Anyone working night shift and going to school

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Hello everyone! I currently work 13hr shifts as RN in a CathLab & attend school for my BSN. I will be starting the FNP program next year & am considering quitting my job as the hours & on call tire me out & the stress is becoming too much & interfering with my studies. I'm considering going back to agency work per Diem or contractual but I know most of the work would be night shift. I'm hoping there are people out there working night shift & going to school on this forum so I'm wondering if you can give me feedback as to how you manage this shift & your studies. Do you wish you were on days? Do u find it feasible for studies & clinicals? FYI I will probably only work 2 nights a week (8 or 12 hrs) per Diem or 13 week assignments(12hr shifts 3 nights a week) at a time if contractual. Thank you for any information or advice.

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Specializes in ICU, CCL, Tele, Some Management, TNCC.

I'm just getting accepted into a program but I also work in the Cath lab. I work 12s n one call night a week, one call weekend every 6 weeks (on call from fri night til Monday morning.... We usually get at least 15hrs of work hahah). Many coworkers are in NP school n work full time but will drop one shift a pay period... A few are staying full time. Two are graduating in a few months.... So it's doable. I'm going to stay full until it gets to me lol then I will go pt

thanks! ~b. Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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I'm just getting accepted into a program but I also work in the Cath lab. I work 12s n one call night a week, one call weekend every 6 weeks (on call from fri night til Monday morning.... We usually get at least 15hrs of work hahah). Many coworkers are in NP school n work full time but will drop one shift a pay period... A few are staying full time. Two are graduating in a few months.... So it's doable. I'm going to stay full until it gets to me lol then I will go pt

thanks! ~b. Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Thanks BeeGeeRN!!! Our schedule is about the same except we work 13hrs but the call schedule is the same as yours!!! I just started part time so maybe it is doable :)

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Thanks BeeGeeRN!!! Our schedule is about the same except we work 13hrs but the call schedule is the same as yours!!! I just started part time so maybe it is doable :)

I mean I'm just dropping to part time status!! I was full time & used to pick up mega call. So cutting that out too lol

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Critical Care Nursing.

I work night shift in CCU. Before I began NP school (I go full time), I dropped to per diem, but I average 24 hours a week. I'm on my husband's insurance, so that helps. I also have two boys (11 and 16) who demand a great deal of my time as well. It helps to be per diem because I can make my schedule depending upon what I have to do. So far it has worked out beautifully. :) I don't think I could work full time with my personal level of demands. Good luck to you!

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I work night shift in CCU. Before I began NP school (I go full time) I dropped to per diem, but I average 24 hours a week. I'm on my husband's insurance, so that helps. I also have two boys (11 and 16) who demand a great deal of my time as well. It helps to be per diem because I can make my schedule depending upon what I have to do. So far it has worked out beautifully. :) I don't think I could work full time with my personal level of demands. Good luck to you![/quote']

Thanks a lot!!! I actually just went to part time a couple of months ago & now will go per diem for more flexibility. Good luck to you also!!!

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Hi @teelatice, I read one of your previous posts about ub's 1 yr rn/bsn online program. Are you currently enrolled? And if so, how is the program working out for you. I am seriously considering this program, but there is little to no info on this program on allnurses. Pls, your reply will be greatly appreciated.

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Im on my second semester of a ADN program and I work and go to school full time (no kids, just rent, tuition and other bills) my first semester I attended class and clinicals Tuesday-Friday and worked 12 hour shifts Sat, Sunday and Monday as a medical assistant at an ugent care clinic. This semester ill be in class Mon-Fri (two days of clinical) and working midnight to 8 am 5 nights a week as a Patient Care Tech on a medsurg floor. Not sure how i'll manage but I know I will. Goodluck :)

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

I'm about to wrap up my FNP program this December and have worked full-time throughout the process as a night charge nurse in a CVICU. During the first year when it was just online classes with no clinical, I worked full-time with an overtime shift. The long relatively quiet nights were great for doing homework, they still are. When I started clinicals I went to a weekend only Fri, Sat, Sun schedule, and do my clinicals Tues, Weds, Thurs.

I'm not gonna lie and say it's easy. It's been very difficult and I have virtually no social life now. The trade off is I haven't had to take a pay cut and I haven't taken out a single school loan. Thankfully my wife has been very supportive and we have no kids. It is very doable, but everyone has a unique situation they need to assess.

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