how were you able to live (financially) while in nursing school?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Did you work full time?

take out a living expense loan and only work part time or not at all?

Or did you have a spouse to help you?

I want to go back to nursing school but I am worried how I will pay my bills while I am in the program. I am afraid to work fulltime in fear that I will fail.

I am working 20-24 hours a week, in an ABSN program, living frugally and took out a school loan. I have children and a mortgage, but I wanted to better my future and theirs. It is a sacrifice. I don't see them as much as I want and I wish I could get a little more sleep, but it is not forever. I can do this and so can you!

I worked full time as a CNA in LPN school and worked parttime in RN school. Now I work full time in RN-BSN school.

When I did it was back in the early 80's, so things were much different then. Cost of living was not as high, gas and food was cheaper but I also had to sacrifice to make nursing happen for me. I was an adult self-supporting student. I did not have a mortgage, a husband or a pet to care for. I qualified for grant and scholarship money and took out federally guaranteed student loans. I had a car payment (get this) of $85.00/month, insurance, rent and food costs. I learned how to make a quarter tank of gas last a week. I kept my leisure time to activities on campus as they were less expensive than in the community. I could not work because of my irratic college schedule. I did work a few hours at a Hardees when it was opening, to help get the place ready for a grand opening, but quit after that was done, just some spending money when I needed it. I left with my ADN and about $20,000 in debt. Because I could defer my student loans and there were indications that BSN were going to be in demand I started working on my BSN about a month after I finished my ADN. I still qualified for student loans, but for less as I was working by this time. I worked as an RN in a 14 bed ICU did 3 twelve hour shifts in a row and went to college/clinicals. It took me 4 years to finish my BSN but I do not regret doing it this way. It was all a wonderful learning experience for me, and I had to divorce myself from my parents to be able to achieve what I needed to. No regrets. I think we all have sacrificed something to get where we are today.

Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I'm not in nursing school yet, but I'm already putting aside money for it (Little by little), which should help out some. My husband works full time and plans to continue working full-time once I start school. I hope that I will be able to maintain a part-time job, but I'm not sure. Some of my financial ability to pay for school will come in the form of loans - most likely from family. Fortunately I have family that are better off financially that I am and have said that they would be willing to draw up paperwork for very reasonable loan for school. Hopefully those together will be enough, otherwise I'm also looking at taking out student loans. I already have a BA so most financial aid options are now closed to me. If I am able to get into an early entry masters program though I start qualifying for scholarships and grants again.

In short, it will be a bit of a challenge, and involve piecemealing together funds from a variety of sources, living frugally, and having a highly supportive family.

Right now I'm on my own in an apt with one roommate. I work full time, sometimes even overtime while taking 4 classes this semester. I can do this because of the type of job I have. I work home care as a CNA. my hours are flexible, and when patients are sleeping, I can study. My company completely complies with my school schedule.

I have rent, insurance, car lease payments, and small things like phone bills. I took out student loans. I also saved up 2000$ extra cash before starting classes, just to feel more secure. For instance, what if I couldn't work for some reason? That extra cash would carry me through a couple months. All in all, I'm very busy, but I don't feel drained and it's working. However, I'm still taking pre reqs. Idk how this situation will play out for me once those core nursing courses begin.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I have been a small business owner for the last 6 years, and am now going back to school to get my BSN. My husband supports me, and we can easily live on just his income, so with the help of some small loans, and scholarship from the hospital I will be working at (they pay a large chunk of nursing school) I dont HAVE to work. Now...I will be working part time, but thats to get the scholarship and get my foot in the door at the hospital I want to end up at. We have 2 kids, it would be really hard to do with on my own without my husband supporting us!

Specializes in PACU.

I am not in nursing school yet, but will start in January.

I moved out of my apartment in August in order to save money for school. Right now I have about 5k saved for living expenses and will probably have about 7k-10k in the bank by the time I am ready to start.

I will be moving into a private apartment complex that is geared toward students that includes everything in the rent for about $600/mo. I am really lucky to have the parents that I do as they have promised to pay for whatever I can't pay for and to help with paying for school as well.

I am planning not to work but that may change in the future.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I tried working in the beginning, but my boss was NOT understanding of my demanding schedule, and I was forced to quit. My husband works from home, but doesn't bring home much yet. He was able to care for our son while I was at school or studying. We moved into a home on my in-laws' property, which saved us rent (though we pay utilities). The VA paid my tuition and most school expenses, since I am a veteran, and they paid a small stipend. I did take out some loans along the way for life expenses, but I worked hard to keep it to a minimum. We went on food stamps. We cut all expenses as much as possible.

Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.

I worked full time and went to school full time. It was very difficult with the first few quarters being the most difficult. I really did nothing else for myself. I didn't cook for myself, didn't wash my own dishes, etc. My husband pretty much did everything else until I got my head above water. I also did not have children and it was still very difficult. Most of the people in my class who were working and had children ended up having to cut back on school and go part-time.

I had a free ride tuition wise and took out loans for housing. I worked part time and volunteered /interned for the experience and petty money.

Mooch off my parents mostly lol

And student loans for tuition

Did you work full time?

take out a living expense loan and only work part time or not at all?

Or did you have a spouse to help you?

I want to go back to nursing school but I am worried how I will pay my bills while I am in the program. I am afraid to work fulltime in fear that I will fail.

I did not work while I was going to school. It was an accelerated program and working was strongly discouraged. That said, I had a couple of classmates who did work part-time... and it showed. They made it but it exacted a heavy toll on them.

My wife and I chose not to dramatically curtail our lifestyle and relied on a combination of savings and a 2nd mortgage on our home. The latter proved risky given the freefall in housing prices that ensued but things have since turned around and it proved to be a good choice.

My wife left me during nursing school so we found ourselves having to support a second household which was an unplanned hit to our budget.

In order to decide what you can manage, I'd encourage you to make a *detailed* budget... it should be pretty clear what you can afford and what you can't as well as how much debt you might need to take on.

While it can be done, I'd strongly advise against a plan that's reliant on full-time work and full-time school.

Also, keep in mind that you may face difficulty in finding a decent job after graduation.

+ Add a Comment