Is it possible to work full time and become a nurse???

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Hello all. I'm in the process of applying to a local university as a pre-nursing student. The question that I have for you is.....Is it realistic to work full time while attending nursing school? I'm 39 and work a full time day job. I'm also married with two young children (9 and 7). I'm willing to put in the time, and I know I'll get my butt kicked but is it realistic? I know towards the end of the program day time clinicals come into play, and I'm not sure how to jockey my work schedule. I can't quit my job unless I find another option when I get to that point. Please share your thoughts. Thank you.

John

Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I would say that it's suicide. Of course it is doable, a few of my classmates did it, but they also never really enjoyed the program and experiences like I did. I was able to immerse myself in everything I was learning and not have to worry about when I had to leave clinical to get to work or vice versa. We had 4 hour lectures sometimes and some students would be in their work uniform and have to go to work straight out of class.

My wife worked and put me through school and I took out additional loans to cover my missing salary. Of course I will end up repaying those, but whats the difference? I either worked during the program or I work after. Money is money.

I would recommend against working, big time. The biggest sacrifice was not my sanity, but my marriage. We had a very hard timw with the program by itself. Think about everything long and hard before you jump in. And good luck!

My wife did it.

Hello,

I have been going to school since June 2004, working full time and with three children (11, 7, & 2).I t is not easy and please let your spouse know that you will have to be given ALOT of you time to study, paperwork, etc. Nursing School is the entire family committing and not only you but it can be absolutely done.

You will most likely have to leave work early for clinical sooner or later but before you commit to an university see if they have evening/weekend classes and take advantage of those so you do not lose too much pay because of leaving work early.

Good luck.

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

Off-topic, but, Vikings are victims! Woo-hoo!

It is without a doubt possible. I am working a full time job, have a wife and a 1 year old daughter. I am enrolled in my second semester of an ADN program. You will be tired, you will be cranky, you will contemplate quitting, but then you will remember that your two kids at home are depending on your success, and you will push on. You will have sleepless night full of studying, and completley wasteful days at work falling alseep. Eventually you will run out of hours in the day, and you will start dreaming about school as well, but then you'll wake up, clean the sleep off your face, and push on. Good luck brother, and dont stop pushing on.

I work full-time and am in my 2nd term of NS - EVE/WE program.

It has it's moments! This term, 2nd 8 weeks, doing Adult Health I....I work 9 - 5 M-F (plus on-call), Tues eve class 6 - 10 PM with clinicals every Sat and Sun from 7 - 2:30. I have been counting the days until Thanksgiving! (I will get 4 days "off" - we have a test on Monday after!)

I just keep telling myself to keep my eye on the goal. 2 terms to go!

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.
I work full-time and am in my 2nd term of NS - EVE/WE program.

It has it's moments! This term, 2nd 8 weeks, doing Adult Health I....I work 9 - 5 M-F (plus on-call), Tues eve class 6 - 10 PM with clinicals every Sat and Sun from 7 - 2:30. I have been counting the days until Thanksgiving! (I will get 4 days "off" - we have a test on Monday after!)

I just keep telling myself to keep my eye on the goal. 2 terms to go!

That's encouraging! I'm thinking about going back for an evening ADN degree part-time, while working full time (9-5 job in finance now). I have to take a lot of pre-reqs and I will give myself time to make the switch without overloading myself. Good luck to you all!

I find this thread remarkably inspirational. I needed that. Thank you all.

My advice to you would not go to a university unless that is the only option. there are alot of good 2 year ADN programs which would be cheaper possibility of night classes/days and you can get it done quicker. I worked 40 hrs and did nursing school it was very tough and I had alot of sleepless nights. It can be done and many have done it. but may be tough on your family life.

I did it, but it almost killed me. While in LPN classes I worked full time. I took ALL of my RN pre-req's at that time as well. 23 credit hrs in first sem. I found a school 2hrs from me that had pre-req's one night a week. I was in class from 7am untill 1030pm 3 nights a week Mon, Tue, Wed. I worked night shift as an NA 12hrs Thu, Fri, Sat. Then went on for my RN through Excelsior while working TWO full time jobs, 12hr nights. I worked 2 full time jobs, watched our youngest all day (3) while my wife went to LPN school. She was a whimp---didn't work at all while in school.:D

As a side note, ALL of my school was paid for by my employer/pell grants/scholorships. I am now an RN working only one job, 3-12's on nights. I make 30$ an hour with differentials and all in a low cost of living area of rural Nebraska.

Good luck.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

Don't know where you live but my diploma program in Pittsburgh also had a 4 year evening/weekend program that would be perfect for many full time workers. After you get your RN license you can then continue on in a part-time RN-BSN program while you work as a nurse. Some of the RN-BSN programs are 100% online.

Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

It wouldn't be worth it for your family.

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends, and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends, and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life." - Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises from 1959-1994

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