Anyone else working full time and college full time?

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2003

Nope.......the nursing program takes up a lot of time....not just with being in school & clinicals, but with all the studying & research outside of school. They recommend you don't work at all or at the very least.....only part time. I don't think anyone in my program works full-time.

RN2B~MAY4ME · Apr 19, 2003

I go to school full time...14-18 credits per semester for three yrs....

I homeschool my 12 yr old son....(full time job x 2)

Weekends I put in overtime trying to clean the house that I neglect all week....

I have a job as a chaufeur taking my son to basketball, tennis lessons, swim team...and college for kids....this job doesnt pay well either

Then as if my unpaid jobs arent enough....i work per diem every other weekend....feeding babies and taking care of new moms (wishing i could warn them of what's to come) on maternity....

Did i mention that i was Public relations officer of Phi Theta Kappa last year and President of the Nursing Club this year......(An Extremely Active Nursing Club).....

After NCLEX....i think i will take a long nap.....

:)

memphispanda, RN · Apr 19, 2003

I think there is one lady in my class who works 32 hours/week (2 16 hour shifts in the hospital lab, she is a med tech). I worked full time my first semester of nursing classes, but I was only taking 7 hours. There is no way I could have worked the second semester...too many things to do for school. This semester I am working very part time as an extern.

NurseDianne, ADN · Apr 19, 2003

I work full time and go to school full-time. If you've seen my post, I just passed the Bridge test yesterday and will start w/ the nursing classes in June.

I worked full time when I went to LPN school and was raising two small children 3 & 8 yr olds. It was rough, used alot of help from family for the babysitting, slept only about 3 hrs a night........but made it thru.

Now my girls are 20 (she's married and out) and 15 (will be Sat.) and it's still hard. I'm married now, he works full time (LPN) and is also going to school for his RN and plans to go on to PA school.......so..........

yes it's possible......hard.......but........doable........keep at it........

RN 2005 · Apr 20, 2003

Thanks NurseDianne! I have been watching this thread and becoming very worried. I am really glad to see that there are some students out there working and still making it....I will need to work through all my clinicals so I am nervous about it but trying to prepare as best I can. Good luck to all that are doing all they can to get through :) Congrats to you NurseDianne on passing and thanks for giving the rest of us some encouragement!

Kris

FutureNurse2005 · Apr 20, 2003

It states very clearly in our Course Calendar, that students accepted into the Nursing program are NOT to work more than 8 hours per week. Anything more will interfere with your school work.

I just figure why would you go into this program if you are not going to give it your all? :confused:

Anyway, best of luck to you!

ats · Apr 20, 2003

People who work full time and go to school CAN and DO give it their all. :)

Some of us have no choice as to working, we are the sole means of support for ourselves (and very often for families). I know someone in my class who is married, works full time and has 5 small children at home. She's a very good student too!

I work full time days (every day) and attend an accelerated evening/weekend ADN program. I'm an older student, and I've done a lot throughout my life, so I have no worries about what I'm capable of. Just keep in mind that we're all very different, so try not to take other people's experiences too much to heart when thinking about how YOU will do in your nursing program.

It takes a good grasp of time management to make things work smoothly, but they certainly can and do for many of us who work full or near-full time. I love learning, and I love school... I hope your experience in that regard is just as rewarding as mine has been!

memphispanda, RN · Apr 20, 2003

The thing is that you can not realistically "do it all". You can be a full-time working mom who is a full-time student. But somewhere something is going to suffer from lack of attention. In the full-time working mom who is a full-time student I would imagine the kids get very little mom time--heck, when is she home? Only when she sleeps?

I realize that people may have to make this choice. I am making the choice myself--to go to school full time so I can get done, to work very part time so I can help with our financial woes, and to spend a little time with my kids when I can. They are suffering from a lack of mom time although I try to take them to the park or for walks around the neighborhood when I can.

In the long run, it's for the best...when I finish school I will only have the mom and work responsibilities, and school will be over in a few months. I think my kids can survive without much damage for that period of time. That's one reason I chose a 5 semester diploma program instead of a bachelors program--I wasn't willing to give up that much time with my kids.

LaVorneRN · Apr 20, 2003

Susie,

I worked full time and went to school full time until the last semester of school then I went pool. I was a CNA working 12 hr shifts so I worked 3 and 4 day weekends. As the crunch came toward the end I cut my days to 2 days a week instead of 3 and 4. I don't have children but I am sure that would have made the load heavier. I did have classmates who did have children, some single parents, who worked but part time. I worked the whole time and honestly it was a struggle but I had no choice. I did pass and graduate and passed my boards as did those working with kids. So depending on the job you do and how flexible they are and your organizational skills (crucial) it is do-able. Good luck

NurseDianne, ADN · Apr 20, 2003

Originally posted by ats
People who work full time and go to school CAN and DO give it their all. :)

Some of us have no choice as to working, we are the sole means of support for ourselves (and very often for families). I know someone in my class who is married, works full time and has 5 small children at home. She's a very good student too!

I Totally Agree! I have to work full-time. So does my husband. We get very little financial aid......and it's expensive, that plus the bills.......cars, house...a teenager! And I do give my all to my classes. As an LPN, I graduated top in my class 3.98 average, won the State VICA title (1st place) and 3rd VICA National title for that year. I was a single parent and worked full time as a CNA. I'm not bragging, just telling you it can be done. I have a decent GPA now, at almost 40 (will be in June), make A's and B's. My hubby, works full time as an LPN in RT, goes to school full time and also does some agency work on the side. He just was an honor student. And we just schedule time in for "us" whenever we can. It's doable! You just have to want it bad enough!!

RN 2005 · Apr 20, 2003

Wow. Kind of amazing (and offensive) to see that some think that if we need to work during school it means we will not be "giving it our all". I am a 4.0 student with 2 years of pre-reqs under my belt. I was accepted to a nursing program for this fall that was extremely competitive. I hardly feel that working while going to school has made me not able to do my best. Some of us need to work and have families counting on us for support. To think that the only people in the world that can make good nurses are the ones that can go through 4 years of school with no jobs is an unrealistic expectation. If you are fortunate enough to not need to work due to parents etc. it is rather unfair to criticize those of us that are in a different situation. I will make it through my program because I am determined, hard working, able to prioritize, and I want it so badly. Not because I have someone who can pay my bills for me while I go to school full time. Just had to get that off my chest. :)