Full Time Worker/Full Time Nursing Student - How do you Manage Your Homes?

Nursing Students Student Assist

Published

I work full time during the day (40 hrs per week) and I just started a full time Evening/Weekend accelerated nursing program. The workload is intense, as I expected it would be. I am in school 3 nights a week and don't arrive home until 9 or 10 pm. Leave for work in morning at 6:30. My off days are 2 nights a week and the weekend. and most of that time is for studying. Next semester clinicals start all day on Saturdays so I'll lose that day.

Does anyone else have a schedule similar and how do you squeeze in time for exercise/housework/meal planning? I already know about Flylady.com but even her Shining the Sink daily/15 min a day seems daunting.

Does anyone have any household routines for chores/meals they could share?

BTW I live alone with a fixed income and bills so quitting work or even going part-time is not an option, for financial and health benefit needs.

Hey, congrats to you for doing it all!!! I'm a new student (just started NS core classes this semester). I have two young children and work 40 hrs a week. I find the BEST time for my laundry and making dinners and lunches for me and the girls to be while I'm studying, taking short breaks during studying is advised as well as "they say" that you take in most of the material that was read at the start and end of a session.

this is just a small suggestion and may not work for you but it helped me to refresh in the middle of studying as the girls sleep and also get some chores done.

Specializes in ED.

I'm a full-time student, full-time mom and PRN employee. To answer your question about HOW do I manage my home. The quick answer is, "I don't."

I gave up that stress about a month into nursing school a year ago. I did get a grant and some financial aid so I didn't have to work full time so that helps a LOT. I had to cut back on a lot of stuff too. Eating out, beer and wine (which I LOVE to have for dinner), frequency of hair cuts, etc.

I also hired a housekeeper. That was the best thing I ever did for myself. She comes every other week and it has been a lifesaver for me. I was noticing that when I would try to sit down to study on Saturday or Sunday, I would look around my house and start seeing all the stuff that needed to be cleaned. I would tell myself that I was just going to run the vacuum really quickly but then FOUR hours later, I had a clean house but no studying done.

For meal planning, I kind of don't. When I go to the grocery store I do have half of a plan but I don't necessarily have a full meal planned for every single night. I did go to a few recipe websites to look for quick, one-pan meals that my dd and I can both agree on. When I do get in the mood to plan and cook, I do try to make a few meals I can throw in the freezer and pull out in the morning before I leave and then I'm good to go at night.

Do you have a Costco? They have those great rotisserie chickens for about $5 and I can get two meals out of that and I just add some good sides and a salad. That is one of our favorites. I usually end up buying two chickens and I might use one to make enchiladas or in soup or something.

good luck! You'll find a groove!

meredith

I'm in the same boat as you, fgreen. I am also in an accelerated nursing program and its Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-2:30PM. I also work full-time (37.5 hours) as a nursing technician at a hospital 3PM-11PM. It's extremely overwhelming and I only completed a week so far. I can't even imagine how I'll feel a few months from now.

As of now, I am having difficulty planning meals and other chores that need to be done around the house. I've been eating out A LOT lately because I'm too exhausted to go home and cook meals. Plus, I'm always on the run. I hardly even have time to go out and do food shopping. Other times, my husband does the cooking when he has time, but he's usually always on the run also.

Good luck!

I am very interested in hearing what others have to say. I too live alone and working full time is a must. I could only go part time if can keep my benefits and get the same amount of money. But something like that would be too much like right.

Specializes in CNA.
BTW I live alone with a fixed income and bills so quitting work or even going part-time is not an option, for financial and health benefit needs.

I hope this works out for you but I would advise any prospective nursing student considering following the same path to NOT try it.

We had our first exam yesterday, the average score was failing (76%). If you don't leave enough time for yourself to study while in an accelerated program what is the use of even doing it?

Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

what work

I just graduated (Aug 23rd!)!!! :nurse: I worked full-time with occasional OT in an EVE/WE program....while hubby was deployed! I had a 16 yo at home. The reality? I let the housework go. I would clean when I could (trust me....my DD wasn't all that cooperative! Occasionally her BF would clean though!). DD did all the shopping.

I was stretched and stressed to the max, but I made it! Remember, your house and laundry will always be there and since your social life will be nil while you go to school, let some of your tasks go....they really are not all that important in the great scheme of things! (I did serious clean everything WEs when we were between semesters!)

Also, I wore no makeup and left my hair straight (or in a braid/ponytail). That gave me extra time for sleep! I watched 0 TV during NS.

Another DDs fiance came over to keep the lawn tidy.

One other thing....my brother also worked while going to NS full time (a few years ago). He warned me that I should not expect to get all A's and once you have the RN behind your name, the B's you got won't matter! (He has a higher IQ than I.... in a family of high IQs).

Decide what is NECESSARY, NICE-TO-HAVE, vs. LUXURY. Let all but the necessary go and you can do this.

Good luck!

Does anyone else have a schedule similar and how do you squeeze in time for exercise/housework/meal planning?

I have a hard time fitting in exercise too. I work and go to school just like you and I'm too tired at the end of the day and I try to sleep as late as I possibly can in the mornings! I can exercise on the weekends but I need to get in more time than that. As for meal planning, I don't really plan. I use a crock pot often and since it's just me I can eat leftovers all week. I also bring easy foods to work like a frozen meal, cup of soup, stuff like that. I've been trying not to eat out but sometimes it's inevitable. The house pretty much stays clean because it's just me and I'm hardly there lol.

Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I'm in a LPN/BSN bridge program and also work 25 to 30 hrs/week. I think KeeperMom mentioned a housekeeper. That's what I did, too. I can keep up with the laundry, DH helps with meals, but the house was getting BAD. Best money I ever spent, was to have my lady come on Thursday afternoons. Now, when I sit down to study, I don't see what needs to be done aound the house. Good luck to you!

You do need to quit.

Where is the money?

Apply as many scholarship as you can.

There is a program called worker investment act, which will fund your entire schooling. As long as you are broke enough. please look it up online, or check your local employment dept.

Also try fasfa.

You may need to save up about 6 mo. expense before you try the worker investment act.

Once you have money, you have the time to fit in anything you want.

Working full time and going to NS full time and pass. hmmmmm, not positive...

Hope the info help.

how do you squeeze in time for exercise/housework/meal planning?

funny, I was thinking about that just this am when driving to clinical at oh-dark-thirty. how happy I will be when school is out and the only thing I'll HAVE TO DO is work! I have amazed myself this past 18 mos...

it's going to be tough unless you really master the art of time management, multi-tasking, and easing up on yourself.

this year I have had to forego having a clean, tidy house all the time. I've also had to give up exercising. I cook on sundays (my one day off) and thursdays (I have the am off). I do not plan meals but instead have about 10-15 all-time favorites dishes that both DH and I really like - and I alternate between them. there is always food in the frig for DH to heat up and for me to take to school.

I've had to turn down many social invitations, told my family and friends that I'll not be able to attend the usual functions. they've been pretty understanding.

I work about 20 hrs/wk and study about an equal amt. even though this term is my last (yippppeeee!), it's not requiring the intense hours as previous terms.

I do laundry on sundays and a load or two on fridays (that's when I run out of uniforms).

there are no kids or elderly parents in the house.

ohhhh, did I mention that DH has 2 household chores that I absolutely WILL NOT DO - take out the trash and mow the lawn. those are HIS JOBS!

I am working my a$$ off and he knows it - he has arranged a cleaning lady to come in whenever I think it's necessary. so far in one year, she has come once.

and I have given up needing to ace every single test, quiz, paper, assignment, skills lab, etc. I look at my average total score for the rotation/class/lab and my instructor's evaluation of clinical performance!

good luck!

+ Add a Comment