Yes, it's possible to go to nursing school and work full time...

ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA · Apr 22, 2012

I worked full-time as an LVN during ADN school. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I had to do it, and I'm glad I did. I pulled mostly A's and B's. I was very fortunate in that I didn't have any children, or anybody dependent upon me for anything. The only reason I worked full-time was because the hospital I work currently work at doesn't offer part-time, and I wanted to keep my foot in the door to get an RN job. Between work and school I got about 1 day off every 2 weeks. It wasn't that difficult for me in an academic sense(my prior experience helped BIG time), but it was very hard on my social life. I hardly saw my family and friends during the program. Talk about social isolation.

I'm now working as an RN, and I'm currently doing my BSN full-time which in comparison is EASY.

Natural510 · Apr 22, 2012

I work full-time and am in nursing school. Luckily I work nights as a nursing assistant, in the ICU, where sometimes we have down time and I can study (including sitting with suicide/OD patients which is a piece of cake and perfect for schoolwork).

I don't have children but do have a wife, and she's not working right now either. It's quite a struggle financially, and prioritizing my time on a daily basis is a must, but it is do-able.

It's all about ambition, and pushing yourself to the limit while doing little things here & there to keep your stress level down. You have to run the percentages and know at least half the people in your first quarter of the nursing program don't make it to graduation within two years, refuse to accept any excuse for failure, and constantly remind yourself you're going to be the smaller percentage of those who succeed.

BrittRN2B14 · Apr 22, 2012

I found that blogging is really helping me with the whole experience and I haven't even started yet lol. I start in August. I would love to find more student bloggers!!! Follow my blog at keepcalmnurseon.blogspot.com :)

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2012

I did it 9 years ago, from ADN, and MSN- and my best advice is coffee, 3 alarm clocks, and the rest I plead the 5th- but it can be done.

I would also have to give TONS of credit to my wife who also worked 40 hour weeks going to get her AS-MSW. I couldn't have done it without her, and she didn't even laugh at me when she caught me in the shower with my socks on before I realized it.

Life Happens!

:redbeatheBoston

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2012

In an accelerated program, working full time is virtually impossible. As it is, it was hard with a part-time job of only 8 hours/week! But thank God, this is almost over!! ?

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2012

I entered LPN school a month before I turned 38, marrie,d 2 kids, full time job, school was also full time M-F 7a-330p (none of the traditional college 'breaks' or vacations, we went straight through from Mar 2007 thru June 2008). Hubby was 100% behind me and supported me the entire time, as did my daughters. Everyone pitched in to help ease the burdon of the house chores, laundry, dinner etc.

I graduated 15 months later with high honors. Passed my NCLEX on the first attempt and had landed my 1st job even before scheduling my NCLEX.

Now I am 43 (my birthday was last week), I'm in my LPN to RN bridge, still working full time, in school just a credit shy of whats considered 'full time'. My lowest grades are in the high B+ range and my highest are A+. Husband is still my biggest cheerleader and support system.

I think a lot of being successful in working full time and going to school is having tip-top organizational skills. And you need to be self-disciplined enough to do what you have to do, when you have to do it. You need to know what has to be done and by when and know how to prioritize accordingly.

While working full time and going to school full time (with or without children) is difficult, its not impossible.

stephanie2012 · Apr 23, 2012

that's cool ! get colon, and all this will come true !

but it take high price ....... while , joking.

technically, it would not be true, you just can focus on one thing at the same time.

♑ Capricorn ♑ · May 26, 2012

I'd imagine it would be incredibly difficult. If you find yourself slipping, get help ASAP.

EmilyA · Jul 20, 2013

All of you are so inspirational. I am starting school in August for Practical Nursing, my boyfriend says there is absolutely no way that I can go to school full time, take care of him and my 5 year old and work a full time job. I am 29 years old and I work as an insurance agent. I don't like the industry because there isn't much security and I have to wait too long on the money I earn. I know that being a nurse is what I want to do. I read that in order to reach your goals you need support from your family, boss etc. I don't have much support but I know that if I make it through this, I will have done "the impossible".

EmilyA · Jul 20, 2013

Thank you for your story. I feel inspired. So many people are telling me I can't but I believe 100% that I can and I can't wait until I reach my goal!

sueall · Jul 21, 2013

EmilyA said:
All of you are so inspirational. I am starting school in August for Practical Nursing, my boyfriend says there is absolutely no way that I can go to school full time, take care of him and my 5 year old and work a full time job. I am 29 years old and I work as an insurance agent. I don't like the industry because there isn't much security and I have to wait too long on the money I earn. I know that being a nurse is what I want to do. I read that in order to reach your goals you need support from your family, boss etc. I don't have much support but I know that if I make it through this, I will have done "the impossible".

Boyfriend's concerned you won't have time to "take care of him"???? And just what has he offered to do to help you?? Sorry, his "poor little me" attitude hit me totally wrong. . . it's really none of my business . . . but please don't underestimate your need for supportive people behind you who will jump in to help out.

Best wishes with your program!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 21, 2013

I am also living proof that you can go to work full-time and go to school full-time. I still have approximately one year to go to my nursing program at this point. So far, I have been very lucky in that I have been able to have a work schedule that meshes well with my school schedule. At one point, I was even able to swap shifts with a coworker in order to attend clinicals. No, that was not easy. What is also nice about where I work is that I am also able to study while at work, as long as my studies do not interfere with my job duties.

Looking ahead to the future, one of the issues that crop up is that next spring I will have to suspend working for a while simply because I will be unable to mesh successfully work and school because of the fact that I will be following my preceptor's schedule rather than the typical school schedule. During that time, I will end up having to take approximately one month of unpaid leave from work, and that is going to be a somewhat difficult time for just that one month.

I just cannot reiterate enough how important it is to have a schedule that does in fact mesh well. If I was not able to do that, there would be no way that I would be able to work 40 hours per week and go to school full time. It would just simply not be possible. What makes matters more interesting is that because I already have a Bachelors Degree, most student loans are unavailable to me because I am currently pursuing an ADN degree. If it was a Masters degree, I might have a chance at loans and grants and such so that I would not have to work while going to school.

Working full-time and going to school full time, even in a non-nursing program, would just not be recommended because scheduling can be such a headache.