LPN Student who Needs Job - Should I stay in school?

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Nov 3, 2015

Why not work eve or night shifts on the weekend? Many I work with do that to work on clinical days

RLJS · Nov 3, 2015

Obtain your Certified Medication Aide license; work part time doing that; it pays more than CNA work. I worked 16 hour double shifts every Saturday and Sunday while I was in RN school. I also cleaned houses a commercial office buildings parttime. I had to drop out for 6 months for financial reason's but I picked right off where I left off and graduated. I don't know what state you live in but both KS and MO have assistance programs for nursing students through Workforce Development Office (formerly Job Service Center. Seriously check that out.

ebonbard · Nov 4, 2015

I agree . Maybe you should work and set aside enough money to carry you when you go back to school. Also plan to apply for scholarship if there are any offered at your school. I just graduated in August and passed my NCLEX October 20th. I didn't work while in school either and I paid out of pocket. I have a job now! Good luck!

mountainview210 · Nov 4, 2015

There's some schools with horrible schedules, these schools are not made for the working student. Perhaps go to a school that will accommodate your schedule and or will make it possible to attend school and work. I was going to go to west coast university but they require saturdays, national does as well APU Azusa Pacific University has no evenings, no weekends so I'll be able to work in home health and work OT on weekends such as 12 hrs or double time for weekends and possibly one day out of the week. I don't know her location of course but she should choose a school to better accommodate working students

puamelia · Nov 4, 2015

Everyone is different so I suggest you sit down and figure out what you really are willing and able to do.

I sat down with my husband and we decided we would have the baby first. He worked FT, I worked PT and took prerequisite courses while we waited 5 years for the younger kid to get into in school so we wouldn't need to get daycare. I signed up for scholarships and student loans and got straight A's to qualify for a very competitive (and cheap) community college.

When I did get in, I worked right after lectures, and right after clinicals. I pulled anywhere from 10-35 hours a week. I used PTO when I couldn't work my 20. I used a lot of that time to catch up on sleep. Good thing I saved up all that vacation time! It was crazy and I was tired, but after 2 years I am an RN, and will be a 45-year-old RN-BSN by May!!!

If you stay in school, work out a schedule, find a job that doesn't cancel you (save up money), and schedule in down time and catch up time (because stuff falls off the plate when it's full). My schedule is super full but flexible, and I schedule in family time and try to give myself a lot of time to finish early. Haven't missed a deadline or lost my mind, completely (yet!) Otherwise set a future goal and don't be discouraged. Time really does fly. Just see what works best for you and be honest. Best of luck!

Sandschild · Nov 6, 2015

As someone who was in a similar circumstance, I went for scholarships and grants. Loan for work, etc... I was able to receive enough of them to cover all my expenses through school. That may help with some of the stress, well worth checking out. Get in touch with financial aid dept at your school as well as online, and state programs. Best of luck.