Can I work/ be paid while I study Nursing?

rachelshusband · Mar 30, 2011

It seems to me that many work at Med Techs, Nurse Techs, CNA's, HUC's and so on. See what you can find.

jamieb · Mar 30, 2011

Many thanks for the reply. I will begin my search I suppose on Craigslist and this site. Thank you also for the fast response.

Jamie

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 30, 2011

You may want to look into BSN programs designed for second degree folks. They are generally shorter if you already have pre-requisites. But be forewarned, a lot of your pre-reqs will 'expire' after 5 years so you may have to re-take them.

Best of luck to you!

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2011

Medical Center of Plano (long drive for you but still) has a scholarship program for BSN students. You get $2k per semester to spend as needed in exchange for an agreement to work after graduation, one year for every year or partial year they give you funding for. You have to have a certain GPA and be accepted into a BSN program to apply. The money is nice, but even nicer is the nearly guaranteed employment after graduation.

Good luck.

caliotter3 · Mar 31, 2011

If you intend to enter an accelerated BSN program, you should not look to hold a job at the same time. Many people must transfer to traditionally paced programs when they find they can not keep up with the pace. And a word to the wise: no matter what type of program you enter, if you work, keep that personal information to yourself. From personal experience as well as third party anecdotal examples, school personnel have been known to discriminate against those who work while in school. You want to complete the program, so don't let them have ammunition to target you and get rid of you. People with jobs often are relegated to an "undesirable" status in nursing school.

jamieb · Mar 31, 2011

Many thanks for all the great info. There has been a small development. The university where I currently work and study education is starting a BSN program this Fall, I am told. That would be amazing. I emailed the person over the new program and I am awaiting a reply. Fingers crossed! Thank you all again.

jamieb · Mar 31, 2011

If you intend to enter an accelerated BSN program, you should not look to hold a job at the same time. Many people must transfer to traditionally paced programs when they find they can not keep up with the pace. And a word to the wise: no matter what type of program you enter, if you work, keep that personal information to yourself. From personal experience as well as third party anecdotal examples, school personnel have been known to discriminate against those who work while in school. You want to complete the program, so don't let them have ammunition to target you and get rid of you. People with jobs often are relegated to an "undesirable" status in nursing school.

What you mentioned about work while in school, this kind of mentality by a school just blows my mind. I can see on one hand a desire for students to be completely focused and engaged in their studies. At the same time, how do schools think people pay for the program and eat and have a place to live? People can't just stop paying bills because they want to study. They have to work.

I saw this type practice in the teaching field. The certification process is set up to where you must do one of two things to be certified. 1: teach two semesters as a paid intern. A school hires you and after two semesters you can be certified. The catch - most schools want you to be certified prior to hiring you. Which leads to number 2, the most common thing teachers do, work 1 semester as an unpaid assistant. Who is able to work a 40 hour week for an entire semester with no pay? Historically this was housewives or young students supported by their parents. These days, this prevents single, older people from doing it because they can't go a semester without pay.

Something is wrong with these pictures regarding work and study.