Advice needed school and work

[cheeky223]

Hello all,

Just found out I got into LPN school… extremely excited but also disappointed I did not make the cut-off for RN (plan on applying again after I finish LPN). Class starts mid January for 11 months. It is a 40-45 hr/week course so I will have a really busy schedule. So I really could use some insight with my current situation.

I am a new CNA (got my certification in July) but got hired at the beginning of September as a patient transporter in a hospital. My original plan was to stick with transport for a few months and then transfer to one of the floors as a CNA and work as one while in school. Well since I did not get into the RN program (which is only 3 days/week) I will have limited days I will be able to work for transport. (They operate 7 days a week, but only 6:30 AM-9:30 PM). Since class is M-F 8:00-5:00, I can really only work weekends.

Now I could transfer to another floor in the hospital before school starts in January since I have been technically” working for them since September (they said a min. of 3 months in a department) then I could have more opportunities to work and be doing more patient care tasks. Here's the issue – I started working the first week of September, a week later I broke my finger. Unable to work for 2 weeks.

Started work again, first week back, at the end of the week start experiencing terrible abdominal pain – go to the ER, appendicitis needing emergency surgery out of work for 5 weeks. I was just happy that they were so understanding and held my job. Talk about bad luck though ugh! I start work again next week. So even though I have been on the books since September most of my time I was out on sick leave!

So I can't just go apply to another floor when I have barely worked for them and they have been so understanding and kind to hold my job. But I am also nervous now about telling them about school starting in January.. that means limited days and hours I can work. They knew I might be starting nursing school in January but still.

So I just feel terrible about the whole situation and I am not sure what to do. My manager is really understanding and flexible with school (and illnesses too apparently) but I am wondering if I'll lose my job when I tell them about nursing school. If I stay with transport for a few more months, I don't think I'd be able to apply to a CNA position once on the floor since due to school I would only be able to come in for training/orientation on nights or weekends, which I don't think they would do.

Sorry for the long sob story Im just kind of lost right now lol.

Thank you all for any insight

[FutureNurseInfo]

I see you are in a tough situation. The good thing is like you said you have a very understanding boss. However, you mentioned your course load is about 35-40 hours per week which means it is full-time! If you decide to continue working even on the weekends, when do you find time to actually study? I would advise that you quit working completely. Otherwise, you will have to find that extra time to study.