Working Full-Time While Going to Nursing School

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2014

It's possible to work full time around your school schedule. You will be very, very busy though. If it's an accelerated program, you will be asked to NOT work.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Oct 1, 2014

We can't really answer that for you because we have no idea of your learning capability. Some people are 'happy learners' who can learn and retain information with much less effort than others. If you are one of those, it would probably be very manageable. But if you have to invest more effort . . . it won't work out very well.

Mscoleman78 · Oct 5, 2014

I currently work 40 hours a week and attend school full-time, I am also up at 4:30AM to get my boyfriend to work because we only have one car. I am EXTREMELY tired, but this first semester is basically refresher courses. I work Monday through Friday and I am off on the weekends. So, I look through my syllabus and do all of my work a week in advance that way during the week I do not have work to do. I can use that time to study, I am nervous about next semester because that is when we get into the core nursing classes. I have a calendar which I write everything down, I try and do everything on the weekend, and I drink lots of red bulls...Good Luck!!!!!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

I did it, both during my LPN schooling and my LPN to RN schooling.

Can it be done, yup. Is it easy..in a word..NO!

I worked full time and went to school full time. You have to be flexible, you have to be highly organized and know what takes priority over what. You have to have a good support system. You also have to be willing to know and let it happen..that the house won't be spotless, the meals might not be as good as before and you probably won't get the sleep you did before you started.

I'm very fortunate. My husband was (and is) my biggest cheerleader. He stepped up when I went to LPN school. He took on a lot of the things I had previously done. He cooked more, cleaned more, and was more involved in the day to day running of the house. That's not to say I kicked back and did none of it. I did, just not as much nor as often as I had. I was always able to be there for my daughters special things..dances, awards, competitions. I made sure to have an organizer that I'd enter everything going on. From there I was able to figure out when I could do what. If I had a thing to do with the family...I knew I had to have x, y and z done before hand and had to do it then. There is no such thing as 'i'll do it tomorrow' or "I'll do it later'. If I had it written down it was to be done on Tuesday between 5p-10p, then thats when I did it. I passed both LPN and RN with honors. I'm currenlty in my RN to BSN and still doing very well.

All that being said, can it be done? Yes. But if I had been given a choice, I would have either dropped my hours down for work OR not worked at all. My life would have been much easier.

ALLEYEZONREE · Oct 10, 2014

I did a 1 year LVN program and there were a few people in my class who worked and went to school. They didn't get the best grades, but they all got by and passed. Good luck to you!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 10, 2014

I had to work full time and go to school full time as well, including nursing school. Fortunately for me, my work schedule generally meshed well with my school schedule and the nature of the work (security) allowed me to get some studying done while at work. It is doable if you're willing to find ways to lighten your load (it's going to be considerable) and you're certain that you can learn to manage your entire schedule effectively. It's not going to be easy and achieving/maintaining a 4.0 GPA while doing this but it's certainly possible. In fact, once you're in nursing school, doing that is difficult as it is without having to work.

My advice is simple: Look ahead at your school schedule and try to get your work to allow some flexibility so that you can attend the classroom and lab/clinical sessions throughout the entire program.

Shjnsn · Oct 11, 2014

I too work full time plus and go to school full time, and have 2 kids who are very active in sports. It's not easy by any means. I use the same as others and put everything in a planner. I don't think I could do this if I personally was not fully committed and stuck to the plan like glue. Like the others have also said. If it's in the planner..you must do it then, use any free time you may have to read and stay ahead of the game. Many have done this successfully and even with honors. I currently have a 3.91 GPA. You have to sit down and prioritize your life..school, family, and then all of the others..ie clean house, fun activities, etc

imbatz, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

I work full time and go to school full time. It is tough. There is no question about this. I get up early (5AM) to study. I haven't seen my friends or socialized in any way since school started. I haven't slept longer than 4 hours since school started. I haven't had a day off. There is a layer of dust, and I am wearing clothes that I haven't seen in 2 years because I don't really have time for laundry. It can be done, yes. But have no illusions, it is not easy.

kmgladney · Feb 11, 2015

Thank you all! I just created a post about the TWU Evening/Weekend program. I want to inquired about the statistics of students working FT and going to school. UTA also has an AP BSN, but they don't allow you to work. It's only 13 or 15 months. I'm looking into that option as well as it's minimal impact to my famiily as far as the length of the program goes. I'm so torn between TWU Evening Weekend Program: still being able to work and bring in income for family YET 2 year program AND UTA AP BSN: not being able to work YET only 13 or 15 months.