Can I do nursing school with full time job??

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Thank God this is a very active forum and I've been getting good advice here. I am clueless, 38, getting old, desperately want a degree, have been going to many community colleges on and off since '93. I have had no direction and have been taking/dropping classes like nothing. I really want to do Forensic Science/Crime scene 1st and Nursing 2nd as career options but the Forensics curriculum was too hard for me: College Algebra, Chem. 1/2, Physics, Calculus, Trig. whew..some really difficult classes. I dropped out and feeling all the loser right now.

I work nights and to be quite honest due to health issues, I have got to have at least 6 to 8 hrs sleep just to function unless I can find some type of stimulant to keep me going. Ephedra used to work really well for me in school for staying alert and concentrating but they banned it. Plus I work the night shift fulltime at a bloodlab M-F 9 to 10 hrs+ with some Sat.'s

For those who have already been to nursing school, can I do this while working full time nights? I need my job because I have no financial support. So I won't be able to quit for nursing school. After reading the most helpful real world advice from some of you here, I'm scared to take the leap now. For one thing, I don't want to get in the program and then have to drop out. I will be seriously depressed if that happens.

I'm starting at this junior college and I suspect that they do classes/clinicals in the daytime. So I think I may be able to get some sleep before work and find some time some way to get in the studying. Maybe crack down on the weekends. Does this sound do-able to you or will working a full time night job interfere greatly with my success in nursing school? Keep in mind that I do have a knack for certain things. Like I do really well with medical terminology, pathology, intuition, phlebotomy type skills on my own. I've always done well with those disciplines. I think my real problem is going to be with making time for clinicals (if they are too far in distance), mean instructors, calculating doses, care plans. I'm also scared that you only get like 1 or 2 chances to pass certain tests. I'm afraid. Your advice needed. :confused:

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Honestly, I don't think it is possible to do well in nursing school and have a full-time job working nights. Either you focus all your attention on school or transfer to working part-time or working weekends. That sounds more do-able to me.

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Specializes in Plastic surgery and Med/surg.

Yes, it can be done. My first 3 semesters of nursing school, I worked M-F 3-11. As soon as I was done with school or clinicals, I would head to work. A couple of the days, I did not get to work until 4 or 4:30, but I had worked it out with my manager knowing that I was going to school, but that I needed to keep my fulltime status at work for insurance reasons. My last semester I worked 16 hour shifts on Sat and Sun. It really helped to free up some time during the week and at work when it was a lull time I could study or read, whatever I needed to do.

You have to have preseverance to get through nursing school and work full time while doing it. Good luck to you. Nursing school is tough, but if you keep your head in the game, you will make it! Hurdles are put in our way for a reason, we just have to jump over them!!! :nuke:

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that sounds really difficult. HOWEVER, is this a job that would allow you to study on the job? Then it might work out because you'd be able to get things done at work, then only have to worry about sleeping!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

Yes, but it will be painfull.

I did nursing school while I was on active duty. I was working nights. So I was able to study, (most military ER's aren't the busy) and go to class during the day. I wil admit that i was sleep deprived. A lot will depend on you and your ability to learn and your personall learning style. For me nursing school wasn't rocked science and it wasn't that hard. But other people have to work hard at it.

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To all the people who can juggle it all...full-time job, nursing school, kids...you are amazing and what you do is admirable. But to give a personal reply to this thread...my answer is no, I don't think its wise to work full time and go to nursing school. I am going into my second month of the nursing program and I cut my hours from 45/wk to 20/wk and I'm still struggling with trying to just juggle 20 hrs with school. I would suggest getting a few more loans to get you through, like I've had to do. Once you get through school successfully, you'll have a good job to pay them off. Just my :twocents: Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do :nuke:

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Pedi.

I would say no, the people who can work full time and make it all the way through are very special, although rare people. I would suggest getting a loan to cover finances, thats what I did.

Of course my plan was get my LVN (done) and then go online through Excelsior to get my RN. If you can do online courses than you can move at your own pace and I'm working as an LVN and making some money while I do it because I couldn't afford to live off loans for 2 years.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I, am now working full time as a labor and delivery nurse tech.It is extremely hard to work full time and go to school. Granted it can be done but you must be very organized to be successfull in both. In January I will be starting my clinicals and I will be cutting my hours down tremendously. So please be wise when making your decisions.

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Specializes in L&D, M/B.

I must be one of those rare people then.....

I got my LPN in 1982 and then went back to college Jan. of 1985. I went part time the 1st year then full time (2 years worth) after that. Worked full time (nights, 11pm to 7am), had a 5 year old child, and a husband that was one of the worst on the planet. It was NOT easy in the least but I did it. I wanted it very bad. I made straight B's all thru nursing school and was very happy with that.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Only you can decide this. Not a single person on the planet can tell you if you can do it or not. The best thing to do would be to test the waters, then modify your plan if needed.

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I must reply because I now have 3 semesters left until I finish with a BSN. I also worked fulltime and went to school part-time until this semester when I had to take 14 credits. I have financial issues too. You may be able to go part-time while working but you really need to be big on self-discipline. And be prepared, it feels like it takes forever. You should really look into private student loans. I didn't find out about these until last semester and wish I knew of them sooner. They can help pay for your rent, transportation, and food while your in school. Just google private student loans. I will tell you the interest rates vary; but, if it gets you making a nurse's salary quicker, its worth it. Good Luck!!

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.

There are many factors to this, the safe answer is no. When I started NS school they had in our welcome packet that working more than 20hrs/wk was not a good idea and highly frowned upon. First of all, if you have a flexible job where you can get time off when you need to or have a chance to study on the job then that is a plus. However, even this is going to be extremely hard. I would suggest not getting a BSN if you are going to work. I would suggest becoming a CNA, going to school while working for an LPN, then work as an LPN while going to school for an RN, then get your BSN. It seems that that works for a lot of people I know who didn't have a lot of financial help to get through school, but just jumping directly into a BSN program expecting to work 40hrs/wk won't fly. I'm not sure how this is for an ADN program but I expect it is the same. You will be in class with instructors who, frankly, could care less if you worked that whole last night and couldn't make it to class or fell asleep or didn't have enough time to prepare for clinical or study for that test. You will be expected to perform at the same level as your peers and you will be falling short. There simply aren't enough hours in a day. There are many student loan programs though and I suggest you look into those before comitting yourself to working full time with school.

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