I will basically be in the same situation you were when you attended LVN school. Did you have to talk to anyone at the unemployment office before you applied to get a special acceptance?
I never let the people at the unemployment office know that I was a full-time student because you must be available 24 hours a day and constantly searching for work to be eligible for payments. To put it bluntly, a full-time student like myself who attended school seven hours per day was not available 24 hours a day and constantly looking for work.

My stated reason for quitting the factory job was the long commute of 240 miles round trip (which was true). The unemployment office initially denied my claim, stating I had quit due to childcare problems. However, I have no children, and therefore, none of the childcare problems of which they spoke. I appealed their decision and an administrative law judge ruled in my favor, so I started receiving back payments.

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catdawg, I am in the same boat as you- I'm the sole provider for myself, I can't really just quit my job (unless I get crazy good financial aid that extends into my living expenses- HA!)

It's a really good idea to look into alternate shifts, I hadn't put too much thought into it. I would do nannying, but I don't have much in the way of legitimate childcare experience, so I don't really think I'd get hired for it (I did create a sittercity account just in case, though)

What do your classmates do in a pharmacy?

carakristin1- if I lived closer to my family I'd definitely stay home, but when I moved away to college back in 06, I never went back home! My life is in another state now, so I'd rather try to stay here than move back- I have spoken to a few school back home though, so it IS an option. A backburner option, but still on the table.

flying_ace2- thank your lucky stars, girl! You're doing something right :-P good for you though, you drew a good straw with him :)

The two nannies I know didn't have formal experience either. The families just needed someone trustworthy at a lower cost than some "professional" nanny :) the others are pharmacy techs. I think that's probably helpful to them when taking pharmacology lol. At this point I'm into anything, in any field, if my classes start to interfere with my current job. If I ever see anything interesting, ill let you know!

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Specializes in CTICU.

I applied to a few pharmacies for a tech position and I do have the sittercity account, I've been looking around for work but as far as the nannying goes, I live in NYC and it seems if you want to be a nanny or babysitter (and in some cases even pet-sitter) you need a master's degree :no:

I'll take what I can get at this point, I'm going nuts here, but I'd just like to keep it relevant to nursing/school and something that I'll be able to continue once I start nursing school

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I worked full time through getting BSN and MSN. Really more than full time looking back on it. i worked every weekend at my full tjme job, then taught clinicals 8 hrs per week for LPN students. it was not by any means easy, but you learn to do what you have to do to make your dreams come true. I also have 2 young children , 5 and 8 now. I managed to make it to most every sporting event or anything else that they participated in. I will say that I learned to live on 3-4 hours per sleep. I just had big dreams for my family, so I did what I had to do! I managed to make it through all of that with a 3.5 GPA, so you can do it- you just have to put your mind to it!!

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In my state (Massachusetts) there is a program where you can be on unemployment if you are in an "approved training program" to make a new career. There are certain criteria.

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