honestly!

rholman · Jun 20, 2008

it is prety much a must for me to work 35 hours a week while in nursing school. i have a pretty easy job which will allow for a decent amount of study time. do y'all think it is possible for me to try to do both. i talked to my councelor and she deemed the idea irresopsible and foolish. but this is not a choice for me im just married and my wife works full time while in school also and were barely making it. i guess im just searching for some
encouragement or something.

Hello,

I think some of these advisors are not realistic. There are many of us like yourself that have to work a full time job while we are pursuing our goals. I am a single parent, with a morgage, car note, utilities, gas and food to purchase. There is no way a part time job or 35 hours is going to accomodate me, however, I will not allow that to stop me. I understand, as I am sure you do, that it will be hard doing both but it can be done. We have to stay up a little later at night, study a little harder but it will get done. I think it's a great thing that your job gives you a lot of time to study, so does mine, so take advantage of that benefit. I have read dozens of threads from RN's that worked full time and went to school. Try not to get discouraged just keep on trucking and your eye on the prize. You will be tired, but hey, it won't be in vein.

liv2b · Jun 20, 2008

I know people in school that work...they are stressed. Kind of like working on the floor... Before I go into managing it, let me just say you must do everything you can to maximize your potential for sucess.

Given this, what are your priorities. We compromise between family and career to find something that works for us. Maybe look at the question different: have you exhausted financial aid, loans, special scholarships? Maybe night school to take some prereqs (physiology) out of the mix (extends your schooling...more interest on loans...crappy job for longer). Work in a hospital so that concepts in school will come easier to you and you don't struggle with concepts as long.

Now to manage your time. Not everything you learn in school will apply to the job. There is busy work...there is need to know. Ultimately, you are in charge of your education...don't jump into trauma if you just want to learn EVERYTHING on the job. Fluffy theory is good if you want to teach other students fluffy theory. Meds do interact, change the body, but you have your regular meds and the ones you give people in the jungles on Venus.

Ulitmately, I think schooling is really just about creating priority. Priority for your values, priority for care, priority for your time. Good luck..It's not a job; you will LOVE being a nurse.

nads786 · Jun 21, 2008

i know alot of ppl who worked 30-40hrs a week while in school

IMO nursing school isnt hard, its just alot of work

personally for me, i couldnt work tat much bc i need my free time

but then again im only 24 with no wife/kids/mortage/ etc

baldee · Jun 28, 2008

You gotta eat, and so does your family.

Most councelors are there because it doesn't require any thinking capabilities. Just consider the source! Throughut my life, I've only

had ONE good councelor out of, so far, 5 schools including this one (BBA, MA, BIE, & MS w/CIMS cert) and a graduate co-op (THE only good councelor).

Sometimes I also wonder about web responses, even here.

I work and its required. Just work like hell, get the 'word' if possible, get tutors if you need, do your vitamins & herbs, and pray like hell (, ha-ha).

And if something doesn't work as planned, make it work, know it happened for the best possible outcome (AND believe it), and then no one will ever know afterwards. The details are no big deal afterwards; and the 'little' stuff that really slows you down, that the councelors or teachers say will embelish your resume would be covered up in your first 6 months. I.e. - all you need to know from concelors is if it is permitted within the current rules, and who you would see to make an ammendment to your curriculum. A little creative writing, and presto, its done.

Good luck!

Bobylon · Jun 28, 2008

If you have the dedication and schedule your free time constructively and wisely, sure, it can be done. There may be many days when you're tired and cranky or whatever, but .... down the road, you'll look back and know it was worth it. Besides, it's understandable, as people have to eat (and fill their gas tanks:crying2:), pay rent/mortgage, etc, etc..... More power to you, sir. I'm collecting unemployment currently, which is soon to expire, but our hospital (who's sponsoring/paying for our program) will allow us to come work part-time there after X number of class hours (10 weeks ??? something like that). So it's likely I'll be working at least part-time while my wife is working fulltime as an RVT - I give you credit for taking on 35 hours - that's nice you'll at least have an opportunity to study a bit on the job :cool:

2bManNurse1017 · Jun 28, 2008

THANKS! ya'll gave me alot of reassurance and confidence that i can do it! I talked to my wife and she understands how hard the next couple of years will be and she supports me. all i have to do i buy her a dog (pug) to keep her company when she gets lonely! lol well i wish everyone the best and once again good luck!

krazykev · Jun 28, 2008

I am beginning to realize that individuals who thinks that a person cannot work and attend nursing school, and be successful at both, are not being realistic. After all, look at the cost of basic living these days. And I know for a fact that my financial aid has not kept up with the cost of living.

Therefore, I would like to see theses individuals that claim that a person cannot work and attend nursing school return to school and make an attempt to live in today's economy while receiving just financial aid. But, then again, these are most likely the individuals who had their parents financial backing throughout school.

I just get so mad when I hear stuff like this from counselors and nursing instructors.

Batman24 · Jun 28, 2008

Many people work f/t and go to work as well. You will need to work in time to study so try and do a majority of your work hours on the weekend if you can work that out. Schedule your classes early or late during the week so you can find a block of time to work and study around school.

If you do work say 4 hours a day during the week and 8 a day on the weekend it might be better for you even though you will have no time off. In the summer try and work as much as possible if you don't go to school f/t at that time. Sock away as much as you can so you build a little safety net. If your wife gets lonely at night maybe she would put in a few extra hours at a second job say at a Starbucks where it's more of a social environment so she doesn't get lonely. That could kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Good luck!!

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 29, 2008

I have worked 2 jobs since nursing school began. Some weeks I only work 20, and other weeks I work 45 hours a week. It actually has not been that bad. It has been incredibly stressful, especially now that I am in my last semester (graduate in August) and we are doing our practicums... I am literally away from my home between 80 - 90 hours a week (not including study times).

Like another poster had said, nursing school is really not mentally hard. The concepts are fairly easy to understand... but nursing school does require a lot of time commitment outside of the classroom.

mikejsmithrn · Jun 29, 2008

I just graduated from Nursing School. I was an LPN after my first year and my second year brought the unbelievable treat of becoming an RN just the other week. It's well worth it. I start my first job as a nurse in the emergency department in my local hospital. I just wanted to pipe in here... I am a father of five children (soon to be six in december) and I am the sole breadwinner in the family. My wife is awesome and we homeschool the kids. I actually started nursing school in 2005, failed my first semester and then changed schools to start over in 2006. I DIDN'T HAVE A JOB through any of these three years. How'd did I do it? Grants, SCHOLARSHIPS (awesome ones, too), student loans, state aid (food stamps and cash benefits for parents as scholars program) - as well as family support and dipping into my retirement fund (paying a small penalty, but it was worth it). It was hard, but now it's over and we're OK and better off from the whole thing. It took planning, teamwork, love, work, committment, tears, sweat, HOURS and HOURS of study, late nights, support for all those around us and letting them support us. There were times that we didn't know where the money was going to come from. We are literally down to our last (and I mean LAST) $5.00. Tomorrow I get $40 for Gas, then another small dispursment of aid on Tuesday. The real challenge came after school was out. I didn't know I would be unemployed for about a two months when school let out. BUT I WAS. Once school ended, then rent, utilities and everything of every kind started getting in trouble. My car broke down, the van's transmission is broken. I just had to go to my bank and ask for a loan and we bought a new minivan yesterday. I start work and I have to drive the family vehicle to work for now until I get back on track and get myself another vehicle. The jury is still out as to whether the last two years are worth the FINANCIAL burden. It's been hard and we're penniless now. But it's nice starting over. Nursing school tests every aspect of your life. Let it happen. Let it change you. Don't resist. Resistance is spelled F-A-I-L in nursing school. Don't resist and you will be different. You will be changed forever. The financial hardship is only part of the battle. There are so many things that will change for you. You think I am kidding? Don't take this lightly...it isn't the only hurdle you'll have to overcome (finances). There are many more in store. For me, nursing school changed the way I look at so many things and handle situations. I am glad my advisor was open and honest with me about work - saying that I shouldn't work. Now - that may not be for everybody. I had so many other things besides work, school and wife...I had kids, church and community responsibilities. They said it takes a village to raise a kid. I think it takes a village to raise a nurse (too). I just shared my experience...visit my blog to see many of my struggles and accomplishments from nursing school. I think you can visit my blog by clicking on a link somewhere around my post. They don't like us putting links to our personal sites in these messages. I don't want to turn anyone off by this, because I know it sometimes does, but I am also not ashamed to say that I spent a lot of time on my knees in prayer. If it wasn't the support of the Almighty, I (and my family) would not have done it. It would have been mostly impossible. Good luck and godspeed.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jun 30, 2008

Wow, Mike, what an inspiring story. I'm glad you made it all the way through, and hope you really love your new career as an RN. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made, but in the long run, they're worth it....