Hey guys....How do you all support yourselves?

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Hey guys,

I've decided to leave the corporate world to pursue nursing. This has been a long time passion for me. My question is, since nursing school is full-time day, how do you all support yourselves?? Any suggestions? I don't even know where or how to begin to look for new employment while in school. I hear you shouldn't work more than part-time hours. Any suggestions are welcomed.

Brian

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Specializes in ICU. Med/Surg: Ortho, Neuro, & Cardiac.

Well, I'm working on pre-req's now but I work full time nights during the week and alternating weekends.

Next semester (Spring 08) I will be taking 13 credit hours--

Gen Psych (3)

Fresh Comp (3)

A&P I (4)

Human Growth & Development (3)

I spend my time either in school or at work, literally. I head to bed at 8 and wake up around 4:30 or 5 in the evening for my 6 o'clock class. I'm usually in class until 9 Monday-Thursday and then I head home for about 30 minutes to an hour and start on my way to work.

It's pretty hard because I'm married and have a 15-month-old daughter but believe me, it can be done. You just have to want it bad enough I guess.

When I apply to nursing school and get accepted I will have to end up working full time weekends. I know many people who have done it.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

working the street on my nights off......

JK....

Seriously though.... I got a per diem patient care tech position at my local hospital, where I worked every Fri/Sat night. It sucked for my social life, but at least I could spend time with my friends and family after school each day.

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I worked as a phlebotomist during my whole nursing school. I had an as needed posisiton. It is nice because you are not obligated to work (but no insurance :(

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.

Loans and a 32 grand scholarship from the Children's Hospital and PRN patient care tech at local hospital...one shift a week (12 hours).

Mex

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I work in a bar Thursday-Saturday. Easy money and I can pay my bills. It has never interfered with school either.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

A bartending job sounds like the perfect accompaniment to your future nursing career. That way you can mix yourself a nice beverage after a stressful shift at work....:lol2:

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hey all!

i recently got full-time custody of my 2 kids (6 and 3, girl and boy), so already work+daddy time is crunched.

i had a side gig i did at home doing web development for a company out in cali so i've learned to maximize the most of my few hours after bedtime. i work full time in it and the drive is about 1hr each way which is killer.. but the job is flexible so it's hard to justify a more stressful job closer to home.. may be a net loss or just a wash.

it's all about planning and efficiency, here's my schedule:

7am:

wake up, make breakfast for daughter, get kids dressed, get daughter ready for school

7:50am:

make sure daughter makes it to bus on time & cook the 3 eggs i eat each morning for breakfast

8am:

get son in car and head to daycare where they give him breakfast

back on road and head to work

9:15am (ish):

get into work - eat lunch (tuna packet or can of soup) at desk so i can get off a bit early

5:10pm (ish):

get off work and head to pick up kids

6:15pm:

pick up kids, head home.. maybe hit the gym for 40 minutes if i'm lucky

7:30pm:

make dinner for the kids, check homework, figure out shopping list and what needs to get done for the next day, get kids to brush teeth, read them stories, put them to bed.

8:15pm (ish):

make myself dinner (chicken and rice.. sandwhich.. something fast and healthy)

8:40pm:

take the dinner upstairs and eat and work (or study now)

11pm:

brush teeth, figure out everyone's clothes for tomorrow, make up an excuse why i can't floss tonight, and then head to sleep mad that i didn't do this at 10pm.

it's a tough schedule but it's been working :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Med-Tele, Internal Med PCU.

#1. Fortunately I have a wonderful wife who is onboard with this new career path.

#2. I am so glad I "upgraded" to the Montgomery GI Bill.

#3. Having saved my Navy pension for 2 years has provided a nice pool of cash as needed. And now is the house payment.

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1. Montgomery GI Bill

2. WIA Act that pays for ALL my school expenses, including parking and gas. Automatically qualified as a veteran.

3. Retirement (or transfer to the fleet reserve) from the Navy

4. Work Study Program through the VA. It pays only minimum wage, but its tax-free, so it's worth more.

5. Savings

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I would look into hospitals for some sort of part-time job within the field. I know in NY some hospitals are extremely flexible especially if you are attending nursing school. And the bonus with that is your gain skills and confident in the hospital and field as you are going through the program

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