Fulltime student-is it possible to work as CNA or al all?!

Nursing_Mamacita · Dec 10, 2014

It is definitely possible to work and go to school full time. I worked as a home health CNA and at a subway during school. Both full time (but not at the same time). Its not that bad. Time is what you make it.

Witht he whole licensure as a CNA with nurse credits, I BELIEVE its like 75 clinical hours you need to satisfy most state aide requirements. I just had to have a letter signed by my programs DON stating I had completed the hours. After that, I just scheduled my test and took it. Piece of cake.

achtey · Dec 10, 2014

Working full time is definitely possible. I work 50-60 hours a week as a full time student. I'm an Advanced EMT for a local EMS service and a CNA for a local nursing home. Any work in the health care field right now can only help me because it's giving me something to put on my resume for after nursing school. You can make it work if you really want to.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Dec 10, 2014

I work fulltime. Working 3 12s makes it easier. That any a lot of flexibility with my schedule.

Nienna Celebrindal · Dec 10, 2014

Its absolutely possible as long as your job will work around your classes. Its not easy but its doable. Time management and prioritization are key.

Raviepoo · Dec 10, 2014

You CAN do it, but if you find that your grades are suffering, you might want to look at cutting back hours. I worked prn for my final two semesters and I'm really glad that I did. It's wonderful to be able to say to the scheduler, "Sorry. I can't work that shift. I have a test the next day."

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2014

I worked part-time as a CNA while in school. I personally would have had a hart time working FT around my school schedule, study time, clinical prep and shifts, etc, but I had a new baby at the time also. But others might be able to do it. Like a previous poster said though, you'd have to find a job willing to work around school. Class times are predictably scheduled, but then there's also clinicals and prep time (we'd get our patient assignment the day or so before, and we had to go to the hospital to look in their chart, look up their meds, look at their labs and consider why any abnormal ones might be abnormal, etc. Nursing school is really time-intensive for reasons like that.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 10, 2014

I worked as a home health aide all through school and have 2 kids. I was lucky that I had a somewhat flexible schedule.

Summers3 · Dec 24, 2014

Thank you to everyone who has commented.

I have not started my nursing program yet and I want to at least finish one semester (or maybe two) before thinking about working on the side (just to see how my classes are and time management and such.) I was thinking of potentially doing part time since i want to dedicate most of my time to studying and doing well in classes but we shall see when the time gets here.

Thanks again for sharing your wisdom, everyone! :)

zzbxdo · Dec 24, 2014

Its doable. Just find a balance that's efficient for you. I've had classmates working full time in a 3 year program, and currently a friend is working once a week in a 2 year program and doing fine. Then there are others like me that worked little and spent a majority of my time being unproductive haha.

Summers3 · Dec 24, 2014

Lol thank you for advice! :) I want to get my feet wet and find my right pace in the program first before even considering work (probably one or two semesters in). After that i'll decide which path I should take and see from there.

I mostly want to work for the experience but of course, any amount of money helps with survival. So we'll see.

Just because you don't work doesn't mean you're unproductive, doing nursing school full time is plenty of work enough!

OhioCCRN, MSN, NP · Dec 24, 2014

It's absolutely possible. I worked 2 jobs during school and never had a problem w/ it. Just manage your time well and complete all readings and assignments in advance :) good luck!