Does this seem like too much?

[OsceanSN2018]

Im in my 2nd semester of nursing school, and I'm taking OB, Pharm,Med- Surg, and a Gerontological nursing class that is online.

I have also been offered a CNA position in LTC and I would be in memory care for dementia patients. It's 2nd shift from 3pm-11pm (partime) and they will be working around my school schedule. However, I'm not sure if I should really be working when nursing school is hard enough and this is an evening position. I'm usually in bed by 10: 30pm or sometimes 8 or 9 p.m when I have to be up early for clincal or class.

I'm not really sure if I will be to handle working and nursing school ( I already have 3 exams next week). All my other classmates either went per diem/ prn or decreased their hours of work because this semester has been a beast. Im scared to not take the job because my mom has been sending me money every week, and I don't want to continue to be a finacial burden on her when she already has to take care of 4 other kids as a single parent.

However, I dont want to take the job and quit early in and then burn bridges. Plus, I need the experience because I want be an ER tech that will help find an ICU job as an RN.

From everyone else's point of perspective, how manageable would it look to you if I were to take this position?

[ERNurseErica, BSN, RN]

I strongly believe that each person is different in the way they handle stress and responsibility, so I all I can give you is my experience.

Last April while I was still finishing pre-reqs, I started an awesome position as an ER Tech in a hospital less than 10 minutes from my house. My schedule was 4 days a week, 2 8 hour and 2 12 hour. Since taking the job in April, I have had to reduce my hours to 8 hour shifts, 2 days a week. My hospital is not a trauma hospital so we don't get very extreme cases, but there are days when I am overly tired, but thankfully with my new schedule I never have to go to my difficult classes after a night of working. I STRONGLY suggest not working if you can help it, especially if you have more than 2 classes. Working until 11pm in the ER can be tiresome especially if you have an extremely busy night. One time I was in a code for most of my shift. The next day, I overslept and missed class. Really think about what is best for you and plan for the worst case scenarios (having to stay over your time, a due date on the night that you work, etc.).

I hope this helps!

On another note, weigh people's opinions, but don't take them as the truth. People asked me why I was taking A&P I as a 5 week summer course, it scared me, but I passed with a B. Then people told me it was crazy to take A&P II and Microbiology at the same time, I passed them both with B's. You determine how good or bad you do, people can only predict your level of stress.