Did you work when going to nursing school?

Brad_RN_Student_PA · Mar 7, 2007

I worked during the day, Monday through Friday, full time. On the weekends, i did medical transcription at home. I was in school Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 pm to 10:30 (sometimes later when i was in clinicals).
NOT EASY. Very difficult. But it can be done. I graduated nursing school without debt. If anything, it teaches you how to manage your time, which is an important aspect of nursing. But its definitely something you do out of necessity. I had a home, a husband, and lots of bills. I didnt have a choice.
Oh, and i really dont think that working at a hospital increases your chances of passing the NCLEX. I worked as an MA at a doctors office, which gave me somewhat of an advantage in school, but by the time you get to the NCLEX, its the schooling your received that allows you to pass the exam (if anything, you have to separate "real life" experiences in order to answer some questions correctly).
My old school had a 99% pass rate. And only a few of us worked in a medical related field.

I agree, in that you have to learn how to seperate "real world" from Nclex. BUT, on the same hand, I have been expected to know more and teach other students some basic skills, which in turn builds upon my own! I haven't taken boards yet, but i am both sides of the fence with this issue. I think it helps tremendously, but you def need to "forget" some real world things u learn. And if i didnt have to work, i wouldn't. But i had to...32-40/week as a cna. Our instructors, too, frowned upon this...but needs need to be met. Interviews post-graduation should be easier, from my perspective, cuz you have proven ability to manage your time, and prioritize. VERY important skills, i feel.

OH, and on the other down side, I am feeling VERY burnt out!

Brad_RN_Student_PA · Mar 7, 2007

I agree with IrisRN.
I wouldn't have gone back to school if I had to either spend my savings or put my family in debt to do it. I worked around 30 hours a week and graduated at the top of my class. In fact most of the students that worked got great grades also. It is really necessary to manage your time and not allow yourself to get behind. I think in hindsight I tend to study better when I know I don't have the luxury of putting it off til tomorrow. Best to you, Jules

Awesome point!

LPNSan · Mar 7, 2007

I am working full time while persuing my Nursing... I work 4 tens 6 am - 430 pm and am off the other three days. I have a great staff coordinator who on a whim agreed to change all of 3 of our hours.. good luck and never give up...

Rach101 · Mar 7, 2007

I am currently in my final year of nursing school. I work Saturdays at a local shop. It fits in fine with study when its theory weeks but working shift work mon-fri then working saturdays too is pretty tiring. With assignments to do and work six days per week it often feels like a social life is lacking.

I like that i work out of the hospital on Saturdays. Even though im still working its a change in environment and thats quite refreshing.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2007

I haven't started school yet (start on Monday the 12th) but while in college for pre-reqs I worked full time, school full time and had a daughter and husband along with a home to take care of.

I finished all my pre-reqs with a 4.0.

Like the other poster said, I think I did better because I didn't have time to put it off until later. Later was now, so I buckeled down and did my homework/studying as soon as possible instead of putting it off.

I will be working will attending full time NS. I'll be doing 30 hrs/wk. BUT I work from home on the PC so I can basically work whenever I want..If i have insomnia, I can fire up the ol' PC and work.

DDRN4me · Mar 7, 2007

worked full time as an LPN while getting my RN... now continue to work full time and go to school part time for my BSN... till May ...when i will be done!!!!

Cattitude · Mar 7, 2007

i worked full time as a unit clerk in a hospital m-f 3-11pm. they also paid for my adn.

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[color=#483d8b]it's tough but do-able. i had a decent boss that was willing to let me come in a little late on my clinical days. i also took days off before big tests. you just have to commit yourself to having absolutely no life for 2 years!

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lakerette01 · Mar 7, 2007

yes, I worked, every Saturday and Sunday, as a Mental Health Worker at a psych hospital. Normally I would do 8 hours a day, but sometimes when my lovely co-workers would call in sick, I would pull doubles..

I got my BSN, and was normally in class or clinical all week long, as well as preparation out of class time. It was hard, and at times I thought I wasn't going to make it, but I did. Thank goodness my boyfriend (now fiance) was supportive..

And not to toot my own horn, but during the year and half that I did this, I did not call in sick once, even when I was dealing with my "nursing school migraines" as I so like to call them...

Hope that helps and keep on pushing forward.. :)

nicuRN2007 · Mar 7, 2007

I suggest getting a job as a nurse extern if possible. (May be called something different in your area, like nurse apprentice or something.) Around here, all hospitals let their externs pretty much set their own schedule (work as much or as little as they want and when they want). Works very well because when you have the time, you can work, but if you are busy with finals or something, you don't have to. Most hospitals will make you work a minimum number of hours; at my hospital it's 12 hours a month. I think at some hospitals its 24 hours a month. That's obviously very doable, though. Working as an extern has helped me clinically, and it will help you get a job when you graduate. I extern in a neonatal ICU, and I will be moving to a different area after I graduate in May, but I have already interviewed with the NICU in the hospital at which I want to work after graduation, and they offered me a job. I know that having experience in the NICU as an extern is what got me that job. Good luck to you!

lauron9 · Mar 7, 2007

I did. I worked 25 hours a week at a restaurant and worked PRN as a nurse tech at a local hospital.

fultzymom · Mar 7, 2007

I worked part-time while in LPN school et then during RN, I worked only on Saturday's a 12 hour shift. It was hard but I made it. It left hardly no time for anything else though.

PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2007

I'm currently in an accelerated 2nd degree BSN program. I work 36-50 hours a week. I have class on Monday, and clinicals on Tuesday and Thursdays. I work Tuesday & Friday thru Sunday. I have one day a week off (Wednesday), but I usually spend that day catching up on schoolwork, studying, doing SOAPs, PATs, etc. It sucks, but hey, what can I do? I gotta live somehow. It's just delayed gratification. I'm suffering now, but in December it will all be over!