Do I have to quit my job to take LPN classes???

DD-RN · Nov 24, 2005

See if there are any part-time LPN programs. It may take 2 years, but you may be able to work during that time.

NurseMatt · Nov 24, 2005

I will be working part-time or full-time overnight to support my education. The program I will be in is M-F 7:45am to 3:45pm and you have to log at least 20 hours a week, plus clinicals which are 13 hours one day a week. Should be interesting to say the least, glad I love coffee.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2005

I had been planning to quit my job several months before I officially resigned. I was an employee for 3 years and earned decent money, so I was leaving a 'security blanket'. I started LVN school in Oct. '04 and finished one month ago since I opted to do the one year program. I had a nicely sized savings, so I didn't work throughout the whole year.

I could not keep my job because of the rotating 12-hour shifts that would switch to 5pm-5:30am (graveyards) after being 5am-5:30pm (days) for the past 3 weeks. With 12-hour shifts, it is impossible to attend school full-time from 8-3 daily. It would not have even been possible to do the part-time program.

However, my classmate worked all night as a nursing aide from 11pm to 7am and would arrive to school at 8am. Her grades were excellent and she was able to keep her job all year.

Rockstar · Dec 7, 2005

thanks. I'm talking to my job to see if they will let me do weekends and just one day during the week. I really want to go to nursing school so if this job gets in the way I'll just have to find something 3rd shift or weekends only. I'm going to talk to the head of the dept tomorrow morning and figure out the schedule. thanks everybody

IdahoGirl · Dec 23, 2005

I did work full time while in my LPN program. I chose a non-traditional LPN program, part time. It was not easy that is for sure, but it did work. I worked NOC shift at a long term care center 10p-6a. Most mornings when I would come home, I would get my two girls ready for school, send them off, and sleep for awhile, get up do some studying and house work, get my kids from school, get dinner on the table and head for evening classes that went from 6p-9:30p, then I would head off directly to work for the night.The college I attended was great at helping us organize clinical days that worked with our schedules. We had to have 500 hrs of clinical time, and it was up to the student to book for there clinical times. Looking back I'm not sure how it all came about, it's all a daze now. I am now in school full time to get my RN degree, I am due to graduate this May. I am not working while in this program, but I know many students whom are. Many hospitals will work with your schedule if they know you are in nursing school. You could possibly work as a CNA or nurse tech while in school, this does not pay to bad and will give you vauluable experience. Also I think getting your LPN first is a great idea, then you could possibly do a bridge program to get your RN, this is what I am doing now. This gives you a major advantage in your clinical skills while in RN school. Good luck in your decision making.

lyndsaynicole · Dec 27, 2005

I'm having the same problem. I'm looking for a nursing program to enroll in and I have a limited number of choices. The woman at the college told me that there is no way I can work full-time and go to school because of the rotations and the fact that classes are both during the day and at night. I'm starting to get discouraged...I just don't know how people do it. I absolutely have to have a job-if I can't work it will kill my fiance and I financially. I mean, I can get a part-time job, but it will be no where near the money I make now and I will lose my health insurance because we aren't married yet. I want to become a nurse so bad but I just don't know what to do!

Rockstar · Dec 29, 2005

I'm having the same problem. I'm looking for a nursing program to enroll in and I have a limited number of choices. The woman at the college told me that there is no way I can work full-time and go to school because of the rotations and the fact that classes are both during the day and at night. I'm starting to get discouraged...I just don't know how people do it. I absolutely have to have a job-if I can't work it will kill my fiance and I financially. I mean, I can get a part-time job, but it will be no where near the money I make now and I will lose my health insurance because we aren't married yet. I want to become a nurse so bad but I just don't know what to do!

I understand that. I can either go full time and not work and keep my health benefits (from my parents) or go part time and work part time and lose my health benefits. I lose health insurance if I'm not a full time student. I have to make a choice soon.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 29, 2005

My program offered day and evening classes. I took the evenings and worked during the day.

jodyangel, RN · Dec 30, 2005

When did you study tho Marie???

My program offered day and evening classes. I took the evenings and worked during the day.

Rockstar · Jan 11, 2006

My program offered day and evening classes. I took the evenings and worked during the day.

This is what I'm planning to do! I'm going to school from 5-10 Monday through Thursday and working as a CNA hopefully first shift. My clinicals will be from 3-10. and I can afford health insurance since I'm working full time.

nursealbanese · Jan 12, 2006

ok this is just a thought.

A lot of girls I know whom I am going to LPN school did this. They applied for as many grants they could get and then they applied for federal loans at low interest rates to live off of while they were in school. People do it all the time while in college. Some courses are just to hard to try and juggle school, work, family and most importantly STUDY TIME. Our Instructor emplasizes a miniumum study time of 30 hrs a week. If you budgeted really well you could make it work, hey you may not be eating out every night and going on vacation but this way you have an equlibrium to the chaos. just a thought.