DCCC night and weekend program and work?

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 17, 2015

Most of the roughly 32 students in the Eve/Weekend program at DCCC when I attended several years ago worked full-time. We lost only 2 students - one of whom ironically was not working and was essentially a full-time student - and nearly all of us passed the boards the first time as well. In my case, I worked roughly 50 - 60 hours while in the program and actually missed several classes. Missing the classes was not a particularly big deal however, missing a clinical would be. I lucked out there, even though some travel due to my job had me out of the area on occasion.

Bottom line is that it is certainly possible to hold a full-time job while in the program but it is difficult and requires dedication and commitment. Since you have class a couple of nights each week, including through at least one summer session, and clinicals every Sat & Sun, can pretty much kiss any social life goodbye.

I'd also urge you to be very sure you want to go into nursing before making the considerable commitment required. Most prospective nursing students are not aware of the relatively poor job prospects for new RN's in the Phila area. Consider that each spring, the 25 or so nursing programs in the Phila area graduate upwards of 3,000 new students and nearly 2,500 of them pass the boards the first time. Most of these new RN's opt to look for jobs in and around Phila. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that just over 200 new nursing positions are created each year in the Phila Metro area. While that doesn't necessarily mean there are 12.5 new nursing grads competing for each nursing job (there are other openings due to retirement, moving to other areas, etc) but it should give you an inkling that finding a position may be difficult. Also keep in mind that most of the new grads will be BSN's, a credential that is rapidly becoming the minimum needed for a hospital nursing job. DCCC has articulation agreements with WCU and Temple (or at least they did when I was there) and you should seriously consider using that arrangement to get your BSN.

If I haven't scared you off, good luck in the program. It is quite good and DCCC nurses are well-regarded (even if often now under-employed).

mt569112 · Feb 19, 2015

Thanks for the reply. You haven't scared me off. I figure it would be tough to get a job locally with just an ADN. I'm a bit of a nomad and was basically headed wherever the degree might take me. My tentative plan was to find a job somewhere maybe rural while doing an online BSN. That way I could gain some experience while pursing the higher degree. Being a none traditional student I am most concerned about working full time, because I have to, and going for at least 9 credits at a time at DCCC. So you comment gives me hope! I figure it'll be hard but it's nice to know its not impossible. Thanks!

-Michael

NurseMotivator, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Mar 12, 2018

Did you every go to that school?