Can you work and go to nursing school?

[Spikey74]

I will begin clinicals this fall and I want to know how will I be able to work and still go to school since I hear you pretty much can't work while completing the nursing program. I need to know anything that will help me at least until I can take the LPN exam ( which will be after the third semester). Is there any assistance nursing students can get to help with bills, food...ect? Thanks for ANY ADVICE!!

[UnicornRN]

I think you can probably do anything you put your mind to. I have several friends who worked full-time and attended nursing school. I plan to follow that route myself beginning in the fall. I don't have the option to not work, so I have to work full-time and attend school. I did take all of my pre/co-reqs prior to applying for nursing school so that lightens my load a little bit, but I also have a husband and children. It's all about how bad you want it!

[Spikey74]

Thanks! I really don't have the option to just "Not work" I do plan to go part-time and I have taken all my pre reqs too except Micro(bummer) but I pray that it won't be to bad with Nur 101.

[pkuper]

Well, personally, I work full time and go to school full time. I think it is more having a job that is flexible and allows you to take classes at whatever time you need to. I work 3rd shift at a nursing home as a CNA. This allows me to not only make money, but to also do homework at the same time. I find that in working full time and attending school full time, it is finding time to sleep that is the problem. It takes a lot of discipline and determination, but it is definitely do-able. I will tell you that your GPA will probably drop a little. I used to be almost a straight A student, but when I started working full time (about 2 years ago), I became a B student, and have a 3.2 GPA. This is mainly because I tend to be tired when I go to take tests. I have found that when I get a good nights sleep the night before a test, I do tons better.

That being said, I was not meaning to be discouraging. Working full time and going to school full time, is hard, but it is do-able. In my case, it is necessary, so I don't have an option. If I had an option, I wouldn't do it, it is definitely not the ideal situation but it makes you a better person and many of my professors comment on how well disciplined I am and tell me they don't know how I do it. I also work lots of overtime (I end up averaging 50-60 hrs a week during the school year and about 90 hours/week during the summer). However, it can definitely be done!! :)