Any nursing students out there work at hospital while in school, studying at work?

michigansstudent · Aug 2, 2008

Studying at work is great because you have so many resources at your fingertips. Nurses, doctors, pts, scenarios. Its great, but it is a different kind of studying. You cannot bring out a book or a big notebook and be curled up in the corner doing some serious readings.

I like to bring a small stack of flash cards in my pants pocket. Many opportunities to run through them. I also like to bring one sheet of paper folded stuffed into my top with things to bring up with the nurses.

Today we talked about the nanda (sp?) dx and how to choose them. I went over a few scenerios that were in the text, what I had chosen, and what the book said. The nurses chuckled remembering when they were learning how to pick and choose nursing dx and were quite insightful on the subject and quizzed me for the rest of the shift. Good Good Stuff!!!

Nckybaby · Aug 2, 2008

I just starting nursing classes this summer with Clinical Calculations and I studied at work all the time. I work as a secretary in the emergency department, so the nurses are an invaluable resource. They all remember what nursing school was like, so they jump right in when I have a problem. The only thing to make sure of is that it's okay with your boss to bring your class materials to work. I bring my books quite often and it's fine as long as I have nothing else to be doing.

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2008

I work night shift as a CNA and some nights I don't have time to open a book, other nights I can get a lot of studying in.

If you do bring your homework to work, make sure you put your work first. I've worked with a few people who will ignore call lights for homework or make themselves unapproachable. Always jump up for call lights and ask people if they need help.

I've noticed that the more helpful you are the more nurses are willing to help and teach.

Butterfly3001 · Aug 2, 2008

Good to see I am not the only one having to work and go to school at the same time. I also have a 5 year old, but my first semester starts in Aug. I have to work at least 20 hrs per week. Is it hard to work that many hours and study? For those that have children how do you study? I plan to study before I pick my son up from his after-school program and then study some more when he's in bed. I hope that works!!!

shoegalRN, RN · Aug 2, 2008

I work nights and I study at work.

Sometimes, they put me on a 1:1, so I got 12 hours to study while my patient is sleeping. Works for me!

ADPIE10 · Aug 2, 2008

Hi I am going to try to work 16 hours a week in ICU dept. when NS starts up again. This will be my last year in my ADN program. I have a 3 yr. old and a 5 yr. old. But my problem is that I am going to work 16 hrs. a week and I m wondering if there are any nursing students out there who study while working in the hospital? I need to somehow study while Im at work, So does anyone know...Can I study while working as a nurse tech in the hospital?

I would be experiencing an ethical dilemma if I had to make the same decision as you're making. I've been a computer operator in the past and during backup operations, my supervisor encouraged me to study. However, my role didn't involve the health and lives of others. Perhaps yours doesn't as well.

If I were being paid, but did not receive my employer's permission for my non-work related activites, I would suffer an ethical dilemma. Just because others did it, or it was a common practice, I wouldn't find it excuseable for myself.

sboyett22 · Aug 2, 2008

I am also a single parent. My children are 3 and 8. I work night shift at a trauma hospital in my area on the NTICU floor. I LOVE my job. The only thing about studying at work is, i do usually have time to get in a page or two, but not always. You can't go to work with the thought, oh i'll just study all night at work. Those will be the nights you don't even have time to sit. On the other hand, I have had nights where i was able to study a whole lot! It's going to depend on a lot of differnt things. Good luck to you! I'll FINALLY be graduating in DEC!

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2008

Often on the floor, if the nurses were doing something outside of the ordinary....they all knew that I was in NS, and would come get me to watch or help with certain things....Often, they knew that I was aware of what to look for with patients and would ask me things about assessments that I would have to have noticed if I did what I say I did....any butt sores during bath, etc.....I often noticed that the nurses didn't always get the chance to look at those backs....so that was my role.

dannibee · Aug 3, 2008

I work the night shift as a unit secretary in an eICU and I get plenty of time to study. I will be working 24 hours per week when school starts in...23 days. I always get the chance to get some good study sessions in when I'm at work. There are two of us so we share the workload. I sit at a desk all night. My manager, as well as the nurses I work with, are so happy that I FINALLY got into a nursing program and don't mind if I study as long as my work gets finished in a timely manner.

goodstudentnowRN · Aug 3, 2008

I work full time at a hospital and attend school full time. One has to be very organized for this to work. I study for two hours each day and

I am happy to inform you that I am a straight A student! It can be done.

allnurses Guide · Aug 4, 2008

I work night shift as a CNA and some nights I don't have time to open a book, other nights I can get a lot of studying in.
If you do bring your homework to work, make sure you put your work first. I've worked with a few people who will ignore call lights for homework or make themselves unapproachable. Always jump up for call lights and ask people if they need help.
I've noticed that the more helpful you are the more nurses are willing to help and teach.

How true how true!

I don't mind in the least if people study at work, but not if you aren't available to do your work. I do lit searches because the hospital computer runs so much faster than mine at home, but I'll get up and walk away from it in a heartbeat when I need to.