I am currently a CNA who has been accepted into LPN school, which starts next month. I am thrilled beyond belief. However, ever since my acceptance, I have been hearing from former students and nursing teachers who tell me that I should not work at all during the program because the program will take up all of my time outside of school. (I guess that nursing students should say "goodbye" to SO's and kids for the year, too.) I also see posts from other nursing students on this site who are told the same thing.
For the record, if I could take nearly a year off from work in order to devote myself fully to the program, I would. However, I am a single parent who doesn't have parents, grandparents, a boyfriend or wealthy friends I could move in with, or borrow living expenses from. My rent, utilities, and food expenses, for instance, still have to be paid during the program (which ends next June), and this is the same for other students in my LPN program. I realize that other students in the past may have had some issues with working while in school, but it doesn't mean that all students will not be able to work while attending nursing school. In fact, I know of a few LPNs who graduated from my program who worked full-time during the program. Of course, I am told that they are the exception. Well, maybe I will be an exception as well.
I know that the warnings about working are based on past students' problems, but when I keep hearing about it, it discouraged me somewhat, like they expected me to fail. However, I have decided to embrace the warning, and prove people wrong when I finally become a nurse next year. It just really irks me when people say no nursing student should ever work during school, that they will drop out, for example, when I read of nurses on this site who have done it.
I definitely agree with you. But....if you had the choice to work or not work during NS, what would you do?
Also, what type of job does everyone have? Does working in a hospital setting while in NS make it slightly more manageable??
Just curious.
I'm not sure what you mean by the choice. I am older so my houses are paid for, no car payments and enough money in the bank to hold me several years without working if disaster struck so could I have quit work? Sure, but why would I have? I would like to retire comfortably some day so while I'm able to bust my butt that is what I do. If I could not have continued working I would not have gone back to school.
My thought is that nursing school is hard anyway and I'm not so sure I would have been as motivated to study and get things done in a timely fashion like I did because I was forced to. Anyway I graduated with a 3.5 gpa so I feel like it was manageable.
Honestly, yes I'd still work. I am the type of person that works best under stress and deadlines. If I knew I had all the time in the world to do a paper, homework, study, guess what, I'd push it off and push it off until last minute (actually did that a few times when I didn't have to work because the compay was closed due to paid holidays etc). I got my worst test grades when I wasn't working..honestly.
Being short of time is my motivation to do things. Give me a week off and I end up doing NOTHING!
I would also advise you to loose the "I have to get an A mentality". At the end when you have your license, no one will know if you got A's or C's. Also remember that a C means you are average. You know the content as well as most. That said...once I lost the "have to get an A" mentality, I actually started to do great with A's and B's at semester grade time. Do not put added stress on yourself by having to get all A's. You will make yourself crazy!
Not every one can drop this mentality. I am in a BSN and want to go on for my masters and become a CNM. I have yet to hear of a Master's program that will even consider accepting someone without at least a 3.0 GPA. Many people tell me "Cs get get degrees" and that they don't have to worry about grades because they are not going on past their BSN...but you can't know what the future holds...I would hate do decide later that I want to get my FNP or something and not be able to because I had that attitude.
Not every one can drop this mentality. I am in a BSN and want to go on for my masters and become a CNM. I have yet to hear of a Master's program that will even consider accepting someone without at least a 3.0 GPA. Many people tell me "Cs get get degrees" and that they don't have to worry about grades because they are not going on past their BSN...but you can't know what the future holds...I would hate do decide later that I want to get my FNP or something and not be able to because I had that attitude.
I agree with you. I really want to go for FNP after working for a bit as a RN. This is part of the reason I don't want to work while in my program....I feel like I won't perform to my full potential and I really need to keep my grades as high as possible.
My soon to be hubby was in the same situation in college; all of his friends did graduate with him but they didn't go above and beyond with schoolwork throughout the 4 years. He graduated with a 3.4 and most of them were under a 3. After I am done with my BSN, he's going to go back for a master's in engineering (paid for by his engineering firm--lucky duck!).
I worked full time and went to LPN school; I worked days and went to school 4 nights a week. Was it hard?? yes, but I knew I had to do it and I managed to keep my head above water both financially and academically (I was an honor grad). To the original poster I say rock on!! You can do it.
I worked full time night shift (40 hours), had a 5 year old, and went to college full time for 2 1/2 years straight to get my degree. YES it was very hard! But so worth it!! I did not get very much money from the college, I did get a small loan to help pay for child care.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. I really appreciated your support and feedback.
As a result of my acceptance to LPN school, my workplace (LTC) is allowing me to work weekend doubles, plus another shift during the week, so I will have 4 days off during the week. Plus, I have accumulated quite a lot of vacation time that I will use for the shift during the week, so that when the clinical part of the program starts, I will only be working on the weekends, but still getting a full paycheck. The LPNs I know who worked during the program, and who worked as CNAs, followed this work schedule, and one graduated with straight As.
Also, my daughter is almost 16, so I don't have to worry about child care, and I don't have a significant other to worry about, either. I also have a 2-year degree, which I got last May, so I am someone who is "used" to studying. I know that nursing studies will be way harder than my liberal-arts studies, but I have "hit the books" for up to 6 hours a day (especially for those darn algebra classes!), so I have the book mentality going already. I know that it will be the hardest year of my life, but I am ready.
I thought it was interesting to see that a couple of you posted that you had to sign a contract about your work hours. Us students were asked about our work plans during the interview, but we didn't have to sign an agreement about them. I don't know how some nursing programs expect adults not to work, especially those who have kids and other family members to support.
I went to school full-time and in a hospital program no less, and also worked while I was in school. But you need to see what will work for you, and who will be responsible for your children when you are not there with them. I also did not have any children to be responsible for either.
Once can easily work 12 hour shifts or even doubles on the weekends and then leave the weekdays for doing homework, or possibly picking up an extra shift some afternoon.
But do not try to work nights and then attend class, it is just too hard for most and they end up falling asleep in class and then the instructor gets upset with them. You know what you can do and manage, it is up to you to decide on what you will be able to do. But you do need to make sure that your employer will be flexible with your schedule, if you need the time off from work.
Have not had the time to read any of the other posts on this thread, just thought that I would throw my two cents in to this. Best of luck on whatever that you decide to do.
I am currently in a BSN program and am a senior. If you really think that you can possibly pass your classes and work full time and take care of your kids then I'm sorry to say that you are delusional. In my program I usually get home around 4 and do homework till 10 or 11 at night and have to be at school around 630-800Am the next morning. Working on the weekends is possible yes, but full-time and being successful-unlikely.
I want to point out that while it may take you so long to handle school work there are others who learn at a different level and capacity. Just because YOU would not be able to make it doesn't mean that someone else who is determined can't pull it off. I have two kids and have to take my entire assoc's along with the nursing core classes and I while I do not work, 5 classes seems like much but I know I am going to kick butt.
Don't disillusion someone else because you would not be able to accomplish it. For those of us with no alternative not only do we get it done, but we will make a point to do it well. We don't have other options.
It can be done, and know what you will appreciate your license all the more because you struggled to get it. I know I did all the trials and tribulations that I had to go through to graduate make me appreciate my LVN license everyday. I worked part time, and a single parent to 3 kids (one under 2)while I attended a F/T LVN program.
I went to school F/T and I worked as an international flight attendant F/T. I have three young children and a spouse. I graduated with honors. If you are focused and have support at home, you can definitely do it. It wasn't easy though. I studied every free moment I had. Even while I was driving to and fro, I'd listen to recorded lectures. If I was at home and was too tired to keep my head up to read, I'd play CDs and learn that way. It was total dedication 24/7.
I always shake my head when I read the "You can do it!!" or "It's impossible" answers.
The reality is that there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Not every person could do it with every job in every nursing program. On the other hand, most people's capacities far exceed their confidence in themselves.
Tommybabe, it doesn't matter what anybody else says. Only you know if you can and it sounds like you think you can (and pretty much just have to). Given that attitude, I think it's likely that you're correct. Go for it and do what you must. It's certain to require sacrifices but you already know that. You're going to have to work your tail off but you know that, too. Just buckle down and get it done.
I like the adage, "It's attitude more than aptitude that determines your altitude." You don't sound like a quitter or somebody who's going to waste time complaining about the hand that they're dealt. I think you're likely to be successful. Ignore the naysayers.
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Jules A, MSN
8,864 Posts
I'm not sure what you mean by the choice. I am older so my houses are paid for, no car payments and enough money in the bank to hold me several years without working if disaster struck so could I have quit work? Sure, but why would I have? I would like to retire comfortably some day so while I'm able to bust my butt that is what I do. If I could not have continued working I would not have gone back to school.
My thought is that nursing school is hard anyway and I'm not so sure I would have been as motivated to study and get things done in a timely fashion like I did because I was forced to. Anyway I graduated with a 3.5 gpa so I feel like it was manageable.
:)