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

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Apr 2, 2008

I am in a perpetual state of drowsiness during the week and I try to catch up to my life on the weekends.

I hear you......:smilecoffeecup:

I'm currently in grad school, and have so far avoided accumulating any debt. (just paid off my undergrad loans last month)

But...in order to do that, I work FT nights, usually Th/F/Sat, with the occasional Sunday night shift thrown in. I have class on Mondays and Wednesdays, which basically gives me Sunda nights and Tuesdays to catch up on cleaning, errands, friends, homework, etc. Except for today. I got off the train at 10pm last night from school, went straight home, ate, showered and went to bed by 11:30p. I slept straight through 2 alarms, from 11:30p-3pm...15+ hours. :grn: I guess when your body needs sleep, it doesn't care what you have planned for it.

:anbd:

Oorah · Apr 3, 2008

Actually, I build race cars for a living right now. Been working on one for the Bonneville runs coming up this summer. Its a bad mofo. I love my job, but can't imagine doing it when im 55. Thats why i'm getting into nursing. Besides the norms of liking helping people. etc etc. Same reasons everyone else does this.

Bobylon · May 9, 2008

To be honest, my wife supports us, as of now .... luckily she's a RVT (registered vascular ultrasound tech) and makes a decent buck (actually, she's always made more $$$ than me, so...it works :) ). The next 11 months may get tight, but we'll do alright (although my daughter thinks she deserves a car for her 16th b-day...LOL)

Oorah · May 10, 2008

I would tell everyone to just do the 2 year ADN thing at a community college for starters.

1.) It's WAY cheaper.

2.) Its faster

3.) Its usually a little less competitive

4.) They usually have less weed out classes.

You can always finish the BSN later on whether it be at a school, or online, or blend of both if need be. And if you do the ADN you can start getting work experience while you work on your BSN. I consider this plan putting you ahead of the power curve actually. And as far as I can tell it all pays the same since apparently the US need twice as many nurses as it has.

I posted already, but I own a performance shop... Basically we build race cars. That and I am a veteran from illinois so I also get about $2,000/month from the MGIB+Marines College Fund.... And to top it off I also get to use the Illinois Veterans Grant, which means I get to go to school for almost free.

Everyone tells me I'm crazy for leaving my good job owning a shop that makes me about $50/hr. But I am thinking of my wrists, elbows, and shoulders when I am 60. Its well known that mechs have problems from repetitive motion injuries, which after 6 years have already started. So I have myself in a position of doing to the books, managing, answering phones, and dealing with customers so th other guys can turn wrenches. But I want to be a CRNA eventually...... So I can make $75/hr....and work on my cars in the garage as a hobby, which I love instead of working on them for a living.... which I hate.

Brian 77 · May 10, 2008

I don't know you, but sounds like you really have a passion for this...can't go wrong with that. You're doing the right thing. I have to admit, you've got it made with school....getting that $$$ each month.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Jun 8, 2008

I have a wonderful wife (RN) who, thank God, allows me to focus on school without having to work.

It's hard on my male ego, but I've been assured it'll be well worth it in the long run.

mbarcher · Jun 9, 2008

Nobody has even mentioned scholarships! Not too tough to get REALLY! Especially when you consider males in nursing are actually considered a "minority"... BLACK or WHITE according to minority nursing magazine. Your school will have a truck load of local silly scholarships of 2 or 3 hundred bucks that are easy... EVERY little bit helps... Of course, you need to readjust your standard of living significantly...

And good ole student loans worked for me. Trust me... I just failed Psych. You really should avoid work if you can get by and just study then prep for the NCLEX.... There's plenty of time to make money when you have your license in hand!

Michael

placebo135 · Jun 11, 2008

I go to school full time

College Composition

General Psychology

Anatomy 1

Microbiology

Then, I work full time at Cvs Pharmacy as a CPht, I work three 12 hour, shifts.

shoman62 · Jun 11, 2008

Been on a 2 year "vacation" burning the 401k, but I can focus on school and graduating, then I can reload the retirement fund:yeah:

william4930 · Jul 20, 2008

Working as a tech at a hospital and financial aid

WorkinTheStreets · Jul 20, 2008

After leaving a cushy tech job, I've been working EMS for the last 18 months. Since I already have an engineering degree, I was able to avoid like 7 classes. Going to community college, I pay like $140 per credit. Most hospitals in my area have great tuition programs, allowing me to complete my RN, get a nursing job and then have someone else provide $4-5000 per year for me to go back to school for a BSN. Working as an EMT provides me with experience you will not get in school, such as working a cardiac arrest on a patient trapped in a car, gun shot victims, child birth, etc....many times with just you and your partner. Paramedics are usually there when available, but sometimes your flying solo. Besides, I still have to pay the mortgage and provide a portion of the household revenue. Thankfully, my wife decided to go back to work and has a great job...EMS pay does suck. Is it worth working while going to school...yea, it is.

jman21050 · Jul 21, 2008

As of right now I'm working as an accountant. I just finished up all of my pre-req's (all were available at night, so no problems there). Once I get accepted into the nursing program I'm going to attempt to rearrange my current work schedule to possibly work longer days or work in the evenings and make up any time on Saturdays.

If that doesn't work out I guess I'll have to look for part-time work somewhere and start draining the emergency fund.