How is it possible working AND going to nursing school?

Nurses General Nursing

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To those who went to nursing school and worked full time with no help from a spouse..how exactly did you do it? How did you manage? would you advise this to potential nursing students?

Specializes in Emergency Room.

i had no choice but to work full time and school fulltime. i lived alone. i was a tech, so i worked 12 or 16 hour shifts mostly on the weekend, so that i could have the week free for school. eventually i took out loans for living expenses toward the end of nursing school, because it became very difficult. well, it was worth it and i'm glad i did it before i had a family. if you do have children or other people you are responsible for they need to be very supportive. good luck you will make it.

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how do you take out living expenses?

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Its possible, if you have the drive and live at home, Being single makes it alot easier without children to finish nursing school and work at the same time.:yeah:

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I worked full time, with 2 kids and attended nursing school, I kept working in hospitals so they can work with my nursing school schedules, it gave me experience and the advantage for employment.

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Totally agree with everyone's comments - I am FINALLY starting the ADN program in the Fall - however - it took 2.5 yrs to get through the surgical tech program (with associates degree - not from a trade/tech school) and I worked full time through most of it with no help from anyone.....4 mos on unemployment with nothing but school was HEAVEN!! (but I had saved money to pay my mortgage for that period and the unemploy. checks were for "the rest" of the bills) The good news is I'm totally done with all the prereq's and gen ed courses, so that will cut down on school time A LOT!

Anyway - I, like most on here, worked at night - I think that's the key because I haven't seen many "night" nursing programs/courses....it's tough - no doubt about it - when I first was laid off after 25 yrs I got severence, paid for unused sick/vacation days, etc - at the end of the day, my FAFSA/tax returns for that year made me look like a millionaire because they lumped it into all one check (shouldn't be that way, don't get me started - it KILLS you in taxes) - FAFSA/govt/Pell grant gave me triple of what I needed to go to school - it all helped of course because I was on unemployment.....my point is, the next year I was literally $200 below poverty level - and Pell/govt, etc said I was working now (making a whooping $9.00 an hr) so I don't get anything - you go figure - make a "million" dollars a year and you get WAY more than what you need - be at or below poverty level and have a minimum wage job and you get nothing....:banghead:

As far as the money game goes - I think you have to go into your program with the expection of getting no help, and if you do - it's just a bonus.....but it's a time consuming process, and if you want/need "free" money, you have to be persistent....I only got 3 quarters of Pell - the rest of my education either I paid for or got scholarships - I worked hard kept my grades high and was lucky enough to get A LOT of scholarships - quarter by quarter - I didn't get any that paid a "full ride" - BUT - if you stay on top of it, show up at Fin Aid asking for any unpublished scholarships that may be available WEEKLY, write the 3 or 4 paragraphs in a statement letter of why you're deserving - you'll get them.....at the end of the day, I spent less than $1000 out of my pocket - including books.....

As far as working and going to school.......it ain't easy.......but it can be done and lots of people do it.....I totally agree with everyone on here - it's all about the scheduling.....working the night shift is the best - unless you have classes that are available to you that meet at night....but that won't cover the clinicals - that's what was the hardest for me.....working 10 hr shifts at night and standing in surgery for another 8 hrs.....3 days a week for 2 yrs.....class was on the other 2 days....basically I had Sunday "off" - but that's eaten up pretty quickly with life stuff.....

The trick is to get OC (obssessive complusive) about your schedule, your homework, and your clinicals....don't deviate period....it takes a while to get your family and friends "trained" - but it can be done....you have to resolve yourself to the fact that you are going to have ZERO life outside of school and work until it's over...you have to want it - it's not for the faint hearted or for the half attempt....

I'm lucky enough to have a good paying 3rd shift job now - they aren't going to pay for NSG though - so my "schedule" will have to include the "free money" game again.....Can't wait to start this circus all over again with the NSG program......ahhhhh NOT! :no: But as I always tell my young friends and family - no body is going to do it for you - if you want to be there you'll do whatever it takes to get there....

Good luck!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

I work full-time while in nursing school. I study during down time at work. I plan out everything. Between clinicals and theory I was attending school about 2-4 days a week. I also go to the lab to practice skills and to study with a study group. What got me through was prayer, time management, and organization. I have no choice but to work. I'm 19 so don't qualify as being independent, so fafsa went by my parents income, so therefore I little money to pay for school. Thank God for Loans !( although I don't live with my parents, nor do they pay for school, housing, and etc). Its very hard to work for 7.5 hours daily, then right from work go to class for 3 hours and on non-class days, study at the library for 3-4 hours. Its alot, but it goes by fast. I think the pressure of working while in school , helps me to push myself even harder. I've so far gotten very good grades, even better than some that stay at home, or don't have to work. God is good !

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Where there is a will, there is a way. If it is your heart felt desire to become a nurse , you'll be amazed at what you can manage. I had a full time job all through nursing school and a part time job as well for a little while. I would read the chapters and/or the highlights into a tape recorder and listen with my headphones as I washed dishes, did laundry, drove to get groceries, etc. I also recorded lectures and listened to those as well. I made flash cards and taped them to bathroom walls for me to read as I got ready int he mornings. You'll find what works for you. Good luck.

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Something about motivation and the "How bad do you want this?' question is a great place to start. My plant burned down, 51, and I was already signed up for the night class. I was already determined to do LPN school. My wife is amazing, and wants this as much as I do.

Lifestyle is out the door, anything not promoting school and an LPN career is put on a back burner. I am raising four grandkids with my wife. I work 30 hrs a week, school 18 hours. Every day I am in school or work.

Many say poor me. When you read some of the other stories about what it takes to get through nursing school, you will see some real heroes.

How bad do you want his? Can you give every waking moment to school and work?

I am amazed at what determined people can do. I really like the nursing, and I enjoy the new things we learn in school everyday.

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During my first year I took out loans so I could focuse mainly on studing,however now that I'm thinking about I would definitely manage working during my first semester,however I went into nursing school totally green and terrified,not having idea what was workload like so I wanted to be on the safe side,keep in mind that there will some semester that you can slack off a little,like in my case first and third semester wasnt that much work so in my third semester I was working and now I'm going into my final semester and it is suppose to be hard but I hace a lovely insurance at my job so I will do everything to hang on to this job even if it means to cut my hours to one or two days,plus I like working,I know how to manage my time better...

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I am currently working full-time and attending LPN school full-time. (School is Monday through Friday.) I graduated in June.

It's hard, let me tell you. :banghead: I wish I didn't have to work full-time, but I have a daughter to support, and I don't get child support, nor do I have help from family.

I study during breaks at work (I'm a CNA), and pretty much most of the day when I'm off from work. I have also accumulated some vacation time that I can use so that, for instance, this month, I have 3 days off per week, instead of the regular 2.

I know this may sound trite, but what keeps me motivated is that I really, really want to be a nurse. I have to keep telling myself that this stress that I'm going through will soon be over, and that it will be worth it at the end. :)

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Specializes in L&D, M/B.

I worked full time nights (8 hours, 5 nights a week), took 9 to 12 hours in college year round for 2 1/2 years, had a 5 yr old son when I started college, and a husband that thought I was his personal servant. It's all in how bad do you want it. I did it. I would NOT want to have to do it again. I am very glad I did it when I was only 25.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I did 12s on Sat/Sunday and then one or two 6 hour shifts during the week. When I wasn't in class or working I was studying. It totally was worth it. I graduated in the top of both my LPN and RN classes. The best part is that rather than going into debt I still made about $30,000 a year while I was in school.

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