Nursing School. Did you work?

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Hi. I want to hear how you did it. I've worked since the age of 16. And like to know that I pull my own weight...and then some. I have been working on getting my pre-req's for the last 4 years and I finally applied & got accepted into the RN program. I'm 27 now btw. I should be happy, but I am worried about having to depend on my fiancé to take care of my 6 yr. old daughter & myself while I do the program for 2 years. People strongly advice not to work while you go through the program....Did you work through nursing school? Or did you live on Top Ramen for 2 years? Or both?

I don't work :'(

I know this GREATLY limits me career wise. But I have good grades

However I volunteer extensively and plan to work in public health either as a new grad or before going into the hospital (depending on what job(s) I am offered.

And if I can't find a job in nursing I'll go to grad school for something that will hire me.

EDIT: I want to be an np or phd so grades are very important to me.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I worked FT while doing my prerequisite. Once i got in the nursing program, i only work odd jobs with flexible hours, a babysitting job from 3-5, on call translation in the morning, nail tech on Sunday. I spent time at night after my son sleeps to study. That's the only way i could get decent grades, mostly A and some Bs. I only have one more semester to go.

You need a job with flexible schedule and good time management.

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I did an accelerated program and did not work. There were a few who tried most failed out the others barely made it. You have to do what's best for your situation. I say if you are going to work, get work that will help you land a job upon graduation. HTH

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I also worked full-time throughout my entire time so far in nursing school. I am currently in my 5th consecutive semester, I had to repeat 2 semesters along the way which extended things out a year. By the time I am done, I will have been attending nursing school for 6 consecutive semesters. I will have worked full-time for almost the entire time, as things are planned out now. I end up being very lucky in that all of my schooling has been primarily daytime and I work evenings so I could attend classes and clinical and work at the same time. The other things that worked out very well is that my employer allows me to study while at work, as long as it does not impact job performance as far as they can see.

Not all employers would be so accommodating. If I had any other job, I would be up a creek without a paddle. I am also a paramedic and if I was working in that capacity, I would have absolutely no time to study. So, in a rather ironic twist of fate, my nonmedical job is giving me a great chance for me to get back into doing patient care!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
I did an accelerated program and did not work. There were a few who tried most failed out the others barely made it. You have to do what's best for your situation. I say if you are going to work, get work that will help you land a job upon graduation. HTH

if I had been able to take an accelerated program, I also would not have been able to work. The pace of those programs is just way too fast. If I had been accepted by a slightly different program offered by my school, I might have been able to work while going to school at the same time, however, that would have been dependent upon what that program's schedule for class/clinicals was. I don't believe that particular program's schedule would have been compatible with my work schedule, so it wouldn't have been an option even if I'd been accepted by that program. The only thing "accelerated" about it is that there's minimal breaks between semesters (which are traditional length) and they go straight through the Summer, so it's the same 4 semesters in length, just all consecutive instead of fall/spring, fall/spring.

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I worked 3 12s a week, two days clinical, one day class, and one day skills lab. I have two young kids and my life was nothing except school and work 24/7 but thanks to a supportive boyfriend and mother, I did it. I also waited till my kids were also in school to enter the program. Thanks to that job I now have a nursing job so I highly recommend working at least per diem somewhere. The only ones from my class with jobs 6 months later are those that already had a foot in the door somewhere. Good Luck!

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I'm in the same boat - never been unemployed in my whole life, but I really want to do nursing school right and say that I gave it my all (which makes it hurt all the more when my grades aren't all A's, but that's another story). I'm currently not working and taking the small amount of free time and putting it towards volunteer work and leadership training. Not sure if it'll pay off, but we'll see....

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I start my BSN program in January and I recently left my job to go to school full time. My boyfriend and I have 2 kids & I'm thankful he supports me and our family while I finish school. Not everyone gets that opportunity so I'm very grateful. I know a lot of people at my school that keep their jobs because they have no choice. You have to do what you need to do. If you absolutely have to work, then you will just need to time manage. You can do it

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I tried to work full time and do Nursing school, and it was hard lol. After the first month, I began working part time hours depending on my schooling, 20-30 hours a week, back to 40 hours whenever I was on break.

With working, you can expect to work, study, go back to school, work, study, go to school, and coffee coffee coffee in between, lol. It was a crazy and fun year, lol. Glad is over :)

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I'm starting an LPN to RN accelerated program in January. I'm cutting back to working weekends only, probably 12s. We have a 2 1/2 hour class Mon Tues and Weds, clinicals thurs and fri. I would love to not have to work the whole year but I don't want to give up having a position in my hospital, nor do I want to be without the insurance benefits. So for now, just have to wait and see how it goes.

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I am in an RN program and graduate in JUNE(HOORAY) I have 2 jobs. One is part time and the other is a per diem position at a hospital. So I work my part time job 3 days out of the week and my per diem when I feel I have extra time. It is definitely doable, stressful yes but you can do it. BUT if you have the support at home and do not really need to work during your program Don't work. I sure wouldn't

:-)

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I personally think you should let your fiancee carry the load. I'm working full time in a BSN program and it is tough but I am able to burn my vacation hours during final week. It's tough and I feel completely drained at times. Unless you really need to work I would suggest that you don't so that you can spend time with your child and fiancee.

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