Nursing School...How to support my family

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey again all...hope everyone's studies are going well! I'm in my last semester of pre-reqs before I find out if I get into RSU's program in the fall. I've been utilizing some student loans for tuition, books etc. I'm currently working full time while in school, easy enough...i'm making A's in my classes. However, if I'm accepted the nursing program takes up significant more time and I'm certain I won't be able to work as much...or WANT to!

My fear is that I won't be able to get enough loans to support my family (replacing my current salary) while in school...what do I need to do? Not sure where to look for this type of assistance. scholarships are few and far between, and I need a generous amount to make sure that bills, etc are taken care of. Can anyone share similar situations or solutions that you've found? I can't see myself sacrificing my family's just to satisfy my own dreams without making sure they're ok.

HELP!!!!

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You may not "want to" work, but you may have no other choice. Try every private loan you can qualify for and see how much you can get that you feel comfortable having to pay back when it's all said and done. If you cannot get enough loans to support your family, there are options as far as finding a job that works nights and/or weekends so that it won't affect your school schedule. How about a spouse or significant other, can he/she pick up any extra hours or get a second job to help compensate?

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thanks for the reply....let me add a little extra to the scenario.

We own our own business as well. We have a screenprinting business (shirts, promotional items, etc), so my wife spends our evenings and free time working on that. So, the extra hours or 2nd job is essentially that. It pays for itself at the moment but doesn't offer much surplus income to help. She works full time as I do....so when I quit my full time job, I'll either have to have enough money through loans or get a part time job....but they all seem to pay CRAP! Almost not worth the time after taxes.

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How about taking a long hard look at the budget and really paring down on expenses?

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

Many people have to work while in school. Sure, it would be great to focus on school alone but many students haveother responsibilities. Even in the accelerated program I was in, many students worked part=time, Some in the traditional program worked full-time. Look for flexible jobs that you can fit around your school demands. Many hospitals hire sitters to sit with patients, often at night. You would be able to study while there. You may be able to get a job as a CNA on the weekends. I also did some work for a home health agency in the evenings - usually 2 hours or so of evening care for a quad (I think I made about $25 for the visit).You could deliver newspapers or pizza, etc.There are lots of things you could do. I don't know what you do now, but you may not make as much at a part=time job. Look carefully at your budget and see what you can cut. Do you have 2 car payments? Could you sell one and get an older car without payments? Maybe you can cut back on eating out. You and your spouse should have serious talks about how you can make it work financially. If being a nurse is your dream, go for it but do some planning now to make it less stressful.

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This is something I have been struggling with myself. How in the heck are we going to make it when I quit my job to start Nursing School.

I can tell you what we are currently doing. We have made ourselves a budget. Added up everything that is priority (house, utilities, food, etc) then made a list of all the "fluff" that we currently have. (big expensive cell phone plan, too many channels on the TV, eating out every night) and took a long hard look at what we could cut out. We cancelled services on our cable and cut it down to the bare minimum. We stopped eating out and not only eat dinners at home, but we eat cheap dinners. (Tacos, Meatloaf, chicken thighs/wings, etc) I am even learning how to coupon shop! :p

After we cut out all the fluff we took all the "extra" money we now had left over and it goes directly into a different account at a completely different bank. Out of sight, out of mind. My husband and I really struggled with forcing ourselves to live so "poorly" (for lack of a better word) but honestly, we hardly even notice and neither do the kids. We have a nice little nest egg building up that will hopefully allow us to make it while I am in school full time.

I am also planning on becoming a CNA which will allow me to earn a bit of money while in NS. It may not be even close to what I am making now, but with our savings, and a little bit of extra income from being a CNA, I am crossing my fingers that it will all work out.

Good luck! You have to get creative but if you really want it, things will work out.

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Check out Dave Ramsey. Maybe if your business is only paying for itself and you both have other jobs. Stop the business and put your efforts elsewhere for a while. Priorities. Shots hurt a little a first, better you get better in the long run.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
So, the extra hours or 2nd job is essentially that. It pays for itself at the moment but doesn't offer much surplus income to help. .

If the home-based business is not making a good profit, then it is not worth the time it takes to run it. Invest that time and effort into something else that makes money - money that you can save now for use later when you quit your full time job -- money that will keep coming in when you quit your full time job.

It makes no sense to be investing time and and effort into a business that doesn't make a good profit when what you need is cash.

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thanks for the reply....let me add a little extra to the scenario.

We own our own business as well. We have a screenprinting business (shirts, promotional items, etc), so my wife spends our evenings and free time working on that. So, the extra hours or 2nd job is essentially that. It pays for itself at the moment but doesn't offer much surplus income to help. She works full time as I do....so when I quit my full time job, I'll either have to have enough money through loans or get a part time job....but they all seem to pay CRAP! Almost not worth the time after taxes.

Buster - I can see your dilemma. Other than loans, scholarships and working....or money falling from the sky, in which case call me when it happens! :) Anyway, if you do end up having to find a part time job to help ends meet, even though it may not pay much, every little bit will help. Try getting something in a hospital setting like a PCT or CNA position. In my area, once you have completed your first semester of nursing clinicals, you can apply as a PCT, CNA, nursing assistant. You can look at it as a way of getting your foot in the door at the hospital and you may have an advantage in hiring once you graduate. But as others have mentioned, try looking at your finances and see what you can cut out or reduce. You will find a way, good luck!!

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I can totally see why you think you might have problems. I wonder everyday how we are going to make it when I go to ns. i am not working full time right now but we do not have the expenses right now that we will have then either. I am not having to pay a sitter for my daughter now, i am not driving back and forth everyday right now. Luckily for me my husband works his butt off everyday but i just wonder if that will be enough when i start school. I work part time at a local hospital. It is a very small hospital but i have my foot in the door. I work as a ward clerk and i have really gotten alot of experience from that. The nurses i work with are amazing and they are always showing my different stuff to help get me prepared. I definetely reccomend you trying to get on at a hospital somewhere, not only will it be some extra $$ but will get you alot of experience that will help alot! Good Luck and i'm sure you and yours will do just fine! :)

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Specializes in Cardiology.

[i know this is probably not really helpful at this point, but if you don't get into the program this go-around, it may be.]

My husband lost his job two years ago and so I had to go back to work full time. He only JUST started working full time again, so we have some making up to do in the way of payments etc...so I have been taking advantage of my employer's tuition program (only $1600 a year now d/t poor economy, but hey, it has paid for two semesters of classes.)

I am matriculating into my program in the fall, and I will still be able to work full time because I made every effort to take as many classes outside the program as possible. At my school, I am only required to take the nursing classes there to be eligible for graduation, so I have taken other classes (psych, sociology, etc) online. Once I finish micro this summer, I will have only my nursing classes plus one other class I have to take sometime during the course of my two year program, and I will likely do that intersession or over the summer when I don't have other classes. So in essence, I will be taking one class (N1, N2, N3, N4, abnormal psych) per semester, and will be able to continue working full time.

All that boils down to talking to your school and seeing what you can take at other times.

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