Did you work while going through Nursing school?

The Bear · Mar 22, 2004

I'm curious...did you guys work while going through Nursing school? I'm 24 years old, and I have a stable 7-5 job. I make decent money working in a city government job. I have my own place, I have a car payment, and I do have some bills. I attend night school in trying to get my Bachelors in Business (HR), but now that I'm getting closer to getting it, I'm starting to realize that this is not what I wanna do for the rest of my life. I've ALWAYS wanted to be a nurse! I really really wanna do this, and I started looking at programs at some community colleges by where I live. THe route that I'm going is to get my ASN. The problem is that alot of the classes are during the day...in fact, I think all the classes are during the day, so I guess that means that I would not be able to keep my stable job that I have now. How did you guys do it? Did you not work at all, or did you work part-time? Or were you able to work a regular full time job and getting your RN license at the same time?

My first attempt at nursing school, I tried to work fulltime and go to school. I flunked out, a 2.0 was the cut off and I got a 1.89, and out the door I went! Then I got married (my wife is a nurse), re-applied, got in. But this time a parttime job and a fulltime focus on school. Dean's list that first semester. It is alot harder then alot of people think. Look at what scholarships are available, or is there a hospital in the area that will pay for your schooling if you will work for them afterwards. Where I live, the Community College has evening courses for nursing! Look around and see what is available in your ares. Goodluck from "The Bear"

jemommyRN · Mar 22, 2004

I'm only working part-time. I don't start school until August but I have been and still is in the process of saving my money so that I can supplement my income when it's time. Also i have a friend who did work full time. She got special permission to work on the weekends.

bellehill, RN · Mar 22, 2004

Luckily my job was very flexible with my hours. I worked full-time and went to school full-time...when I graduated I didn't know what to do with all that free time! I also knew this is what I wanted to do, especially since I worked so hard to achieve it.

etmx5313 · Mar 22, 2004

I worked full time and went to school full time. I have three kids also. It was HARD!! The hardest thing I have ever done. There were days I was so tired I couldent see straight. BUt I kept telling myself that it would soon be over. I would NOT recommend this. If you can go part time, do it!

Momto2Boys · Mar 22, 2004

I start in January and I really hope I do not have to work when that time comes. My husband and I have discussed this and he is okay with me not working.

chaosRN, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2004

I worked full time, same hours as you & went to nursing school at night & on the weekends. I had to quit working in my last semester d/t studying & clinicals. I have a wonderful hubby (no kids) who somehow stuck with me through this. It's going to be hard & it will seem like the end is so far away, but once you're in the nursing classes & not prereqs, time goes really fast. (my opinion) :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2004

If you get the related courses out of the way and save nursing to take by itself it's a lot easier to work full-time. I worked 32 to 40 hours a week through school. But I didn't have the issue with hours, as I worked nights and weekends.

Good luck. When there's a will, there's a way.

renerian, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2004

Yes I worked while in nursing school. I worked while completing my BS and my MS. Just had to no other choice but it was not easy by any stretch.

renerian

suzanne4, RN · Mar 23, 2004

Worked full-time while I was in nursing school, and I was in a hospital program with clinicals almost everyday. I also worked 5 twelve hour shifts per week while I got my Master's so I wouldn't have any shcool loans.

It can be done if you put your mind to it. :balloons:

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2004

worked 60 hours a week and was on call 24/7 while in nursing school

seanymph · Mar 23, 2004

I had all my pre-req. out of the way d/t all the prior schooling I had. My first year of nursing school I continued to work full-time nights as a mental health tech. After I completed my first year at the community college I was able to take my LPN boards and got a LPN position. The second year my wonderful, late husband worked so much overtime just so I only had to work every other weekend and could concentrate on school and clinicals. I don't know who celebrated more when I graduated, him or me, we did it and earned the degree together. When I lost him in a car accident I put a pic of him and I at graduation and my nursing pin in with him, I know it may sound morbid to some, but I felt he earned it just as much as I did.

Good luck in your endeavor in nursing school, it can be done.