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

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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 am a secretary in Respiratory Therapy and I study at work. I'm actually looking forward to school getting going in a few weeks so I can have some fairly work-related material to read. I work evenings and weekends 56 hrs every two weeks, and i do not see studying at work as an "ethical dillema" at all, as long as you have your priorities in order and an understanding with your boss. If I was not allowed to "study at work" I would just study on my meal break (which they have to allow you to have technically...and cant really tell you what you can and cannot do during)

I don't think I'd count on JUST studying at work though, because that one time that you NEED to study at work, all heck will break loose and there will be codes and patients extubating themselves and whatever else, all over the place.

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Specializes in ER, OB.

I work about 24 hours a week in a Extended Care Unit. I study at work IF I have time. I never put my studying before my work. Some evening I don't even get a supper break let alone study time. Like another poster said you can't rely on that study time, you never know what will happen at work.

The nurses are a WONDEFUL help with I have different questions. They will always make it a point to show me different procedures or things that I don't see everyday.

I don't think that studying at work is wrong. If I worked at Wal Mart and we wern't busy and my work was done I would study there. If I were working fast food and all my work was done I would study there. I don't think that anyone would think anything of that. Why should it be any different in a hospital? :twocents:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Surgical ICU.

I think it depends on each facility. If you have a busy unit it would be hard. But a slow floor would be much easier imo.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
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!

Wow, that sounds ideal!

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Wheres the ethical dilemma? Would you rather people just sit around and gossip like they do when theres downtime, or pick up a book and read.

If youre neglecting patients to do homework thats one thing, but I work nights in a ER and when theres downtime you can find our CA's in the holding room watching TV, I would much have them on the main floor reading. Especially with the shortage of nurses I know I want my CA to do good in school, graduate and come work for me as an RN.

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I am a secretary in Respiratory Therapy and I study at work. I'm actually looking forward to school getting going in a few weeks so I can have some fairly work-related material to read. I work evenings and weekends 56 hrs every two weeks, and i do not see studying at work as an "ethical dillema" at all, as long as you have your priorities in order and an understanding with your boss. If I was not allowed to "study at work" I would just study on my meal break (which they have to allow you to have technically...and cant really tell you what you can and cannot do during)

I don't think I'd count on JUST studying at work though, because that one time that you NEED to study at work, all heck will break loose and there will be codes and patients extubating themselves and whatever else, all over the place.

Definitely, the understanding with your boss is the primary requirement. I definitely agree! As a supervisor, it's important for them to know what employees are doing while on the clock. As a supervisor, there are issues related to responsibility, authority, and accountability.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Wheres the ethical dilemma? Would you rather people just sit around and gossip like they do when theres downtime, or pick up a book and read.

If youre neglecting patients to do homework thats one thing, but I work nights in a ER and when theres downtime you can find our CA's in the holding room watching TV, I would much have them on the main floor reading. Especially with the shortage of nurses I know I want my CA to do good in school, graduate and come work for me as an RN.

I hate seeing students studying at work. Work is for work. And I was a tech for many, many years and I rarely had enough downtime to crack open a book.

The vast majority of techs who are studying at work that I have seen do in fact, neglect their duties. Or they give the big sigh and eye roll when a call light goes off.

It's rude.

Study at home.

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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'd like to work in the hospital as well in the fall semester!

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Wow, that sounds ideal!

Actually, my manager encourages us nursing students who are doing 1:1's to bring all their study material, especially if you are doing it at night. If you go to sleep, you can get fired and never work for the hospital network again. So, they encourage you to bring your laptop, school work, DVD player, Ipod, whatever it takes to keep you woke while the pt is sleeping.

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I hate seeing students studying at work. Work is for work. And I was a tech for many, many years and I rarely had enough downtime to crack open a book.

The vast majority of techs who are studying at work that I have seen do in fact, neglect their duties. Or they give the big sigh and eye roll when a call light goes off.

It's rude.

Study at home.

This is kind of a blanket statement. My position is specifically set up (and encourages!) studying during down time. They figure its highly likely that I will end up there when I'm done with school, and they reap the benefit. My position is "recycled" every time the current holder graduates and its generally accepted.

Its not rude that I study at work, because my employer understands and encourages it. If I did not do my duties/answer the phone/etc then it would be negligent of me, but it could be thus whether I was talking, texting, hanging out in the breakroom or whatever else. If there's something they need to be doing, obv they should be doing it. Not every department is that busy that they have no down time do either chit chat/take a break/study and I'd rather study than waste my precious downtime chit chatting about last weekend's BBQ.

just my 2 cents :)

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Specializes in heart failure and prison.

I work in a hospital and I work 40 hours a week, I go to school 2 nights and week and every other weekend is clinicals. I have 4 months left to finish. What I have found helpful for me is this. If your school give you powerpoints shrink them down on the copier and staple them. I cut off the extra paper around it and these same notes can fit inside my pocket, so if management is around, they have no ideal what I am doing. Also, when I take lunch break, I have my notes. I take my convient notes wherever I go. Hope this help you

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I work fulltime and study at work too. I see nothing wrong with this. I always get my work done appropriately. I need to be a nurse from yesterday and so I will do whatever it takes to succeed.

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