Did/does Anyone Work while doing ABSN?

semester1kid · Apr 12, 2010

Hi there,
I'm about to begin my 13 month ABSN program this summer. For a number of reasons, I would like to work part time while in school. The school strongly discourages this-- referring to it as virtually impossible-- but some students seem to have managed.
Can anyone share his/her experience? Why did you choose to work? What job did you do? Did you burn out? Did your grades suffer?
Thanks!
Stacy
BTW, I am married and have a 4 year old....

Well, I'm not sure how the work load is for that program - however, for the ADN program I'm in, I work full time in an accounting office at the home office of a large retail chain. I'm also married with a 12 year old daughter. And yeah, my schedule between work, school and family is very much full:D

peytonsmom · Apr 12, 2010

I work a full time job, have a 27 y/o "big kid" husband , and a 4 y/o son. Dh is assistant coaching our nephew's pony league team and our 4 y/o has horse show and tball season starting. Did I mention my husband is also working full time and finishing up his bachelor's? Our schedule is insane and we do have to have an occasional helping hand from grandma & grandpa with getting our son to and from certain events.

I would give just about anything to not have to work FT while in NS, but it just is not an option for us financially, period. It's very difficult but i'm doing it and doing it w/ decent grades too. You just have to go into it understanding that your life is going to be overwhelming for awhile and get really good at carving out little blocks of time for studying. I save up my vacation days and take them on days of big tests too which helps.

Bottom line is that it's not fun, not easy and there is a good reason that schools tell you not to work but it's not impossible.

ExPharmaGirl, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2010

I'm starting an ABSN in July and will be working full time (as soon as I can find a darn job in this economy - that's a whole other story). My program is a little different in that class is once a week in the evening and clinicals are twice a week and you can get "pm" clinicals from 3-11. The classes are 8 wks long and the program is 22 months. Everything moves quickly, at an accelerated pace, but you only have 1 thing to focus on at a time. From what I heard it is challenging to work, but doable. I really don't have a choice.

GoalsInTransition · Apr 13, 2010

Thanks, ladies.

In my program, we have class or clinicals 5 days, generally from 8 or 9 to 4ish. I was hoping to find something on the weekends- maybe a psych aide or HHA. Another option I'm considering is phlebotomy tech- but I'd have to pay to get certified of course.

Congrats to you all for taking on so much! It'll be worth the sacrifice, right???

whodatnurse · Apr 13, 2010

I'm starting an ABSN in July and will be working full time (as soon as I can find a darn job in this economy - that's a whole other story). My program is a little different in that class is once a week in the evening and clinicals are twice a week and you can get "pm" clinicals from 3-11. The classes are 8 wks long and the program is 22 months. Everything moves quickly, at an accelerated pace, but you only have 1 thing to focus on at a time. From what I heard it is challenging to work, but doable. I really don't have a choice.

You entire nursing program is then...just 8 classes?

In my ABSN program we had one class that was taught by itself for 2 weeks in January. I often had said that I wished the entire program was set up to be taught one class at a time.

To answer the OP's question...I did not work and couldn't even imagine when their would be time to do so. I will also add that people who failed out of my program tended to be those who attempted to work. There were a very few who did succeed who also worked...but they were miserable and exhausted (but then again we were ALL miserable and exhausted...)

ExPharmaGirl, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2010

You entire nursing program is then...just 8 classes?
In my ABSN program we had one class that was taught by itself for 2 weeks in January. I often had said that I wished the entire program was set up to be taught one class at a time.
To answer the OP's question...I did not work and couldn't even imagine when their would be time to do so. I will also add that people who failed out of my program tended to be those who attempted to work. There were a very few who did succeed who also worked...but they were miserable and exhausted (but then again we were ALL miserable and exhausted...)

It is 15 classes. The classes without clinicals are 4 weeks and you go to class 2x per week (4.5hrs) and every other saturday. The classes with clinicals each meet a 136hr clinical requirement. I have another degree from this school from a very long time ago and I really liked being able to concentrate on 1 thing at a time.

whodatnurse · Apr 13, 2010

It is 15 classes. The classes without clinicals are 4 weeks and you go to class 2x per week (4.5hrs) and every other saturday. The classes with clinicals each meet a 136hr clinical requirement. I have another degree from this school from a very long time ago and I really liked being able to concentrate on 1 thing at a time.

Oh, I see. Wow...I'm SO jealous. That's the way to do it, IMHO. I hope they become a model for other programs.

live4rachael · Apr 13, 2010

It's totally worth it. Our ABSN program is 16 months and I've managed it married, with a 2 year old, and a part-time job as a tech (20 hrs/wk). Not easy, but worth it. :)

CrazierThanYou · Apr 14, 2010

The ABSN program at my alma mater doesn't allow the nursing students to work. At all. You have to have an agreement with them that you will not work due to the intensity of the program.

sugaray · Apr 14, 2010

I work ten hours a week and that stresses me out with nursing school.

CrazierThanYou · Apr 14, 2010

I am going to start nursing school in August. I will be working 70 hours every two weeks BUT I have a unique situation: I work at an assisted living facility. Very little of my time at work is spent actually working. The rest of it I can use to study. So, I was lucky to get this job as I will HAVE to work. Most of my husband's income goes toward debt that we racked up while I was working on my first (useless) BSEd degree.