clinicals + full-time job = ?

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i have one more class to take before starting nursing school. counselor was very discouraging. said " its impossible to hold down a full time job and do the clinicals". i have come this far to hear this? what are the clinicals like-hours, days flexability? im in okla city, ok , going to rose state . thanks

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Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

It is extremely hard to hold down a full time job and nursing school. For ex. my schedule.

mond 9-4p class

tues 9-12 class 2-4 pre-clinical at the hospital

wed 3-11p clinical

thurs off

Friday 6:45a-3p clinical

sat- study

sun-study

maybe pt-time but def. not full time

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I would have to base my advice on experience. I would not recommend it either. Yes, you might be able to handle it but surely without getting burnt out or neglecting your sleep/health IMHO. There is 1 person that I know of in my program who does this (has no other choice) and the side effects are creeping behind her.

{factor in your job, clinical time, sleep, and the hours you need to catch up on the reading plus studying}. Not to mention anytime left for you to relax.

I am one to say........try it out and find out for yourself and don't take my opinion but have a back up plan.

Good luck, hope it works out for you!

My schedule

Mon: class 8-11 go home back 5:30-9:00

Tues: class 5:30 -9:00

Wed: Study, prepare for clinical; drive to facility and pick up pt. assignments.

Thurs: Clinical 7-4:30 drive to class: 5:30-9:00

Fri: Class: 8-11, study

Sat: Lab 8-11, study

Sun: Study, relax and spend some time with spouse

I do work part-time and fit it around my schedule. Anything more and I will go nuts..........Didn't mention laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, errands/bills etc.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.

are you a nurse aide in a nursing home, i do two 16hr shifts a week, sat. and sun. 2nd and 3rd shift, that's 32/week which still gives me full-time (and insurance). It's hard, but working less is not an option, i also know girls that do 12hr on fri, sat, sun. save mon through fri for school, you'll need it. i do, however, get a lot of studying done at work. I make sure i set up good on second, so my nite will go better!!

keep on, keepin' on, you'll figure it out!!

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Specializes in Family.

I am currently working full time nights and I am feeling it! I have school on MTW and work around that. If you have a good support system and can stay organized, it goes easier.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

You clinical hours are pretty set in stone and not flexible. I hope you have a job that can work around that because it's not going to happen the other way around. We did however have a choice between Tues-Wed. clinicals and Thurs-Fri.

Good luck. A lot of people with determination make it through nursing school while working full time, myself included.

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The truth is that only you are going to be able to say whether it is doable or not. I know for myself I have no choice but to work. I'm currently working as a HUC in a hospital which makes it a little easier as I do have some downtime that I can study. My goal is to work Sat and Sun and have Mon through Fri for school.

I think it all comes down to time management, a skill that you will need as an RN.

Kris

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I was told the same thing, but it's also impossible for me to eat without money to buy food.

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I did it, worked full time and did classes and clinicals, even got a second major. I also graduated with a 3.8 GPA. It is completely possible, but you will have to put your mind to it.

I found my job, in health care actually helped me a lot in my classes, because I had generally seen all the conditions we learned about, and the attending in my ED actually helped me study for NCLEX (She used to gather all the Med students around and see if they knew the answers to the review questions....oftne they didn't).

At the time, I was not married and didn't have kids, so that was a help.

I pretty much had Foxy Hills same schedule. I worked 7p-7a every friday and saturday night, and then 7a -7p on Wednesdays the day we had off.

It worked out.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Schedule my 2nd year when i had clinicals:

Monday 1p-11p clinical

Tuesday 1p-11p clinical

Wednesday 3p-9p class work 11p-7:30a

Thursday 3p-9p class work 11p-7:30a

Friday Work 4p-7:30a

Saturday Work 4p-7:30a

Sunday Housework, Church, Sleep, Homework

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it is hard but if you have the determination and the support system you can do it. i work 12 hr night shifts sat and sun at a local hospital but have recently went to 12 hr days to incorporate my time better . heres my schedule:

monday : in the computer lad for 4 hours doing nclex review questions for class. after 3pm go to hospital and gather clinical info for the next dat

teusday: clinicals from 6-1 then revise paperwork ,clean,cook and fit in study time

wednesday : class from 9-1 ..computer lab til 2...hospital after 3 up late doing careplans

thursday : clinicals 6-2 ...study,cook,study catch up on lecture readings...try to spend time with hubby...oh yea try to work in some sleep

friday: class from 9-1 go get stepdaughter...try to spend time with her,study

sat and sun work 12 hour shifts

so it is hard ..you just have to see for yourself if you can manage it or not. right now i dont have a choice so i survive on alot of caffeine

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Ouch. I wouldn't do it....but I have kids, and that is a job in itself. I am in school, lab or clinical for 30+ hours a week, and when I get home, my kids absorb a lot of my time.

KatieBell....wow, that's impressive!

~J

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