Working while in school?

NOADLS · Nov 17, 2015

It is discouraged, but a lot of people do it.

I am currently doing my masters while I chose to retain my current position.

I would say that if you were willing to miss your social life, it would be doable.

Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

Many of my classmates work. I work the night shift in the ER as a medical scribe. It makes me really tired and I don't have as much time to study as my classmates do, but I'm currently pulling an 89 average. Not exactly where I'd like it to be, but I have bills to pay so I don't really have a choice.

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Nov 17, 2015

I did my 18 month LPN program while working and having a 3 year old and an infant who was 3 months old when I started.

My husband was deployed for the Gulf War when I had six months left in my program.

I had no help from my family or his.

I worked full time when I bridged over to RN.

I worked up to 44 hours a week between two different jobs, AND, got my 490 clinical hours in for my MSN.

You just have to have the mindset of an endgame and a goal to get through.

Good luck to you.

Ndy-RN · Nov 17, 2015

Hi everyone I am very interested in pursuing ADN degree however the only thing that concerns me is not being able to work while I'm in school. Has anyone defied this "rule" and successfully worked while in nursing school? If so any helpful advice would be appreciated. Should I consider a more flexible field?

I worked full time while in school. I only too three months off to study for my Nclex exam and that was the only time I did not work (that was also while I was consolidating at the hospital that later hired me too). It is possible but you know people are different..if you are not organize and disciplined and if you are a procrastinator, it might be really difficult for you.

Lissla · Nov 17, 2015

I worked during my last year of school, BSN degree. At first it was a regular retail job, random days of the week. But then it turned to a Monday to Friday job. Handled it pretty well until exams came up. Didn't have much of a social life but its doable. You just have to be really disciplined and actually stick to a schedule you make up for study time.

Unfortunately for me, I wasn't that way but I still managed to pass and graduate with my class. Half of my classmates worked and the other half had support from family.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

I worked 32 hours per week as an LVN while completing an ASN degree program. No one else was going to pay my mortgage and bills while I attended school, so not working wasn't a viable option.

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 17, 2015

I am not sure if not working is a "rule", but it is a rule that school comes first. You won't be able to get away with missing clinicals because you have to work.

That said, a lot of us did work during nursing school. I lived at home with my parents, worked a per diem CNA job that let me pick my shifts and days. I worked full-time hours during school breaks, a couple of evening shifts a week during the school year as well as a lot of weekends.

That job paid for all of my tuition, books, health insurance, uniforms and other living expenses.

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

I never heard that not working while in school is a "rule." I worked throughout all of my degree programs (BA, JD, ADN, BSN). I never had a problem.

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

I had three jobs for most of nursing school. My professors did not like that I came to school tired and got Bs when I could've gotten As but bills have got to be paid.

Zombiologist · Nov 17, 2015

My school told us not to work more than 16 hours. Ha. I worked 2 jobs that added up to 40 plus. They did not pay my bills. It was. Y responsibility to meet all my obligations. Which I did.

emmy27 · Nov 17, 2015

I worked full time as a nanny during my prereq classes, then PRN as a tech in the hospital during my nursing classes (usually weekend evenings/nights). It was hard and I was really tired, but having the work experience was beneficial (and the money, of course, although I did not make enough to cover all my bills). It helped that I usually had a little time to study during my shift. I did a lot of sleeping in my car in the hour or two between getting off the 11P-7A shift and going to a morning lecture. It wasn't fun, but I managed.

I had classmates who were LPN bridge students who worked full time nights and came straight to class- some of them would stand up in the aisles during lecture to keep from falling asleep. I don't know how much they actually got out of those sleep-deprived classroom hours, but they all graduated.

Working during nursing school is far from ideal (between clinicals, lecture, and study, you just don't have that many free hours, so something has to give, and it's usually sleep and self care... or study). But people do it. You just have to know yourself and be realistic about your work and study habits.