advice

I always believe that you need to make choices that support your future goals and are choices that you can live with.

So this is how I would go about the situation.

A. Decide if you are ready/able/determined to start school when the time comes
B. Make plans in that direction with school application, etc.
C. At the point where you are comfortable with (in giving the required notice/or giving yourself enough time to find another job), met with your supervisor and tell them what your plans are for your continued education and that you love your job and would like to stay on as part time.
D. BE PREPARED for both outcomes in advance. Either they will support your decision and rather than lose you entirely will accomodate your school scedule OR they will be ticked and rather not have you at all.
E. If you are NOT prepared to leave this job at this time (for whatever personal reasons), then perhaps you need to put off school for a little longer until you are ready.

The kicker is that if you decide what is best for you beforehand, you won't be torn as to what to do. Don't let the fact that they are short handed sway your goal in what you want to do when it affects your future. You will always have people, institutions, or situations where THEY expect YOU to be the band-aid solution for their problem despite what is in your best interest.

I love this quote I heard in class last week from one of my teachers. I don't know if it's credited to them or if it's been said before but here it is:

"Your failure to plan should not constitute an emergency on my part".

P.S.
I always tell my friends that you don't have to take my advice, but since you asked you now DO have to hear it. Take it with a grain of salt and do what is best for you!

Good luck, I hope it all works out well for you.
Angela

What AngelaSN said is the truth, especially the quote that "your failure to plan should not constitute an emergency on my part" is the God honest truth. It will save your life. You cannot and should not be the glue that holds a place together, especially when you have other plans for your personal growth. I can share two examples; one of **** poor planning and another when you do plan, like you are contiplating now (which is a good thing, by the way...by shooting off your ideas to others who can give input and suggestions we normally don't see ourselves).

The **** poor planner: My facility had a program that granted us leave with 100% pay with tuition paid to become LPNs. They were also obligated to give us a position as a nurse upon the successful completion of the program and having passed NCLEX within 6 months after we graduated. We earned our full salary during this time and did not have to darken our job's doorsteps for two years. One of my friends graduated from the LPN program, and was assigned to work in a clinic when she got her license. When we completed the program (we graduated in seperate intervals-I graduated first, she did a year later) there was a meeting that informed us that this sort of leave would only be granted once. It was told that we would probably receive financial assistance should we wish to continue with the RN program, but that we would have to go during our own time, to allow others to be able to take advantage of the same benefit we received (sounds fair, right?). Anyway, not too long afterwards, the grants started running out. This young lady decided to go straight into the LPN-RN bridge program. I reminded this girl that she may not get another leave, and that maybe, she should see if she can work the floors so that she would not have to worry about her schooling being interrupted. Anyway, she wanted the clinic-the Monday thru Fridays, weekends and holidays off (can't blame her), and she applied and got accepted into the program. Now, the grant money has run out, but they say they 'may get more money in June'. She had to pay cash money for her classes. Now, she finds out that after this semester, the majority of the RN courses are going to be during the day time during her work hours. Suddenly, she is worried that she can't complete the program. I asked her if she contacted Staff Education before she enrolled to see what was the real deal, and she said she didn't, but now, she is bugging the supervisors that she needs release time. Now, she was told. Why does her failure to inquire, weigh her options and not make alternative plans become their problem...especially, NOW?? She doesn't want to give up her banker hours and weekends/holidays off, to work nights, so, what is she to do?

Another situation where planning is an advantage; my son registered for his classes super early each semester. I ensure that he does this so that he can obtain the schedule that he wants, to apply for financial aid and receive news before we have problems. He registered for his classes on 11/20/07, financial aid was in place and we owned a cash balance of $99, which we promply paid on 12/17/2007. His classes start Friday. Now, he goes to the school last week, and for some mysterious reason, ALL of his classes were dropped. When he went to inquire, he was basically brushed off (my son is EXTREMELY shy and doesn't advocate for himself well). Because we were able to produce evidence that we planned ahead, and did what we were supposed to do, I was able to basically throw eggs in these rude people's faces, and he had to be reinstated IMMEDIATELY. I was planning for the worst, but, because we planned, we got what we wanted, what was best in the long run. And, the administration supported us, because it was evident that we did plan in advance.

I know this is sounds like a soap box (and it is, because these are ALL recent events within the last 48 hours), but I guess I took the long winded, scenic route to tell you that you are thinking wisely, and you got excellent advice from AngelaSN. Go for yours, and think smart.

I don't know if you're going to be able to swing this office nursing and nursing school. Why don't you consider getting yourself established at a nursing home or assisted living that needs someone to pass medications. The hours and shifts in a nursing home would be much more flexible for you (they'll use any LPN who can work weekends!). The pay would also be much better. The work might be a little bit hectic, but you would probably have to work less hours. You might even get tuition reimbursement out of it.