accelerated program AND full-time job?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2006

I currently have a part-time job dispatching police/fire/ems. They may have a full-time position opening up soon. I am hoping to be accepted into a 2-year accelerated program this fall. Would it be absolutely nuts of me to work full-time at the same time? The only reason I am considering it is because I could work 2nd/3rd shift and would have quite a bit of down time (it's a quiet town). So I could study for basically the entire shift.
I have to work at least part-time. My husband's salary alone won't pay the bills. I still have about $17K in student loans from my first degree and I don't want to take out loans for both tuition and living expenses.
So am I headed to crazy town if I do it? :uhoh21:

It's not the studying, it's the sleeping you have to worry about. Some of those excelerated programs are all day, with very long clincials. You will burn out if you go from school to work and back again without more than a few hours' sleep. Since it's so quiet at night, chances are you will be trying not to fall asleep while studying. Some people have a hard time working part-time during those accelerated programs, so I'd just start with that for now. Or maybe if they'll let you work full-time until the program starts, so you can save some money, and then drop down to part-time (like maybe 3 nights a week) when you start school?

Good luck!

smile123 · Jan 14, 2006

I currently have a part-time job dispatching police/fire/ems. They may have a full-time position opening up soon. I am hoping to be accepted into a 2-year accelerated program this fall. Would it be absolutely nuts of me to work full-time at the same time? The only reason I am considering it is because I could work 2nd/3rd shift and would have quite a bit of down time (it's a quiet town). So I could study for basically the entire shift.
I have to work at least part-time. My husband's salary alone won't pay the bills. I still have about $17K in student loans from my first degree and I don't want to take out loans for both tuition and living expenses.
So am I headed to crazy town if I do it? :uhoh21:

I would advise you to work part time. Accel'd programs are really intense and you will feel a sleep deficit with a fulltime work schedule. Plus, you need the extra time to study. The pace is fast! It's OK to take out loans; you don't have to start paying them back until 6 months after you graduate. By that time you'll be working fulltime as a RN. It's really a matter of time vs. money. You want the time to really learn the material, do well in school. Besides, many hospitals have loan forgiveness programs or signing bonuses for new hires. Good luck with your decision.

Smile123

Kathyz · Jan 15, 2006

Be careful. I hear some accelerated programs make you sign a contract that you will not work. It's pretty intense. There's no way you can work full-time.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 15, 2006

Definitely no way that you can work full-time and attend an accelerated program. Some programs have rulings that even prohibit part-time work during the program. There is a reason that they have made those rulings.

Remember that you are going to have lab classes as well as clinicals, so it isn't like going to class just for 4 hours in the morning, You will have many days that will be over 8 hours long.

It also isn't safe to be at work, if you cannot give it your 100%. Something is going to suffer. Your job has people lives at stake already, not worth making it unsafe for them as well. Even though you may have down-time, it is still quite different, if you have a ton of work to get done. You can't give 100% to each at the same time and something is going to suffer.

If you need to work full-time, then consider a regular traditional program, but no way full-time and an accelerated program. It just won't work.

Angels' · Jan 16, 2006

All Future Nurses

Wondergirl0905

:) I wish you the best in your nursing career. :)

A Pre-Nursing Student,

Angels’

"Footsteps In The Sand"

TLC RN · Jan 16, 2006

Depends on your job and your program. I am in an accelerated program and know people who work full and part time. I think they are able to schedule themselves at work around our schedule. We sometimes had clinical that were 4-5 days a week for 8 hour days so it would be hard to work the night before for most. I would stick with the part time if you are going to work. The people who work are very sleep deprived. You can say you can do it now but you don't really know what the program requires until you start. I would under schedule myself until I know what is required and how I can handle it.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jan 16, 2006

You could try and find out for yourself, but I would not do it myself. I am in a fast track program and work part-time. Anything more and I'd be a mess. If you don't need the extra cash, then don't do it. It's better to play it safe and get through this. I wouldn't want to risk your dream of becoming a nurse, over a current job.

Good luck