ASN Program and Working Full Time

[HarleyQuinn]

Quick story about me, I'm a high school student. When I graduate I will be moving an hour away from home to attend the best program for me. Will I be able to hold a full time job as a CNA and go to school to become an RN? I'm making the assumption me and a roommate will both make minimum wage, $7.25/hr with a $700 a month apartment. I'm terrified of having to be on my own, can it possibly be done?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Can it be done? Yes, but there are other considerations:

1. Being able to work around your school schedule.

2. Having enough time to study.

3. Cost of living- it isn't just the apartment but groceries, utilities, phone, gas, insurance (and not just car- some apartments require tenants to have renters insurance), etc. etc.

4. Roommates- what happens if one of you decides to leave/move out? What if you don't get along? And sometimes, it's friends that make the worst roommates- there are two pairs currently in my apartment that are counting down the days until their lease is up because they can no longer get along.

5. … the list is endless

I worked about full time while in my prelicensure BSN program as well as far above full time while completing my MSN program. Did I do it successfully? Yes. Was it hell at times? Yes. Was it worth it? For the most part. Would I do it again? Absolutely not. While at some point I want to go on for a PhD so that I can look at tenure track faculty positions in the future, I wouldn't do it unless I could afford to work only part time.