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.
This may be your experience but may not be so for OP. I worked part time while in LVN program and a sigle mom to 3 kids. I passed with the top of my class.So did a few other mothers and a few worked full time. So it can be done, if someone is motivated they can accomplish anything they put thier minds to and to tell some one they should lower thier standard is not right. She want to strive for an A who is anyone to tell her your being unrealistic you should only strive for a B.........Come on we are here for support, not to be told that we should lower our standards or expectations.
Well, I've seen a lot of people just beat themselves up because they're not doing as well as they would like and yet they're working and the only one at home taking care of the kids. I try to encourage them to look at how much more they're doing than those of us without the added responsibility.
It would be easy for me to look down my nose at some of my classmates who are not pulling the grades that I am... on the other hand, I know what else they've got going on in their lives and how much time and energy that those things take away from them. To me, acknowledging that and encouraging them to do the best that they can IS being supportive. To me that's much more supportive than saying, "hey, I did it so you can too."
So, I'll say the same to you..."that may be your experience but may not be so for the OP." If Tommybabe can pull it off then I'm sure she will. She's clearly got moxie and is going to give it everything she's got. However, if the demands of working and being a single mom and going to school are too much for her to also graduate at the top of her class, big deal.
And yet again I say, Go get 'em Tommybabe... ignore the naysayers.
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 am SOOO sick of hearing this, too! Every semester our instructors whip the old speech out again.
Well, for what it's worth, I am in my 3rd semester of 5 for an Accelerated BSN and I work fulltime (38hrs) a week. Is it hard? Most certainly. Would I be doing better if I weren't working? Sure, but the thing is, I'm passing (low nursing-school "B" average). And since after our last test 1/5 (!!)of my class dropped one of our 2 classes this semester, I feel pretty darn good!
It would be great not to have to work; but the thing is, I don't have a choice. My mortgage, utilities and insurance aren't going to get paid with monopoly money and food/gas sure aren't cheap these days. As for loans, I got plenty to cover tuition, fees and books. They won't even OFFER me more. I'm already going to graduate in significant debt, I don't want to owe 100k!
And one convenient fact professors like to overlook: health insurance. The one offered by the school is a.) a joke and b.) not covering pre-existing conditions. As a cancer-survivor, excellent health insurance is non-negotiable. I've gone 3 years in remission now, but I'm not taking any chances of getting caught with my deductibles down!
In the end, talk with your boss about going to school and see if they're willing to work with you on hours, flexibility, changing shifts, etc. If you can find a weekend overnight position, snap that up! At least it's only 2 semesters! You can go that long without sleep! Trust me, I've gone almost 3 now! :chuckle
HEY! First of all I would like to say congrats for trying to do better for yourself and your children! I want to tell you, I am in the same situation! I am an RN student who is divorced with 2 kids and I work a full time job. IT CAN BE DONE! Don't get me wrong, it's tough. But if you want something bad enough you can do anything. This has been one of the hardest things I have ever done but I graduate in Dec. and couldn't be happier! I get NO government or any assistance what-so-ever. I don't even get the child support I am suppose to. He doesn't even get them for visits like he is suppose to. So, my point is, do what you gotta do to get where you wanna be in life for yourself and your children. My children are 3 and 8 now so when I started i had a new born and a 4 1/2 year old. AND was going through an extremely bad divorce. Use these neg things people are saying to you as fuel to push you harder! It's all a matter of how bad you want something. One hugh thing that helped me was, I made friends with another girl I go to school with who also has kids and we got together and studied while the kids played, took turns keeping the kids while the other did careplans, and even periodically cooked for each other while the other one reviewed the notes out loud. Things that help me are FLASH CARDS cause you can take them to work or where ever you go. I had a stack about 5 in. thick one semester and broke them down into sections for each day. ALSO, my friend and I would take turns typing up the notes into question/answer format and give the other one a copy. Make Med cards, punch a hole in them and put them on a ring in alpha. order. review them any chance you get. If you have any questions or need some advice or even just need someone to vent the stress to message me anytime. and GOOD LUCK!
Well, I've seen a lot of people just beat themselves up because they're not doing as well as they would like and yet they're working and the only one at home taking care of the kids. I try to encourage them to look at how much more they're doing than those of us without the added responsibility.
It would be easy for me to look down my nose at some of my classmates who are not pulling the grades that I am... on the other hand, I know what else they've got going on in their lives and how much time and energy that those things take away from them. To me, acknowledging that and encouraging them to do the best that they can IS being supportive. To me that's much more supportive than saying, "hey, I did it so you can too."
So, I'll say the same to you..."that may be your experience but may not be so for the OP." If Tommybabe can pull it off then I'm sure she will. She's clearly got moxie and is going to give it everything she's got. However, if the demands of working and being a single mom and going to school are too much for her to also graduate at the top of her class, big deal.
And yet again I say, Go get 'em Tommybabe... ignore the naysayers.
I get what you are saying, But some people do not have the choice to go to school without "other responsibilities". Some have to do what they have to do. If they are motivated they will succeed. I have seen the opposite of what you describe. The ones working with other responsibilties especially kids strive for more. I have seen single students in class not do so well we lost 3 first sememester and it was kind of a trend each level we lost atleast 1 person (only one that I can remember was a parent and working). Most that failed out were single people that did not work and lived at home. I strongle believe those that have to work harder to get what they want have the motivation and drive behind them to accomplish what ever thier hearts desire.
Tommybabe one thing that you'll probably need to accept is that your grades are almost certain to be less than they would be if you didn't have to work. Just go easy on yourself and do the best you can -- don't hold yourself to an unrealistically high standard given your need to work and to spend time with your kids.
I've got a friend in my program who's been a single mom since we started (hubby's a military guy) and she went through a minor crisis when she couldn't perform to her expectations. She finally put things in perspective and is doing fine, just not as well as she could under optimal circumstances.
Go get 'em.
Her grades may or may not suffer. I worked full time and graduated at the top of my class.
Her grades may or may not suffer. I worked full time and graduated at the top of my class.
Good for you. Really.
If she can't match your stellar performance I hope that she goes easy on herself and recognizes the extra burden that she carried and is able to be proud of what she did achieve.
If she can't match your stellar performance I hope that she goes easy on herself and recognizes the extra burden that she carried and is able to be proud of what she did achieve.
Do I detect sarcasm? No where did I say she had to live up to my performance which is by no means stellar. I'm not the only one in my class that achieved good grades while working; several others did also. I'm just merely stating that it is possible to do both and make good grades in the process. Even if she doesn't make good grades all that matters is that she meets her goal. Hope you have the most wonderful day.
Do I detect sarcasm? No where did I say she had to live up to my performance which is by no means stellar. I'm not the only one in my class that achieved good grades while working; several others did also. I'm just merely stating that it is possible to do both and make good grades in the process. Even if she doesn't make good grades all that matters is that she meets her goal. Hope you have the most wonderful day.
I don't think there was sarcasm there. This is the blessing and curse of people communicating over the internet.....it's sometimes tough to tell the "tone" of someones words when they're not actually being heard.
Personally, I think schools would be negligent if they didn't give "the warning". Like so many posters have said, many students don't have the choice. Hopefully with the motivation they can rise to the challenge. But to go in assuming that nursing school is easy and not time consuming would be a mistake.
I've seen people fail out of nursing school that worked many hours, and I've seen people do very well, too. Everyone is different!
I did want to point out that nursing schools, at least the one I attend, can be rather unpredictable. They expect us to be extremely flexible - they will change clinical hours, days, times every once in a while, schedule mandatory meetings, etc. and really not care how it affects your schedule. Believe me, it can be incredibly frustrating!
Where are you getting this from? That is an absurd statement.
I agree it is absurd.
Many of the best students in my graduating class worked full or nearly full time. I find that they often do better. I have seen younger students living at home with no kids or job do very poorly in school (I am not generalizing but have seen a few like this, as well as many who do very well) and even our instructors said that many times the night/weekend students (mainly made up of students that HAVE to work, plus those with kids and other responsibilities during the day) do much better than the day students (who typically do not work or work very part time). Class averages have proven this so I'm not just speaking from what I "think" to be the case. There is no reason for the OP to assume her grades will suffer. I find it unsupportive to say such a thing.
Specializes in Case management, occupational health.
This is going to sound extremely snooty, but it really is not meant to be. I think you could definatley work full time in LPN school, but I think it would be much harder to do so if you were going for R.N. It is still doable, but it is so overwhelming. I work full time and keep a 4.0 but as each semester gets harder and harder I am going to have to cut hours
Music in My Heart
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Well, I've seen a lot of people just beat themselves up because they're not doing as well as they would like and yet they're working and the only one at home taking care of the kids. I try to encourage them to look at how much more they're doing than those of us without the added responsibility.
It would be easy for me to look down my nose at some of my classmates who are not pulling the grades that I am... on the other hand, I know what else they've got going on in their lives and how much time and energy that those things take away from them. To me, acknowledging that and encouraging them to do the best that they can IS being supportive. To me that's much more supportive than saying, "hey, I did it so you can too."
So, I'll say the same to you..."that may be your experience but may not be so for the OP." If Tommybabe can pull it off then I'm sure she will. She's clearly got moxie and is going to give it everything she's got. However, if the demands of working and being a single mom and going to school are too much for her to also graduate at the top of her class, big deal.
And yet again I say, Go get 'em Tommybabe... ignore the naysayers.