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.

This is exactly what I was worried about cuz these programs don't leave much spare time

Specializes in CTICU.
i worked every weekend at my full tjme job, then taught clinicals 8 hrs per week for LPN students.

How did you get to teach LPN students? Did you get an ADN and then do a BSN program? This sounds like a cool idea, but I don't have an associate's so I don't know if it's an option. It probably varies by state too, but it's an awesome idea. I figure the closer I can work to school, the better! And if you can be working full time, work part time teaching, and raise two children.... I think I can manage just one job and school. Maybe since now I'll actually be studying what I want to do it'll be a bit easier to focus on it than it was in a program I never wanted to be in...

ryanalice- I think we have something similar here in NY to so I'll have to look into that as well.

I work for in-home non-medical caregiving company. I work night shifts and sometimes 24 hours shifts. It's super easy stuff. It's like getting paid to study. You just keep an eye on elderly woman in their homes, pick up their slack in the daily living areas which generally include making meals for you both, running a load of laundry every once in a while and doing medication reminders. Most of my clients are very self sufficient physically but have terrible memory issues and I am there more to just orient them when need be. A lot of the time they just want to do crossword puzzles and watch tv so you have plenty of time to study. The studying is not against the rules or anything slick either, it's totally acceptable. You are even allowed to sleep at night. They pay like $8-15 an hour depending on where you live, and are always hiring.

I am a mom to 5 young children. I got accepted to the ADN program fall 2013. I have no choice I have to work part time as a PCT at the hospital 2 nights a week 7p-7:30a. We shall see how well it works out. I have no choice I have to work and I have to do nursing because this is my passion.

I am a mom to 5 young children. I got accepted to the ADN program fall 2013. I have no choice I have to work part time as a PCT at the hospital 2 nights a week 7p-7:30a. We shall see how well it works out. I have no choice I have to work and I have to do nursing because this is my passion.

Like you I have no choice I HAVE to work. I have two kids and we need health insurance and I also need to bring a check in to pay my living expenses. I work full time as a PCT in an CCU at the local hospital and will actually celebrate my 9th year there this July. Currently in my 3rd semester of NS this summer and can't wait till July 2nd (Finals 7/1). Good luck

I am going to stay working full time while I do prereqs. When I enter the bridge program next fall if my work will not let me drop down to very part time, I will get a PRN job in LTC. I am using this year to pay off all small debts and get my 4 year old through costly preschool. I used to stay home so I know we can live off my husbands income alone if I do have to quit. Worst case I will take a 5k living expense loan out. We live frugal anyways (we work towards being debt free) so it won't be that big of an adjustment to tighten our belts a bit more.

....my fiance. He has been extremely supportive. I quit my ft job months before I started the program. I did pick up a PRN job. The first year I worked about 8-12 hours a week. At the start of the 2nd year I worked a few hours here and there. Maybe 8-12 hours a month.

I wasn't eligible for financial aid due to my income at my old job so my family paid my tuition and books. I was very fortunate....I couldn't have done this without them!

I'm also in the same boat as a ton of you! I work fulltime and fully support my family, and bless my husbands heart he just hasn't had a ton of luck on the job circuit - works 2 jobs now as a prep cook but only makes minimum wage. I don't judge him on this, but I know that he will not be able to support our family on these jobs, and while he's actively looking for more work, it would be out of sheer luck for him to find something that makes anywhere near what I currently make (which before you think I'm ballin, I'm not, I just work a lot more hours in comparison and make more than Ca's minumum wage... and the life costs in this state are ridiculous!)

Anyway, I currently work in a hospital, but in a M-F daytime department, and am frantically searching for another position within our system somewhere, that will work around my school schedule, give me the options for nights and weekends, and hopefully eventually benefits. I'm trying not to get discouraged, and using all my resources, even begging for interviews. If you want something bad enough you will make it happen - cut where you can, and I mean cut - if you have to go against all your beliefs and feed your family top ******* ramen for 2 years just know that you will make it through this 2 years and be better off for the rest of your life. Remember when you think all is going to hell, its only 2 years, if you have a family you know you are bettering your family by an unmeasureable amount, you are giving yourself a career where opporutnities for growth are endless, and one that you can move anywhere and continue to support your family. If you do not have a family, then feed yourself top ramen, live on minimal sleep, study your a$$ off, work where you can, support yourself on the most minimal means possible and push yourself through for 2 years. We will make it through this! I've applied for 3 1/2 years and finally was accepted, I will make it through this!

I spent my student loan on daycare and gas. Finished school four months pregnant with #2, finished paying off the loan when the kid was in first grade.

Houseshare, do more around the house for your housemates in exchange for rent, seriously cut back on things you really, really don't need-- more clothes, a texting/data plan for your cell phone, cable TV, coffee at the Starbucks or McD, dinners out ... you'd be amazed at how much that stuff adds up to. Oddly, none of it is irreplaceable for educational purposes (many people had successful educations before any of that was invented, and the same resources they used are still available to you today).

I worked about 25-30 hours per week during prereqs, but I plan on quitting work late August and taking out my max student loans. I would work part time, but I will also have an infant that will need to be taken care of. I'm not single, but my husband doesn't make a lot of money at his current job, so taking out student loans seemed like the best option. Tuition, supplies, gas, rent, utilities, insurance, pets, groceries, all of these things add up so quickly! I guess I just figure that student loans will always be a part of my life, so I just need to do what I need to do right now to get by.

I've been in situations before while working on another degree where I worked entirely too much, and my grades went downhill to Cs and Ds. I'm determined not to let that happen again (because this time, they really, really matter. I'd rather not get kicked out of the program)! I'm sure working full time is doable, but I wouldn't risk it.

I'd look into getting a roommate to make things easier. A lot of schools also have some kind of carpooling program, or even a bike program (if you live close enough). See if you're eligible for food stamps to help with the cost of food - regardless of some people's opinions, it can really be a lifesaver.

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