Did you work while in Nursing school?

RNperdiem, RN · May 19, 2009

I worked as a CNA. I worked 12 hour shifts on the weekends and a 3-11 during the week.

I was young, energetic and lived at home with my parents, so combining work and school was no problem.

The work paid for school, gas, health insurance and pocket money and left plenty of time for school.

VORB · May 19, 2009

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I got into nursing mid-life, so was a bit more stable than some.

I paid my way through school driving a truck, as it paid 50 percent more than a job as care tech would have. That way I could afford to cut back to working 2 days a week when school took up 4 days a week some semesters. I could also tell my boss what days or nights I wanted to work and what hours.

I would have liked to work in a hospital during school to gain some experience, but taking a 50 percent pay cut was not in the cards. As it turned out, my first hospital job was when I walked onto the floor as an RN.

I was probably the only truck driver who drove down the road listening to tapes of nursing classes.

hnt1987 · May 19, 2009

I worked on friday night, saturday, and sunday around 26-32 hours. I'm a BARTENDER, can i buy u a drink?

people who does not work still failed nursing school. THat's weird :banghead:

I think working help! It take your mind off nursing school a lil bit b/c the school is stressful. on top of it, i need money for gas hahaha.

nminodob · May 19, 2009

I returned to school very late in life (I was 54 when graduating with my BSN), but I worked all through it, including while doing pre-reqs, but only part-time (2 12 hour shifts/week)> Luckily, I had money saved to survive on such a little amount I was earning. But if I hadn't worked for so long as a CNA I would never have been hired at my hospital - when the economy tanked they ony hired internally, and I was well liked by my NM and staff so I got in!

Working at the hospital also rounded out my book learning while in school - the other students practically considered me an expert because I had seen so much clinically. So if you can work while in NS school, especially in a medical capacity, I say go for it!

missjennmb · May 19, 2009

I have worked through 1/2 of my LPN program. I think it depends on a LOT of factors, some that you may have no control over.

When my car was working, my children were healthy and my husband was happy and my teacher was focused on teaching I had no problem both working and going to school simultaneously. However, my car started to break down (everything from engine problems to flat tires to a car fire) and then my 1 yr old was sick so often with ear infections that she needed surgery to put tubes in. Simultaneously (all of this happened the same 2 month period) my 3 yr old had uncontrollable vomiting for an entire month so bad that she would sleep right through it sometimes out of exhaustion. (the doctor made us get $2k worth of tests, and we figured out ourselves after he told us she was 'fine' that it was a milk intolerance) My teacher (unbeknownst to me until months later) got a job offer elsewhere and suddenly stopped putting effort into her lessons (she would forget her slides and tell us to read instead, not show up for class until 3 hours later on test day and skip the classwork for the next class to do that test, never read her material before trying to present it to us, the list goes on...she finally resigned end of the semester thankfully, but 4 people failed out of nursing school before she left, in part because of her inability to teach. Straight A students failed exams she gave, it was a mess) My husband was also given a pay cut (everyone in his company of over 1000 was) and they were told that they might have to let some of them go in the next 12 months because of the economy heightening his stress immensely. I'm lucky I didnt fail out of the program all together honestly. I ended up leaving my job right at the tail end of that whole mess and while I am not studying harder or doing better, I am WAY less stressed out.

I guess what I'm saying is just hope for the best, plan for the worst, and make sure you have a really good support system in place.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 19, 2009

For the first and second semester I worked full time. My job did allow me to cut back 7 hours a week for a while because my boss seen the stress I was dealing with. Starting next week I'll be working PRN, I will not allow myself to work more then 24 hrs a week.

Working while in NS school has been really stressful for me, however I didn't have a choice. I've decided to save up money and take out a student loan to carry me through the summer. I'm hoping to be working as a nurse by Aug/Sep.

calif-me · May 19, 2009

I just concentrated on going to school and studying. Many of my classmates worked and went to school at the same time. I don't think I would have done well in school if I had to work at the same time.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · May 19, 2009

I worked 32 hours a week at a delivery service. My shift had a lot of students, and I got to study when it was slow.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · May 19, 2009

I chose not to work. I quit my job a week before I started my program. I had many reasons for not working.

1.) I am a second degree student, in an accelerated, direct entry, MSN program

2.) our semesters (summer too!) are already laid out for us. I had 19 credits this spring, have 13 this summer...starting next week, 17 in the fall, and another 16 next spring. They front loaded our program so we can sit for the NCLEX next year. Next summer I only have to take 3 credits (and they encourage us to start working after passing the boards) and then 9 credits next fall and then we graduate

3.) My husband makes enough to support us. We moved into the state in which he is employed (and where my school is) and that saved up money because less taxes are taken out of his paycheck. We are renting an apartment that is cheaper than our previous one and putting off home

buying and kids until I become licensed.

4.) This career change was a big decision for me and I knew I wanted to do it all at once, keep all my focus on my course work, and get the program and my license in as little time as possible so I can enter the workforce again as soon as I can.

So when its all said and done, I will have only been out of work (hopefully) for just under a year and a half. Not that terrible IMO.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · May 19, 2009

also, if I needed to, I can apply to my state BON and get my LNA as I have completed the necessary school work. So if there was a need for supplemental income, I could go back to work.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · May 19, 2009

I worked 2 jobs (averaging 20 hours/week minimum) when I went through school.

I DO think that it interfered with my grades but I had no choice. I simply couldn't afford school otherwise.

cheers,

kmarie724 · May 20, 2009

I worked nights as a CNA while I was in nursing school. I had class two evening a week and every other Saturday, so working nights worked out fine. I worked 40 hours a week until I found out I was pregnant, then I cut back to 32.

It would have been easier if I didn't have to work, but my program was a post-baccalurate program for working adults, so it was designed so it wasn't impossible to work and go to school. I do think being a CNA gave me a lot of insight into the nursing field and helped me to feel comfortable with the basics, so I would recommend working part time as a CNA (maybe a shift or two a week) even if you don't need to work for the money.