How do u go to nursing if you have to work full time?

FutureRN718 · Dec 11, 2007

To be honest, it's impossible to work full time and go to nursing school full time. The amount of hours you will need to study is A LOT. I wouldnt even recommend working part time, maybe just on the weekends if you must. I highly recommend taking out student loans for the time you are in school to pay for the cost of living. It will give you a lot of extra time to study which will significantly increase your grades and it will all pay off in the end.

FutureRN718 · Dec 11, 2007

I would like to add that what is said before is just MY opinion. I've seen people work & go to school full time and be successful

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2007

I guess it comes down to how bad you want it. I know a girl who works full time, has 3 kids all under the age of 9 (one is 1 yr), is a single mom, AND goes to nursing school full time. She gets her family to watch the kids and she is a total wreck but she is doing it and doing a great job! I, however, could never have swung all that. Where I live, there are also part time programs that are the same length in time as full time nursing school but go year round (in the summer too), so you do have options! Best of luck!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 11, 2007

I think it would be very taxing to work full time and attend nursing school, but I have seen people do it and be successful. There are the clinical sites where you may have to arrive very early in the morning (before 7 am) and not everyone gets the choice spot that is close to home. Labs to practice clinical skills, performance evaluations, and many other things. Many times, instructors are not that empathetic about the conflicts between work, school and family as well. I didn't work and I am grateful for it.

As others have said, it really depends on how bad you want it and the support system available to you. I am just glad I didn't have to, because I don't think I would have finished.

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2007

Look for a weekend program. Clinicals are done on the weekends, this way childcare is accomplished by family. Just an idea.

lklin09 · Dec 11, 2007

I attend a night progam. I go to school M-F 5:30 pm to 10:30pm. Once my clinicals start I will also have to be at school for 12 hours on Sat or Sun in addition to the classroom time. I work full time, 40 hrs a week. I do not have the option of not working. My family needs my income to survive. I do have my husband to pick up the slack at home and his family is also helping with our children. I have to study during free time. I basically get anywhere from 3-5 hours sleep a night depending on the amount of studying I have to do. Its hard but the outcome will be well worth it. I had to wait for a school to come around with a night program since the majority of schools in my area only offered day programs. Enlist all of your friends and family. See if they can all pitch in to help while you are in school. I also like the idea that FutureRN718 suggested of taking out student loans for living expenses. I would have loved to have done that but I just didn't want a ton of student loans when I finished...Best of luck to you!!

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Dec 11, 2007

i went to nsg school and worked full time.. it was heck .. but i did it.. and you can to. have you applied for loans and grants? you can get them and it helps.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 11, 2007

I worked full time through ADN, BSN and MSN programs. You have to make school your priority, which means sacrifice. Friends and family have to be on the back burner and supportive or you may be tempted to give up. I did not take a vacation or buy new clothes or see my friends (hardly ever) till the last semester of nursing school. By then I was exhausted but since all my friends and family were proud of me I was proud of me too.

Dottie78 · Dec 11, 2007

It all depends on what you can handle, and if you have family that can support you. It also depends on how bad you want it. There are some nursing schools that offer evening/weekend programs, but a lot of the nursing programs suggest you don't work, because the programs are very intense. If you absolutely cannot live without an income, and feel like you would be able to handle a full load of work during the day, and a full load of night school, then do it. If not, try taking out a personal loan to pay for living expenses and quit your job. The only bad thing about the loan is having to pay it back. Unless you have a parent/family member you can move in with and they can support you while you go to nursing school. That could be another option.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Dec 11, 2007

To be honest, it's impossible to work full time and go to nursing school full time. The amount of hours you will need to study is A LOT. I wouldnt even recommend working part time, maybe just on the weekends if you must. I highly recommend taking out student loans for the time you are in school to pay for the cost of living. It will give you a lot of extra time to study which will significantly increase your grades and it will all pay off in the end.

No, it's not impossible..just very, very difficult. I did it because I didn't want anymore student loans(still paying off my tech school loans) and I needed to pay rent, tuition etc. I also graduated with a 3.27 GPA. If you want something bad enough, it can be done.

Now, if the OP doesn't HAVE to work then that's fine. I just would like people to know that if you truly have to work full time and go to school, it can be done. Just know that it takes a lot of caffeine, willpower and faith in yourself. The great thing is, I don't owe my nursing school one red penny.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2007

How did u all do it? I have to work 40 hrs to make a living but I want to go to nursing school. I also have 2 children so my daycare options after 7pm are limited. What can I do any suggestions? I make good money now so I don't qualify for anything but student loans. I just want a career change and do something meaningful.. please help :)

I helped raise 7 kids, worked 60 hrs a week, and was on call 24/7/52 I made it, so can you