Students repeatedly ask variations of the following questions: "Is it possible to work while enrolled in the nursing program at my school full-time?" "Should I work while attending nursing school?" This article will attempt to address five different points of consideration separately with the goal of helping readers make this important decision.
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Students commonly ask variations of the following questions: "Is it possible to work while enrolled in the nursing program at my school full-time?" "Should I work while attending nursing school?"
The answer is not a clear-cut "yes" or "no" because it really hinges on your financial situation, support system, multitasking skills, views on financial aid, and ability to deal with distractions. For instance, the individual who has always required more time to learn new material and easily gets distracted by side issues might not perform well in nursing school if he attempts to work a full-time job at the same time. On the other hand, the person who easily comprehends new material and has successfully balanced multiple commitments in the past might be able to juggle full-time school attendance with full-time employment while maintaining excellent grades.
Without further ado, I will address the five points of consideration separately with the overriding goal of helping readers make this important decision.
How is your current financial situation?
Some nursing students have enough money saved to pay bills without having to work for several years while others live from paycheck to paycheck. Some people spend less money on household expenses because they are being financially supported by parents, a spouse, or significant other. Other people are single parents who definitely need a steady stream of cash flow while in school.
What does your support system look like?
Some students have strong support systems that consist of immediate family, extended family members, close friends, and others who would either lend or give them money if a financial bind occurred. On the other hand, some students have no support system and must do it alone. People who have very weak or nonexistent support systems may wish to consider finding employment.
Do you have the ability to multitask?
Have you succeeded at balancing several major commitments in the past? If you have been able to work two full-time jobs or go to school full-time while handling full-time employment previously, you might be able to work while attending nursing school.
What are your views on financial aid?
Does tens of thousands of dollars worth of student loan debt bother you? If you do not mind living on federal and private student loan proceeds while attending school, you might be able to get by without working a job. However, if you're the type of person who likes to be debt-free or minimize the amount of money that you borrow, you may want to work while attending school.
How do you cope with distractions?
The answer to this question requires an especially honest self-appraisal. Are you a quick learner who can block out extraneous issues? Or are you easily distracted by drama, workplace issues, and pressing commitments? If you have always learned at a slower pace than others around you and get easily distracted, you may want to reconsider working while going to school.
I did not work while attending a 12-month LVN program, because although I was a single female with a mortgage and other bills, I collected unemployment for the first six months and lived off my savings account when the unemployment checks ran out. However, I worked 32 hours per week as an LVN at a nursing home while attending a 14-month LPN-to-RN bridge program. My schedule of two 16-hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00am to 10:00pm enabled me to have Monday through Friday off every week, and I used these five days off per week to attend school.
