How do you juggle nursing school and living by yourself?

Devon Rex, ADN, BSN · Jun 13, 2018

Hello,

It will most likely be grueling! You will not only need a job to pay your bills, but you will need an employer that is flexible enough to let you attend all the clinicals when you need to. That's a tough sell if your employer is not going to benefit from when you become an RN.

Think hard about moving out before completing nursing school.

MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN · Jun 14, 2018

If I could go back now, I'd tell my young butt to stay with the parents as long as I could or until I at least finished school. Seriously, if your parents are willing to let you stay, stay. It's a bit of a shock to suddenly have the real responsibility of supporting yourself 100% for the first time & being a full time student--and a nursing student to boot!

nurse_flo_marie, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2018

My advice - stay home! I lived on campus for undergrad (non-nursing) & went home to do laundry & shop for groceries in the fridge.

When I graduated and decided to go to nursing school, I moved back home. I was guaranteed a roof over my head, cooked meals, and someone to encourage me when nursing school was overwhelming. If you're on your own a lot, you might just find yourself stewing in misery when what once was the most annoying interruption is welcomed eagerly.

Good luck on your decision!

northmississippi · Jun 17, 2018

People that try to work more than two days a week usually fail nursing school. Can you make a living just working on the weekend? Nursing school is about 3 times harder than your prereqs. In fact, about 60% of the people who start the program never finish it. Stay at home, what little bit of money you will make being on your own wont amount to the benefits of having a nursing degree later.

Wiggly Litchi · Jun 17, 2018

I moved out on my 16th birthday, so I have some advice for you: please stay with your parents for as long as you can.

Working enough hours to support yourself through school will be a challenge. The cost of living is nuts these days, and if you're on a low paying job (as a good number are w/o a degree), then you're going to be working a LOT of hours to keep the house, car, utilities, insurance etc. Heck, keeping a household running with another adult in it is hard enough while in school; it's like the mountain of laundry and dishes never ends.

I know that the desire to get out of the nest is strong, and it's understandable, but if you have the ability to stay with your parents then do so.

Work part time if you like and IF you can keep your grades up while doing so. Remember, your 1st job is school, and you're going to be looking at 60hrs a week in class + home study times (though this is variable from person-to-person).

Consider a nice apartment a graduation gift to yourself

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2018

I worked 24-32 hours a week and had a baby halfway through the program. It can be done. That said, if you have a solid relationship with your parents and school is a reasonable commute, staying home seems like a wise choice. You would cut expenses AND come out with less debt.

forevernursem · Jun 27, 2018

I'm in nursing school right now. A typical week for me is 3 days of lecture and lab, and 2 days of clinicals at the hospital. My school doesn't recommend working. I wanna say about 85% of the students in my class don't work, and the ones that do work, work part time. It would be very hard juggling school and working full time for you to be able to pay your bills. I would stay living with your parents, so you can just worry about school and getting good grades. I'm not saying working and nursing school is impossible, but it is hard, and I don't think I could handle it.