Does anybody work full time while going to nursing school

Hey Everybody,

Just wondering does anybody work full time while attending school. I will be entering nursing 2 in the fall and unfortunately Im going to need to work. I have a job working 3 days a week 12 hours. The other days I just concentrate on school. I also have twins that are 4 just to add that in the equation. Can I handle this? Is this possible? Help...... Any advice from anybody in the same boat.

[piscesgirl]

I'm not in nursing school yet and i don't have kids, but i do know that if you set your mind to something and you have the determination to do something that it is possible. It will be rough and tiring but well worth the effort in the end.

[AKAKatydid]

Hi Dream!

I've been going to school and working about 35-40 hours wk; it is definately rough. But feasable. Some of the other people in class are like, "OMG I don't know how you can do it" but I just shrug and tell them you can do whatever you've got to do.

I don't have any babies, so I can't offer advice in that department. I know that only makes it more difficult - but seriously... if you have your mind set on finishing school, you can make it happen. Reach out to your family and friends, because you can't do it all alone. You will find that there are a lot of people out there that love you and want to help you while you are in school.

Whatever it takes. Find a way to get some sanity time and study time in there... If it means having someone come over to watch your kids while you take a bubble bath with your pharmacology notes - so be it!

I'm not going to lie, it's hard. But you can find a way to make it happen! The few, the proud, the nursing school students! Hoo-Yah!! :)

[hollyster]

I worked two 24 shifts a week and was a single parent raising my two children and a foster child. It can be done. The nursing instructors during the first semester tried to scare everyone by telling them that they would fail if they worked. They told us to put our children in stasis or send them to live with other family members. I was even brought another child during my first semester for emergency foster care and managed to graduate with a 3.96. It is doable.

Good Luck to you.

[Kabin]

Working sounds almost insurmountable with about 30 hours/wk in clinicals, plus lecture time and prep time. I'd map the time out and see if it makes sense for you.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

You can do anything you set your mind to. I worked full time in school as well, but not 12-hour shifts, but I worked five days a week. (sometimes four during exams).

Good luck to you!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

It is doable, not fun, but doable. I worked full-time as an LPN (nights), went to school full-time days (longest time awake was 46 hours!) This was when I was 33 to age 35. I also had a 12 and 8 year olds.

[colleennurse, ASN, RN]

I work 36 hours a week and last semester I worked 40. I don't have kids, but it is doable. It does stink, but I just keep reminding myself what the reward will be when I finish. I only have a year left, believe it or not it is going by fast! One post above said it, if you set your mind on it and want it bad enough, you will do it. There are other people in my program that work full time and have kids and they do well. You just have to plan your time out. You will be able to do it! Good luck!

[stn2003, RN]

I work fulltime, 3 12s a week and have a three year old son. Grades are good, I take my schoolwork to work and do it on my lunch breaks or when there is extra time. It's not easy, but I have a supportive hubby and things are going pretty good. No complaints here : )

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

My instructors tried to discourage people from working more than part time while in school, too. Many of us didn't have the luxury of that. Yes, it can be done! I worked F/T through LPN training when my kids were 3 & 8. When I went on to get my ADN, I only had my 16 year old still at home and it was harder to have to be away alot during those years, at least in my case. From my experience, I recommend you do it now rather than later. Maybe I should add, I am a single mom.

[earthlovers123]

It is doable, not fun, but doable. I worked full-time as an LPN (nights), went to school full-time days (longest time awake was 46 hours!) This was when I was 33 to age 35. I also had a 12 and 8 year olds.

Oh my god ! you were awake for 46 hrs .

Is there any possibility of med error ?

I also work fulltime and go to school full time

I am hardly surving

[FocusRN]

Well in response to that last post about TraumaRN, beaing awake for 46 hours, and a med error, I am here to tell you usually when you have been up that long, you mind isn't even tired anymore, and all you can do is think. My longest up was 72, and I think I was more productive in those 72 hours that I have ever been, but it takes a while to recover and get back on schedule.

As fo the OP, well i am not in nursing school, yet my if I get into my program of choice I'll be working 40 hours a week as a CNA (7-3 shift), and then going to school a 5 minute walk away (If I get the job at the LTC that I applied for) from 5-10, and sometimes 4-10 four days a week. I will have Friday, Saturaday, and Sunday free to work and study. I have one child, 2 and a half months (will be about 6 months when school comes around). I think it is doable, hard but doable. And I think it is even more doable for women, seeing as in my opinion, we are the physically stronger (yes physically, and I have over 24 hours of gut wrenching contractions, with no pain meds under my belt of labor to prove it), and emotioanl stornger, sex believe it or not, of our species.

But anyway on top of working and going to school, I plan on buying a new house this summer, becoming a travel agent to hopefully bring in more income, and buying a new car. Oh did I mention that I am starting al of this from scratch. By that I mean I have no cash on hand or money in the bank. It may not seem doable to some, but I'm determined. So you can do it to. Just keep your eyes on the prize as they say, because this is just the means to an end.