For those who work while in school

You have to sleep. You'll put your life, your children's lives, and the lives of your patients at risk if you don't sleep. I feel for you. There should definitely be a bail out plan for those of us trying to get the education to fulfill a needed industry in our country. It definitely seems like this path to becoming an RN is nothing but obstacles. I keep hoping that it's all an effort to weed out the bad ones. Let's hope it doesn't hurt the good ones in the process.

I work full time as an Xray Tech and Medical Assistant. I have clinicals on Monday and Wednesday and classes all day on Tuesday and Thursday. I work 12 hour shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That was really the only option for me. I am a single mother so I have to work around what works for my daughter, taking her to Girl Scouts, dance, drama, etc

It is very hard but it can be done. They do not want us to work more than 20 hours while in nursing school but some of us have to work full time

1) What program are you in - day or evening? Day and Evening, it varies

2) Why did you choose one over the other? I had no choice. Nursing school > student's life

3) What job do you work while in school? How many hours? personal assistant, 10-20/week, closer to 10 during school.

4) Any extra input? at my school, schedules vary, so it'd be nice if you have a job that has a variable schedule as well (such as personal assisting) or going and helping take care of an elderly person a little bit each day.

1) I'm in a full-time day program, although my clinicals this semester are 12-hours, from 7am to 7pm (or whatever else...I am still waiting to know my schedule, and I start it in about 2 weeks and need to give my job notice *sigh*) (this is what is hard about having a job w/ school - schedule headaches every semester and nursing school changing things at the last minute)

2) My school only has a daytime program, and I think it's only full-time unless you are already an RN and are getting your BSN online.

3) I work in a call center, and I work 20 hours a week, 7pm to 11pm. I used to have Friday and Saturdays off, but last year, twisting their arm to change my schedule leaves me with Tuesdays and Saturdays off.

4) They always try to tell us we shouldn't work during school if at all possible, and rely on student loans... So our nursing school isn't terribly supportive of us working. Not that I ask them to be. Another things is that I am working in a job that has nothing to do with nursing or healthcare, and I can't afford to take a job as a tech as some of my fellow students have done. And sometimes I feel like, since 75% of our students (in my class off 55, anyway) are techs or externs, the teachers expect the rest of us to be at that familiarity level, too.

Anyway, I was lucky because I was at my job for about 6 years before I started nursing school, I got a night-time part-time schedule w/ benefits, and the pay is something I cannot give up! The only job that will pay me more is being an RN. Anyway, I have to be very scheduled and disciplined, and support from people at home helps alot. My daughter has been in daycare while I have been in school, and starts Kindergarten in my last semester. This semester I have to use vacation time for the 6 12-hour clinicals, but I haven't had to do that up until now, and since it's January our time off has started over (and I've been here 10 years so I get 4 weeks). I don't know what it would be like trying to find a new job... but here at a 24-hour call center, they have night schedules and sometimes I can get some studying (or at least test-reviewing) done while i'm on the phone.

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Hello! I'm entering nursing school (hopefully Fall 2009) as a career changer. I presently work full-time now. While I will be not be working at my present job while in school (too much overtime..and will not be able to study at work), I will need to work. I'm looking to probably try to get a job at a hospital or a low-key/flexible job. However, the job will depend on whether I'm in the day or evening program..which I can't decide!

My questions to you:

1) What program are you in - day or evening?

2) Why did you choose one over the other?

3) What job do you work while in school? How many hours?

4) Any extra input?

Thanks! I greatly appreciate it!

HELLO~

I'm in the evening program. I didn't really "choose" it, I had three options: Jacksonville, PM or AM - I chose all three programs as my options. I chose to get accepted and adjust my life, not have nursing school adjust to my schedule. Also, I worked at Home Depot from August - January about 30 hours per week; I just recently quit and started a "low-key" job as a home health aide for hospice care.

Several of my friends in class work full-time jobs. There's a woman with four kids, full-time job and still makes mostly As. I've discovered that you have to work harder, but that's ok, you can do it. It will be tough working full-time, even at a slow job. You're just going to have to grin and bear it. :redbeathe