Helpful Advice Needed!

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Hello Everyone,

So I need some advice. I am graduating next month with my associates degree and going to the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York as a second degree transfer student and my major is Nursing...I've wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember not to mention that I come from a family of nurses so I feel proud carrying the torch! :)

Now here is my situation, and I am hoping that someone can help me. I have been working for the company I am at now for 8 years and my request for a part-time schedule for denied for unknown reasons :mad:. My question is, is it possible for me to still work full-time while taking my non-clinical nursing courses? I know that once I start clincials I will be unable to work, and I would love to continue to save as much money as possible because I have a husband and a 2 year old daughter; although my husband works it will still be rough without the extra income, especially with this economy. Any helpful advice will be appreciated and I look forward to any replies :)

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I will graduate in December with my associates. I have worked full time through the whole thing! I am the only 1 in my class that is still working full time and I have caught some lectures b/c of it from my teachers but going part time is not an option for me. I am the only one working in my house. My husband has been battling cancer through my whole nursing school journey so I have to continue to work full time to pay for the insurance. I'm not saying its easy...there are many struggles for me. I work long hours and one day a week I'm up 26 or 27 hours straight but I can manage until December and it will all be worth it!

Good luck to you!

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Thank you for the response and congratulations on your graduation :)

I have thought about getting another associates but in nursing and eveutually getting my BSN but I feel that it would not make sense because I will already have an associates...why not max it out and just jump into my BSN?? I am so confused, but I am sure I am not the only one. I wish you and your family the best of luck!

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Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

I see no problems with working full time during pre-reqs, I did it went to school nights and weekends, when I got in the clinical portion, I worked part-time and still due, graduate in 2 weeks, will continue to work part-time till I take NCLEX

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I am getting my associates, I have taken all of the pre-req's for my bsn already so as soon as I get my rn I will start back for my rn-bsn but its all online. I wanted to get my associates first for stability. I wanted to be a nurse for a while but when my husband was diagnosed I knew I needed to hurry up and finish incase anything happens to him I can support my family!

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Where did you get your associates from? Also, what online school are you taking your rn-bsn classes from?

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My associates from a local community college. My RN to BSN I have a few places in mind, UNC or Old Dominion University, Radford University, or Jefferson College of Health Sciences all are within a few hours driving distance of me. Most places around here that offer RN to BSN do it online and require similar pre-reqs!

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Okay, and thanks again for the info!

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Karilin, I graduated last Dec from an Associates program. My observation is: yeah one can get through the program while working full time, but it a rare student that can do it. A third of my classmates washed out of the program, all but 1 or 2 of them left because they were distracted from their studies, mostly by work. I cut back to half time and ended up using vacation during busy times at school. My experience is that a lot of people fool themselves into thinking they can study and work but end up failing at school.

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During my prereq's I was taking five classes and kept my job as a waitress to 5 shifts a week, and did fine, I am a straight A kind of person:p. Now I am in an entry level BSN program, and I work 1 shift on Sat. all day. I am about to enter clinicals, but recently we have been having skills lab days, and with all of the other classes........it is very very busy and wearing. That is one whole day given up to work that I could have been studying. If you feel it becomes to "wearing" on you...maybe you could apply as a CNA after you have been in the program for a bit, and work part time, and try to get some financial aid, or loans. Trust me, you have the rest of your life to pay those back......but this is your shot at nursing, you really have to take advantage of that! Hopefully that helps some! I am currently contemplating my job , but it costs about 100$ a week for gas to and from school, so I am hesitant to quit. :eek:

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I work full time as a CNA and I also attend school full time. For me though, I work 3rd shift, and this has allowed for greater flexibility in scheduling for classes and allows for me to do homework while I am working. I have been working full time and attending school fulltime for 2 years. I have a 3.2 GPA. It is hard work, but one can definitely do it, especially when not working is NOT an option!

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Thank you all for all your responses!! I feel more relieved knowing that there are others in a similar situation. I am sure I will figure it out, one thing I am sure if is that I will still continue my studies no matter what curve balls are thrown at me :)

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