Application Q "Do you work?"

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2006

Actually, I bet they are trying to weed out applicants who have to work more than say 20-25 hours per week during the nursing program. They would be after this info because people who work more than 20-25 hours per week during nursing school have a high fail/drop out rate. Other types of programs commonly ask this. For example, med school applicants are always asked this question. They will not admit students who say they will work during the program because it's just not possible.

They don't want to give up a seat in nursing school to someone who has to work full time during a full time nursing program. While there is the rare individual who can do this, it's certainly not the norm.

stpauligirl · Feb 15, 2006

On my CC nursing app there were two questions about work "do you plan on working during the program and if so how many hours?". Do you think since this Q was asked on the actual application that they use this to determine admitance? They say they base who is admited off of points you get from GPA, test, etc. Do you think they give you points based on your answer? I really don't think that is fare but why else would they ask this before you are even admitted?

I don't think you will get points for either yes or no to this question. What they are trying to determine is whether you will be successful in the program. Our ADN program strongly discourages people from working while in the program because they feel that if you work too many hours or work at all it could interfere with your performance in the program.

Best Wishes to you, they make it tough don't they?

sunnyjohn · Feb 15, 2006

Sounds like a "weed out" question o me....

fotografe · Feb 15, 2006

Wow, tough call on how to answer. It may be a weed out question. I would think carefully about the number you put in there.

I did work full time my first semester and it was tough. I was very sleep deprived by the end and knew I could not do that again. I dropped down to 24 hours this semster. Now I feel like I am not as good about budgeting my time. I feel liek I can looy-gag around -- and actually sleep. Go figure.

BTW, I did get an A first time around, but man was I burned at the end.

Actually, I bet they are trying to weed out applicants who have to work more than say 20-25 hours per week during the nursing program. They would be after this info because people who work more than 20-25 hours per week during nursing school have a high fail/drop out rate. Other types of programs commonly ask this. For example, med school applicants are always asked this question. They will not admit students who say they will work during the program because it's just not possible.
They don't want to give up a seat in nursing school to someone who has to work full time during a full time nursing program. While there is the rare individual who can do this, it's certainly not the norm.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 16, 2006

my application asked similar questions. i think they were, "are you currently employed?" and "if so, how many hours a week do you work?" there were a few additional questions such as list your employer and "are you are a cna or lpn?" (though the the latter is not listed as a requirement).

anyway, i read these questions and my first impression was that they could use employment in favor or against people. basically, i think these are weed out or weed in questions.

for example, if you are a cna or lpn then it might look good that you work and are working in that manner because you may be able to quickly understand information as it relates to nursing. plus it is possible for a cna or lpn to continue to work and have the flexibility to successfully complete nursing school depending on his/her abilities and schedule. on the other hand, you may be a regular 8-5 employee that works 30-40+ hours a week with no background in health care and may possibly do poorly in the nursing program.

i want to point out to all those that read this that i am not stating this to be true. i am just stating that this may be a way the admissions committee might think. :uhoh3:

five years ago i could not afford to be unemployed for any reason. so i put off finishing my pre-requisites until last semester and worked on reducing my expenses.

i know that this is not an option that many people want to consider but it is the choice i made. and at this time i am not working so i can finish off my co-requisites as i wait to be admitted.

by the way, i do not know if your school required you to take the cnet. if so results relating to your stress level, which includes money issues, are also submitted with your application.

i am pointing this out because my school is similar to yours and it reports that the admissions committee only looks at gpa, exam composite scores, blah, blah, blah. however, i suspect that other factors more then likely come into play when deciding admissions. i base my opinion on the fact that there are not enough seats for all qualified applicants per fall and spring semesters and the admissions committee is made up of homo sapiens rather then a computer that crunches numbers.

just some thoughts.

irishnurse67 · Mar 27, 2006

Actually, I bet they are trying to weed out applicants who have to work more than say 20-25 hours per week during the nursing program. They would be after this info because people who work more than 20-25 hours per week during nursing school have a high fail/drop out rate. Other types of programs commonly ask this. For example, med school applicants are always asked this question. They will not admit students who say they will work during the program because it's just not possible.
They don't want to give up a seat in nursing school to someone who has to work full time during a full time nursing program. While there is the rare individual who can do this, it's certainly not the norm.

Actually, most of us in my ADN program worked full-time or pretty close to it and most of us had kids. I did it. It wasn't fun but it really wasn't all that bad.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2006

I know that some people can work full-time and do nursing school full-time, still, I maintain they are the exception not the rule. I read a report/study issued by the California Board of Nursing, where they concluded that the number one problem for students dropping/failing out of nursing programs is working too many hours. They actually evaluated how many hours students can work and be successful in the nursing program. They stated that working up to 20 hours per week is just fine - it's when the student nears 25 hours per week and more that there is a significant correlation with failing/dropping.

Think of it this way. Say there are two hypothetical nursing students. Both have equal motivation, effort, and family support/psychological make-up. Student A's memorizing ability is in the 50th percentile. Student B's memorizing ability is in the 95th percentile. Student B will be the one who can work full-time and do nursing school full-time because she can read the material once and she's got it. Student B will have to study much more, and there are only so many hours in a 24 hour day.

I'd be proud of your accomplishment, and yes some people can do it. But I'd hate for students reading this to think it's the norm or average.

Comment not directed at you, Irishnurse, but in general: I also hate it when students come in the forum and ask questions like "can I work full-time and go to nursing school full-time?" Others pop in and say "of course you can because I did!" Not. See student A and B above. Those who can do it usually know who they are. They are the ones who can take 2-3 science classes at one time, or take 18 credits at one time and do well, etc.

stpauligirl · Mar 27, 2006

I know that some people can work full-time and do nursing school full-time, still, I maintain they are the exception not the rule. I read a report/study issued by the California Board of Nursing, where they concluded that the number one problem for students dropping/failing out of nursing programs is working too many hours. They actually evaluated how many hours students can work and be successful in the nursing program. They stated that working up to 20 hours per week is just fine - it's when the student nears 25 hours per week and more that there is a significant correlation with failing/dropping.
Think of it this way. Say there are two hypothetical nursing students. Both have equal motivation, effort, and family support/psychological make-up. Student A's memorizing ability is in the 50th percentile. Student B's memorizing ability is in the 95th percentile. Student B will be the one who can work full-time and do nursing school full-time because she can read the material once and she's got it. Student B will have to study much more, and there are only so many hours in a 24 hour day.
I'd be proud of your accomplishment, and yes some people can do it. But I'd hate for students reading this to think it's the norm or average.
Comment not directed at you, Irishnurse, but in general: I also hate it when students come in the forum and ask questions like "can I work full-time and go to nursing school full-time?" Others pop in and say "of course you can because I did!" Not. See student A and B above. Those who can do it usually know who they are. They are the ones who can take 2-3 science classes at one time, or take 18 credits at one time and do well, etc.

I agree with you that even though some make it ok thru school while working it isn't the norm.....too many students in my prerequisite classes have exactly the same problem Having to work interferes with their ability to get top grades, I see this over and over and over in my classes. ....it goes like this: Sleeping in class because they have to work or " I Cant go to open lab because I work,,, I didn't study because I work." Some seem not to be able to read because they have to work and expect me to find stuff for them in the lab manual !!!!!! I just here it alot that whatever isn't happening because they've got to work. These are just my general observations and experiences.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Mar 28, 2006

At our school of nursing (I am a nursing instructor in a small ADN program in North Carolina), we only mention to students that we do not recommend working over 20 hours per week. (It has been our experience that most students who do work over 20 hours per week perform poorly or end up failing out of the program.) We cannot legally enforce this, as this is not part of our stated admission criteria, and this is not stated in our student handbook. We can legally require, however, that students do NOT work the night before clinicals. This requirement about not working the night before clinicals is clearly spelled out in our student handbook.

If it is not stated in the admission criteria or in the student handbook, then legally this information cannot be part of the determination of admission. My advice: please consult the Allied Health Admissions Coordinator at your prospective school to find out the specific criteria for admission, and if this question about employment has any bearing on one's chances of being admitted into the nursing program. Best wishes to you :)