Working While in Nursing School Possible?

lizzyberry · Mar 14, 2007

working,kids,school and really good grades! Good job! Things will get better after nursing school then it will only be work and family and thats managable but Congrats on everyone for being such hard workers!!

Busy Mama · Mar 14, 2007

I chose not to work much. I do work PRN and say No alot when I'm in the full swing of school. I'm the mother of 5 children (oldest being 6 years old) and have managed to make it so far. I have 2 more months of school. It's hard, but can be done if you have the support at home. Couldn't have done it without a wonderful husband.

jls1117 · Mar 14, 2007

it is still possible to work while in nursing school...but as you move on through the semesters..it gets harder and u really have to cut down with ur hours..during my last semester i only worked once a week...or sometimes i even took two weeks off ....

catslave · Mar 14, 2007

Didn't do it. Wouldn't have done it. Single without dependant children. Saved for 3 years to avoid it. Those who worked part time and/or had kids at the full time 10 month day school I attended either eventually stopped working or had their grades fall. However a couple of LNA's at the facility where I am employed work 2 16 hour shifts (Saturday & Sunday), have small children, supportive husbands and claim to be maintaining good grades, so I guess it can be done. Hat's off to those of you who can manage it!

girls1 · Mar 15, 2007

It depends on the ages of your children(if you have any), your support system, the number of hours you work, the type of work you do, and your level of commitment.

It is not easy to work, raise small children and do well in nursing school, especially if you want to see your children grow up, and yes 2-3 years is considered growing up if your children are small.

Right now, I am being an evil witch by spending 10 minutes on this site because I have so much to do .

discobunni · Mar 15, 2007

I am an "online" student, we have 4 years to finish ADN program at my local college (there is also a BSN program through the university, they lump us all together). I work 8-5 Mon-Fri, I took my prerequisites on campus and made arrangements with my job to take off of work to go to class and worked (and still do) through many lunches, and took a slight cut in pay to do that. I also have 2 kids with ADHD and Endo problems so I am always at the dr.'s. But, the online program I can move at my own pace and then work clinicals around my job on the weekends or take off work with a vacation or sick day to do clinical at the hospital. It's not easy, but it can be done. It's easier to just take it a day/week at a time, rather than look forward at the whole picture like "how in the !!!!! am I going to do this", it is just way to overwhelming. Somehow, God makes sure our bills get paid and I'm still going to school, in my 3rd semester now, the big picture still looks way overwhelming, and I'm even looking at picking up one shift per week in addition to my current job and school at the hospital as a tech to gain more medical experience (I work in an office doing bookkeeping) since I have none, and earn some extra $ to pay for my sons braces hopefully!! Don't give up, just keep going!!

FutureNurse2005 · Mar 15, 2007

i'll be working about 25 hours a week while in school full time. i've got a husband and 2 kids.

its not a matter of "is it possible"...its a matter of "I have no choice".

happynewLPN · Mar 18, 2007

I work full-time at a local hospital, and I'm knee-deep into my first semester of clinicals. So far, so good.

Time management and organization seem to be key for me.

jsu102 · Mar 21, 2007

I work full-time and have a 75 mile commute to class. Sure it's stressful but it can be done. I'm in my 2nd semester and I still have an A average. For me it's all about time management.

I leave my house between 5:00 and 6:00am and between school, work, and the driving commute I don't get home until 8:00pm. Just enough time to shower, eat, review some notes, spend a little time with my husband and get to sleep.

I do the majority of all schoolwork on the weekends because that's when I don't have to work. I read ahead for the next week and really try to get some solid hours of studying in (and do any care plans etc that are due) so that I don't have much to do Mon-Fri.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2007

Well right now I'm managing, working 24-28 hrs per week (and occasionally more). I typically do either 2 12's, or 1 12 2 8's. I manage by not working on days I have school (right now I'm only in fundamentals and pharm, so class only meets 3 days a week). However, in 6 weeks I'll start med-surge and be in school 27-33 hrs per week. I'm not sure how this will affect work, but I can't afford not to work.

srg4784 · Mar 21, 2007

I just started, well my first day is on the 9th, and externship at the local hospital. I'll be working part time and I figure this will at least help me in clincials because I'll get to see things that I won't get to see in clinicals and actually do things I won't get to this semester as well. I'm not sure about all hospitals but if they have externship programs then they work with your school schedule and the pay isn't that bad, so maybe this could be something you consider.