Anyone ever work full time while getting their RN?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone!

I got accepted into my school's nursing program, and will begin in October (2006). Classes/clinicals run for 8 weeks at a time. For example, I will have class Monday and Tuesday (2 hours each day), and clinicals Wednesday/Thursday (8 hours each day) for eight weeks, get a week off, then take class/clinicals #2 the next eight weeks, etc.

The problem is, I work full time and without it, cannot afford to pay bills and living expenses. I would have to take out an enormous amount of student loans, which I already have a pretty decent chunk from my first bachelor's degree. Also, if I continue working full time, my tuition is 100% free. But in order to get in that 40-hour work week, I may be squeezing in weekend hours or working 8am-2:00 and in my clinical from 2:30 - 11pm.

I dont have a husband or children (just two lazy cats) so I only have myself.

So I wonder, did anyone out there work full time while working on their nursing degree? Is it possible? How did you handle it? Any advice or pearls of wisdom is appreciated, as I am a little panicked about this situation!!

Specializes in ICU, oncology, orthopedics, med/surge.

How on earth do you do it? I just started with my program and am panicking since I no longer have my normal A's. As it is, I'm ecstatic to get B's on my tests. and I'm not even working. I kow tow to those who can maintain a full time job, have kids and go to (not just any school) but nursing school full time. As it is, I think I'll develop stomach ulcers in the next 12 mos...

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My commute to work is 180 miles per day and tack on a few extrra miles when I go to class and clinical

:uhoh3: :eek: OMG!!!!! I used to drive about 90-100 miles per day just for classes & clinicals.....thought I was driving so far I was crazy for doing it.......my gosh ...I hope you are getting one he** of a paycheck for that commute! lol! Wow.......I am still shocked ...because everyone thought I drove a long distance......holy moly!!!! That is determination!

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How on earth do you do it? I just started with my program and am panicking since I no longer have my normal A's. As it is, I'm ecstatic to get B's on my tests. and I'm not even working. I kow tow to those who can maintain a full time job, have kids and go to (not just any school) but nursing school full time. As it is, I think I'll develop stomach ulcers in the next 12 mos...

You sound like how I feel!

I actually quit a pretty good paying job because i didn't think I could do both.

I hope I make it through nursing school.

matt

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

I am in awe of everyones story. I am lucky enough not to work while in school I just live off of savings very very carefully. Let me tell you i have it down to the penny. I am also taking 2 other online classes to get my BSN at the same time. I dont know how you guys do it :)

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I am in awe of everyones story. I am lucky enough not to work while in school I just live off of savings very very carefully. Let me tell you i have it down to the penny. I am also taking 2 other online classes to get my BSN at the same time. I dont know how you guys do it :)

I am with you 100%!!

I am in awe.

I do not know how people do it. Nursing school & not working stresses me out; I cannot imagine how I'd function if I tried both. (I'd probably quit school & be back @ my old job, that's how.)

Thank God for my rapidly deminishing 401k!

matt

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No husband, no kids - if you're fairly intelligent (and you wouldn't have gotten into nursing school if you weren't), you can do this. I had both, and homeschooled, and worked full time, and catered my daughter's wedding, and helped her with her first baby, and ...well, you get the idea! It isn't easy, but it's the most important thing you'll ever do - for you, and for all the patients you're going to help. My only advice is to make a study schedule, and stick to it - and keep important due dates circled in red on a giant calendar with the assignment due written in, plus weekly reminders posted in the weeks prior to the due date.

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Good luck to you!

It is absolutely possible, and you don't have to be "highly intelligent" just determined. My school's policy said that a student should work only 20 hours a week and I almost didn't enter the program for that reason. I decided to try to see if I could handle it (because not working was not an option). During school, I worked full-time managing a doctor's office and I have a part-time business of my own. Averaged 60 hrs a week of work. I am single, no kids, 2 cats.

Last May I graduated. Sure, I wish I had more time to study while I was in school, or more time to sleep, or clean my house, or see friends, but I am glad I didn't quit. It was worth the sacrifice.

Yes, nursing requires brains, absolutely, but so much of it is about inner strength...working on tough shifts, with tough patients, in less than perfect situations with coworkers/doctors/processes ... and yet still finding meaning and keeping our eye focused on the goal - excellent patient care (without sacrificing our own health and well-being). :)

PS I am new to this site - so hi to everyone!

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Specializes in Peds, Psych.

The start of the program I attended, we had something everyday, whether it be theory class, lab, or clinical, so it was hard to work during the week. Throughout the rest of the program, we ended up getting at least one day off during the week.

Personally, I went to school during the week, and then worked every weekend, for a year and half. Granted that was not full-time, but I didn't normally have any "time off". I know other girls that did work full time, well at least 32 hours a week.

I think it is doable, but it all depends on you, and the type of student you are. If you don't need a lot time to get things done, then you can probably do it.

Honestly at times I wanted to quit the whole thing, mainly due to stress, but now, I am glad I did what I did.

Anyway, hope that helps.. Good luck to you

:)

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Specializes in acute medical.
Good luck to you!

you don't have to be "highly intelligent" just determined.

!

Agreed totally. I worked full time as an EN (which I gather is similar to an LPN? from this board) until I finished my course. My last practical was four months long, so I had to save leave to do this. You can do it, it's just hard "yakka" as we call it here in Oz. More power to you. Mind you, working and studying turned me into the wife from hell, so I think my husband is mighty relieved that it is all over (even more than me!)...then again, it really is just starting..

:p

The ppl I admire are those who also have children. I have my cat and two dogs, and if anything they have helped get me through ... don't the studies say that ownership of pets can reduce stress?

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It can be done. I did it working working 32 hours a week with an alcoholic husband and a teenage son from hell. Divorced that husband and son is now grown, married with 4 beautiful girls

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.
ps i am new to this site - so hi to everyone!

:flowersfo :yeah: [mouse]hey, crwrn![/mouse]

it's so nice to read that i'm not the only who doesn't work while going through school! i am the only one in my program who doesn't work & i'm pretty sure i'll always feel like a bit of a failure because i couldn't handle working while going to school.:o

i tried working when school first started - only 2 shifts a week - & i was still failing my classes. i still don't get why. i've always been an excellent student, i'm not married, no kids...i don't even have any family in the state! and i still couldn't hack it. it took 2 separate instructors pulling me aside, telling me that something had to change (& my mom offering to pay my way through school:icon_hug:) for me to quit my job.

it was quite humbling, because, like i said, i've always been an excellent student without even trying. even without working, i still get "average" grades.

and i know it's "not how you get to the finish line," & all that, but i feel like i'm not even in the same league as everyone else in my program that have babies at home, full-time jobs, husbands, boyfriends, whatever, that can pull this off.

this is probably a good thing (because i loathe whiners:bluecry1:), but i really never have the right to complain about how long clinical is, or how we didn't get enough time to study for a test, etc, when everybody else does, because where would i get off?

(btw, i recognize the irony in whining about not being able to work while going to school in the same post where i'm complaining about people that whine...it's totally different here! i'm allowed to whine here;)...it's my allnurses.com right!:lol2:)

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