how hard really is School and Work ?

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hello, i work 40 hours a week as a telephone operator, and am one year shy of being able to apply for the registered nurse program, can you give me tips on how to manage both? all the nurses i know all say they never worked while in school. my husband is very supportive and helps with the house and kids so that won't be an obstacle, it's just the issue of working 40 hours a week and going to the nursing program. i know we have 12 hour a day clinicals, for that i will be able to take vacation days off from work

:)

I entered the EVE/WE ASN class so that I could continue working. *I* was the income! I didn't have the option of not working so I worked 40 + hrs per week the whole time I was in NS and it was never a problem. I only had to take 3 days off to deal with certain 12 hr clinicals that were required to complete Role Transformation.

I really didn't study more than an hour or two before each test. I also did only the NCLEX flashcards to study for the NCLEX and passed it first time.

Can you do it? Sure, it's possible. It also is determined by your learning style and the speed in which you learn. For those like me, it was not that big a deal. For others, it nearly "killed" them. Some quit working when it was feasible.

In the end, you do what you have to do.

Congratulations! Some people can hack it, but I'd definitely say that you are the exception, not the rule!

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
I entered the EVE/WE ASN class so that I could continue working. *I* was the income! I didn't have the option of not working so I worked 40 + hrs per week the whole time I was in NS and it was never a problem. I only had to take 3 days off to deal with certain 12 hr clinicals that were required to complete Role Transformation.

I really didn't study more than an hour or two before each test. I also did only the NCLEX flashcards to study for the NCLEX and passed it first time.

Can you do it? Sure, it's possible. It also is determined by your learning style and the speed in which you learn. For those like me, it was not that big a deal. For others, it nearly "killed" them. Some quit working when it was feasible.

In the end, you do what you have to do.

Pretty similar situation for me. If you're a self-starter, I highly recommend on-line, if you have it available.

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WOW, All these responses have truly helped me out, Thank you Suern2b, you have opened my eyes to what the program is like and for this i thank you, i am extrememly happy to see posts where it has been done and can be done, thanks to, Turd Ferguson, elkpark,flmomof5 and scalico, i really apprecaite all of your responses, wow, i cant believe how blinded i was LOL, not that is is discouraging in any way at all, i am still anxious and excited to get this over with and start my dream job of helping people, however, let me ask this, are clinicals REALLY 2-3 days per week? about how many clinical hours are required per semester? I do have a total of 5 weeks of vacation a year so divided into individual days wont be a probelm, but if clinicals are 2 or 3 times a week each and every week that can be a problem :eek::eek:

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Depends on your school really....my first 2 semesters I had two 1/2 day clinicals, from 6-12:30 twice a week. This next semester I was able to choose all day clinicals, so once a week for 12 hours. Another thing you have to consider is your class times....I was able to take a lot of classes at night when getting my pre-reqs done, but once I got into the nursing program, there were no night classes, and they were 2 times a week for 4 hours each. Just depends on the school.....

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I have kids that want to eat, too, so quitting wasn't an option. I have better benefits, so it works out for me to be full time. I read a lot of posts before starting ns last semester, and dropped down to about 20 hours at work because I didn't think I'd be able to work ft and pull decent grades. I think working moms learn to be good at time management. My husband is super supportive, and my mom lives w/ us, so I have the "team" in place. By the end of my first semester, I went back full time, mostly just for the benefits...but I was also a little bored. I pulled an A in one class, an "almost A" (89%), in my second class, and my clinical instructors had good things to say. So...it depends on your situation, but it's totally possible. One thing I did that helped a ton- I hired a housekeeper to come in every other Monday. We didn't keep the house as clean as I'd like it during the semester, but it didn't totally fall apart, either. I didn't want to worry about scrubbing the bathroom when I had a care plan to work on. I hope that helps! And congrats on getting into your program!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Just like with anything else, no one can really tell you what your experience is going to be. Like you, I don't have the option of quitting or cutting back on hours at my job. I work full time in research, so it's not a job that I can spend time studying. But, I'm half way through and I don't have a 4.0, but I'm no where near in danger of not passing. I have three kids at home and that has been the hardest part because I have to miss out on bedtime and some other things I'd normally be able to do with my family. But, short term losses for long term gain. I'd say I've definitely learned to maximize the study time that I have. Best of luck to you.

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i just wanted to say that it is possible to work full time and go to school. i have just finished my second semester of an adn program at a community college. while there is a large volume of work involved with school, with a supportive husband, you should be just fine. when i started the program, we were told "you will not be successful if you work full time". not only have i been successful while working full time, but a good number of others in my class have as well. stay organized and stay calm, and you should not have a problem.

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Specializes in Obstetrics.
@ MN Nurse, I dont have the option to work less unfortunately :( what jobs can i do at a hospital while in nursing school with out being certified in anything?

Usually after one or two med surg rotations, hospitals will hire you as a tech/CNA without having a certified nursing assistant title behind your name. I would definitely check it out at that point because it will help you not only with your clinical experience but perhaps help you get your foot in the door at a hospital for when you graduate and are looking for an RN position.

School is tough. If it wasn't, any Joe Schmoe would be attending NS (sometimes I feel like a few stray Joes get in ;)). Anyway, people scared me so much before I started NS. I would actually avoid coming here because of these types of posts. No doubt you're going to be busy reading, studying and practicing. Some days you won't know what day it is and you'll wake up, bolt out of bed and think 'OMG! I overslept! I KNOW I have to be SOMEWHERE!!!' only to realize that today was your only day that you didn't have to go anywhere. You will absolutely have to rely on your husband and your family to support you and get you through this and making sure 100% that he and your children know this is HUGE. I've seen many of my friends in school with me struggle with this especially because truly, no one except you and your NS peers understand fully what you're going through... which brings me to my next point in that forming friendships during NS is essential. Some people feel getting through it just being a "loner" or self studying is best and for studying, it may be. But you will NEED that support from the people that understand.

You'll cry. You'll cry some more.. and you'll want to quit at least once or twice a month. The reading will become overwhelming, the sleep will become less and you'll probably end up buying pants with an elastic waist to fit your growing middle (I swear I will lose all of this once I graduate in Dec... :uhoh3: ) because your idea of a balanced diet during NS is coffee (and lots of it) and any sort of processed food that comes in a bag, is cheap and is quick.

BUT. That day when you go to clinical and a patient and his family tell you and your instructor "She is absolutely in the right career". Knowing you made one person feel better just by talking with them (because as a student, you may only have one patient as opposed to your nurse that you're following who has 4-5... you have more time to give that patient 1-1 attention). It's rewarding and not everyone is cut out for this job. You're going to do well. Just remember it's temporary and the job itself (I'm told) is not anything like school. Best of luck to you!! :nurse:

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

I agree with everyone..it really depends on you as a person. There were a couple of people in my program trying to work full-time & attend school full-time, but sadly they dropped out. On the other hand, there are a couple of people working full-time and doing just fine, but they do not have kids. And our instructors drilled it into our heads at the beginning of the semester: "Don't work through the program!". I'm still working (along with the rest of my classmates!), but just weekends. Is there any way you could look for a part-time nursing program? They take longer to finish, but with your situation, it sounds like it would be the best fit for you. Good luck with whatever you decide to do! :)

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Just graduated today. Lived in CT and worked as a CNA in NY. Commuted 180 miles a day, 5 days a week, worked 4p-12am, got home at 1:30am, then had to be at school from 8am-2pm. I had 2 children and no support. I was determined. When you are determined, NOTHING can stop you! Car broke down, inclement weather, sick children, divorce, you name it, it happened all through nursing school! But I did it, (with a B-) when everyone said I wouldn't! Stay focused, READ READ READ! Take your books everywhere! Keep them in the trunk of your car. Good Luck to you! You can do this! When you get tired and want to give up, think of me :o)

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
Just graduated today. Lived in CT and worked as a CNA in NY. Commuted 180 miles a day, 5 days a week, worked 4p-12am, got home at 1:30am, then had to be at school from 8am-2pm. I had 2 children and no support. I was determined. When you are determined, NOTHING can stop you! Car broke down, inclement weather, sick children, divorce, you name it, it happened all through nursing school! But I did it, (with a B-) when everyone said I wouldn't! Stay focused, READ READ READ! Take your books everywhere! Keep them in the trunk of your car. Good Luck to you! You can do this! When you get tired and want to give up, think of me :o)

Congrats on graduating!!!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah::nurse:

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Thank you!

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