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

Students General Students Toon

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    by Joe V
    Specializes in Programming / Strategist for allnurses.

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For those who are working full time and going to school full time...

How are you managing it? Are you getting help? Is it a struggle? How are your grades?

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doczorro

5 Posts

My grades are passing, but barely, and I work part time. In the real world, having real life issues, you do what you HAVE to do and just hope you don't have a heart attack while doing it.

I have to eat, I have to get the bills paid, I have NO one helping me, so I do what I HAVE to do is the bottom line, taking it one hour, one minute, one week, one month at a time, hoping there IS a light and work, at the end of the tunnel.

My class has a saying "Just keep swimming".... That's all you can do in the ocean of Nursing School, hoping the sharks stay away...

Anne36, LPN

1,361 Posts

I think that has a lot to do with the school and the students family obligations. Not all schools require the same # of clinical hours for example. My school has us in class 2 days a week, 2 days clinical and we do homework for all of it. The clinical alone can turn into 4 days of work instead of 2 when a careplan is due. Wake up at 5 am for the 7-3 shift at hospital, sometimes we have paperwork to do when we get home,etc.

DizzyLizzyNurse

1,024 Posts

Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

I worked full time and went to school full time. Luckily the place I worked at was paying for my education so I didn't have to worry about loans. They were also very flexible about my schedule and since I worked nights, allowed me to study as long as my work was getting done. I didn't have the best grades (3.0) but I'm still proud I made it.

I don't have kids. I started the program with a fiancee and we broke up. I also broke up with another long term bf during school because he couldn't deal with my schedule. I ended up living alone, which made paying the bills more difficult, but made life in general easier.

deleern

510 Posts

Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I started the LPN program in Aug of 2004. I was 45. My hubby was not happy about me wanting to go to college. He thought it was too much for me to handle. I had signed up and promised I wouldn't go if he said no… I missed the 1st week of school because he couldn't make up his mind, Monday morning I told him that he better tell me if I could go or not and he wouldn't say anything so I took that as a yes and went to college…. I went to my 1st class and it was Nursing 1 the instructor took attendance and afterwards she asked me to pick up my books and step out into the hall she said that I couldn't start a week late that they have already taken a test and I missed the lecture. So I didn't say a word and went to the councilors' office and asked if there ANY of the programs in this college that the student guide didn't applied to. He said no, so I turned right around and went back to the class. Sat down asked if I could have the power point. And she handed it to me. After the lecture she said I would need to take the test tomorrow. I said fine. I took the 1st test and the second test on the same day… I failed the first test because they take 10% off for taking it late. I got an 80% (a C) on the second one. So I just plugged away… continued on.

At Midterm my instructor pulled me aside and told me I was at a high D… I asked her if she was kicking me out. She said no because I had perfect attendance. I told her that it's not over until the fat lady sings and this fat lady hasn't sung yet!!! I paid for this and I was going to go to the end even if I failed it… I would just take it over if I had to. I passed with a B!!! I only had one wrong on the final!

The second semester I took 3 classes online A&P II, Psycho social & med terminology that helped with the sleep issue. I could do them on my own time.

Our school has open enrollment and I took 18- 21 credits a semester I graduated with a 3.5 GPA in three semesters.

I continued taking my Co required pre- req. classes so that my work load would be lighter later in the RN program. I worked 5 nights a week as the Charge nurse on the night shift, and 3 day shifts. I was accepted into the part time program. So my RN program was 3 semesters long. I only had the core classes left…. Thank God. Those classes were the hardest classes I have ever had.

Organization was one of the keys to my success I bought a large day planner. Everything about school and personal life was in it. I knew when my tests were and when projects were due. If future papers were on the agenda I kept a list of ideas or things I would like to research. I always kept in mind what my future practice would entail. (Geriatrics) It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I had many struggles though it

I worked for local nursing home full time. I work 10 shifts per 2 week period. And usually work 1 to 2 - 12 hour shifts if someone called in. I graduated with a 3.12 I didn't get any time off. With school and work it was 12 days straight until my weekend off. I told the kids” the other students that this is just a short Blip in my life and I will get through it. I graduated in May of 2007.

Took the NCLEX the same day my 1st granddaughter was born…(I knew my daughter was in labor but she and my husband did not want me to postpone it) well I took the test and made it back to my daughters side to have my hand in on the delivery. (Another story some day.) I found I had passed the NCLEX the next day.

That's my story.... it is so easy to let life get in the way. It is all about focus !!

gizzel84, BSN

24 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics.

All you ladies are AMAZING and INSPIRATIONAL!!

I will be starting a BSN nursing program in the Fall. The school has repeated over and over again, that it would be impossible to maintain a job. Which as you all know is a problem.

I have 2 little girls, and I am vey worried on placing this burden on my husband and his meager income.

I have postponed and postponed beginning school for this reason, and I just can't do this anymore. My grades will be considered "old" at some point. And at the end of the day, I want to begin my professional career already!!

I am very excited for my acceptance to school, but very scared about the mess it will bring to my household.

spanky13

47 Posts

I work full time (3 twelves), I'm in a full-time concurrent ADN-BSN program (in my ADN classes Monday/Tuesday, BSN classes Wednesdays, AS clinicals Thursday/Friday and all of the prep work that comes with it) plus projects, checkoffs, and papers, etc, and I have a four-year-old at home. I've got As in all four classes (2 ADN, 2 BSN). I haven't had a day off since Spring Break, and between clinicals and working, I've been at my hospital for 12 of the last 14 days (I couldn't work on those two Mondays). I've been moving and out of my house from at least 7am (as early as 430am some days) to 7pm (or as late as 930-10pm some days) since late February, excluding Spring Break. I do have a husband at home to watch our son while I'm gone, so that does make it easier, but I am still doing all of the cooking and most of the cleaning, so it's a lot. I'm not gonna lie, it's hard, and if I didn't have to work, I wouldn't, but it's not impossible.

My school told me over and over again that I would not be able to work and be successful in the program, and that almost prevented me from taking my seat. I don't have a choice - I have to work. But, I'm proof that you can do it, and don't listen to the nay-sayers.

I did it! I was enrolled in the Nursing program at Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Al while working full time (40 hours a week) as a tech in the O.R. Since I had previously graduated from Officer Candidate School, I was also a platoon leader in a signal company in the Alabama Army National Guard undergoing New Equipment Training transitioning to Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE) which required attending additional schools out of town and staff meetings and training missions and weekend drills. Add to that I was newly married with two new instant daughters to help take care of. Life was busy. If I could do it, ANYONE should be able to do it!

AZSunn

5 Posts

Thank you for posting this. Congratulations on your accomplishments!!

Nurse2b7337

1,154 Posts

You are one awesome lady!!! I will forever remember this post!!!! Just when you think all HELL will break loose think again!!! Congrats to you I admire your determination!!!

I know how you feel... this was the hardest decision to make to actually go to nursing school. I'm terrified my husband will lose his job or something and I'll have to quit!

gizzel84, BSN

24 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thank you so much for your responses.

I have been literally having nightmares about this. The times we live in, its very hard to live with two incomes, let alone 1!!! Like the previous post, I also have the huge fear that my husband might lose his job, or what if we can't make a bill payment one month, or what if any other worst possible scenario that can happen does happen??!!. I want to start school, and I know its just 2 years of struggle, and the end will make up for it. But I honestly do not have the luxury to give up working- unless I accrue a large amount of debt in the process.

You ladies are proof it can be done. Thank you for the inspirational words.

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