How did you balance your school & work life?

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I'm currently trying to decide whether to go for a BSN in nursing or get an advanced business degree. The only sticking point for me on going for nursing is the fact that I keep reading that it is almost impossible to work full time while going to school. I live on my own, have to go to a local university, and I need to work full time for economic reasons. It will take roughly three years for me to finish my BSN, so I am worried as to whether or not I can even do this financially. I don't want to look back 20 years from now and regret not going for a great career in nursing because of the all mighty dollar.

With that being said, I was hoping to get some advice from RN's who had been through this (successfully) before. How did you personally juggle this balancing act between work and school while still managing to pay the bills?

Thank you for your help as well as any and all replies, as I will be meeting with an advisor later next week.

I cut back to part-time and took out a lot of student loans to get my LPN. It took me 3 years. Now I wish I had'nt done it as the loan payments are more than I thought they would be. I thought I would get a job at a hospital and they would help pay back my loans. Well, I could'nt get in at a hospital and found out they only pay back for an RN degree. I'm working 3 part-times jobs and barely covering the bills. I'm thinking of going back to try and get the RN but I don't want to borrow any more and could maybe quit one of the jobs and put my loans in deferment. But I don't really think I can do it as I just can't concentrate when I don't get enough sleep like some people can. I barely got my LPN too, but I heard it is easier once you have some experience working as a nurse. I don't know I've already forgotten most of the classwork stuff like the science and I don't get much skill training on the job as I work in a jail and nursing home.

I'm not sure what to do, its pretty much a catch-22.

I cut back to part-time and took out a lot of student loans to get my LPN. It took me 3 years. Now I wish I had'nt done it as the loan payments are more than I thought they would be. I thought I would get a job at a hospital and they would help pay back my loans. Well, I could'nt get in at a hospital and found out they only pay back for an RN degree. I'm working 3 part-times jobs and barely covering the bills. I'm thinking of going back to try and get the RN but I don't want to borrow any more and could maybe quit one of the jobs and put my loans in deferment. But I don't really think I can do it as I just can't concentrate when I don't get enough sleep like some people can. I barely got my LPN too, but I heard it is easier once you have some experience working as a nurse. I don't know I've already forgotten most of the classwork stuff like the science and I don't get much skill training on the job as I work in a jail and nursing home. I'm not sure what to do, its pretty much a catch-22.

If you truly want it you will find a way to do it. I got my BSN while being a single mommy and working.

Medsport, if you don't mind me asking what is average starting pay for LPN's in Ohio LTC and Jail? Just curious, sort of in the same boat

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I worked in an office, with a lot of students on my shift, and a boss who was amazed that anyone would work and study at the same time. I studied during the down times. It was still very hard. My husband helped a lot. So did the Starbucks downstairs from my job. I was also adamant about not working on most clinical days. I had to stay above 32 hours to keep my health insurance (the school plan is horrible), so I had to juggle a lot.

My pedi rotation was the hardest. Clincal was Friday and Saturday. I managed to get Friday off of work. Saturday, I had to wake up at 5:00 am, catch a bus, meet my ride at the subway station by 6, get to the clinical site (30 miles away) by 7, finish by 2, get a ride back to the subway station, get a bus to a supermarket near my job (a 20-minute walk away), grab lunch and dinner, get to work by 4, then try to be both pleasant and coherent until 11pm. I usually didn't get to change until I got to the supermarket. I was the walking dead. Thank God my job is right above a Starbucks.

I worked full time, school full time, found out I was diabetic and then my parents decided to get divorced. I met my future wife and was able to hold that relationship together while in school as well. If you want it, make it happen.

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