Is it possible to work full time and become a nurse???

nursemike, ASN, RN · Sep 22, 2009

Anything is possible, but some things are almost impossible. I went to a two-year ASN program and worked 4 days a week during my first year. Four days of school and four days a week of work. By the end of the school year, eight-day work weeks were killing me, so I cut back to a three-day week at my job. Mon-Thu at school, Fri-Sun on the job. Do-able, but rough. My children are all Feline-Americans, so that helped, but precious little time to take my Dad fishing, sleep, or anything else fun. I was actually kinda happy when my car broke down on the way to clinicals one morning--a day off! But I got through it, and a lot of my classmates had even more on their plate, and most of them made it, too.

It can be done, but know in advance that you will neglect your job and your family if you make it through the program. For many, the short-term sacrifices are worth it. One thing that helped me a lot was that my day job was in healthcare. I worked as an orderly, sort of, so my schedule was somewhat flexible, and the job itself didn't take a ton of mental energy. My nursing classes were set in stone, but I could schedule my support classes in such a way as to fit around them and work. First year, I had some days I went to school in the morning and work in the evening, but still had every other weekend off. Switching to my second year schedule was more practical. I made up the loss of income with student loans, which I'll be paying for six more years, but the payments are pretty low--150/month.

I needed to take some classes before starting the nursing program in order to bring up my GPA from a first attempt at college, 27 years before. That was a blessing in disguise, since having some support classes out of the way helped a lot. If I had it to do over, I might have gotten them all out of the way. As much as I enjoyed Microbiology, the lab was a thorn in my side, that semester. Sociology was easy and fun, but an evening class, when I needed to be home doing homework.

It's possible, but be prepared to work your butt off.

steelersfan39 · Sep 22, 2009

Thank you nursemike. I know how hard it's going to be and how worth it it's going to be, but I fear that it might be too much. I'm an Engineer by day and don't know if I can handle the nurse by night plus be able to keep my family together. I also just found a part-time LPN program not too far from home. Should I consider starting as an LPN? or just jump into the RN program? This LPN program is two years going three nights a week and every other weekend. It might be a little more do-able and offer me a little more family time. I know that upon completion, I could find work and take the bridge classes to RN. What are your thoughts on that? I believe LPN's start at around $18-20 in my area. Not a bad start to a new career. Thank you again for your thoughts.

John

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Sep 22, 2009

I worked full-time the whole time I went to school, but particularly the last year it was very difficult. My last year was an exercise in sleep deprivation. On Thursday and Friday of the last year my schedule was like this:

Up at 0500, at work at 0700, leave for hospital at 1300, work on floor from 1430 to 2300, arrive home around 0000, do clinical writeup, shower and go to bed around 0200, up at 0500 and repeat.

I remember thinking after my last semester that if there was another semester to go, I'm not sure I could have done it. I was fortunate to find a school with an evening program tailored toward working stiffs, but it was still a tough road. I'm glad I did it, though.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Sep 22, 2009

I would, for sure, consider the LPN option. In my neighborhood, LPNs can make the money you describe in long-term care (LTC), but are seriously underpaid in a hospital setting. Well, I think around 14/hr, which is nearly 10/hr less than a brand-new RN. But there were several LPNs in my class going for their ASNs, and it was impressive how far ahead of the rest of us they were. Being a nurse can be pretty decent preparation for nursing school. I get the impression from some of the LPNs I work with that their training is even more like boot camp, and as the title implies, more geared toward the practical side of nursing. I'm only joking a little when I say my clinical days were an hour of pre-conference, 2-3 hours of patient care, an hour of post-conference, and fifteen hours of writing about it.

I'm a big fan of the Associate's Degree as an entry to nursing. Community colleges can often be more geared to second-career learners, and tuition is often a bit cheaper. But entry is often even more competitive than a 4-year school, and some candidates spend a year or two taking support classes while wait-listed for the nursing program. You can also end up like I have, thinking you'd graduate, work a year on your ASN, then go back to finish your BSN. Good plan, but being out of school a year makes the idea of going back a lot less appealing. I will do it, someday, because a BSN opens up more possibilities, especially away from the bedside, but for now, at the bedside is where I want to be, and I really like having a life on my day's off.

I'm sure any nursing instructor would tell you working full time and going to nursing school is a bad idea. Working part time is far from ideal. But a lot of us gotta do what we gotta do.

Jcasares · Sep 23, 2009

It is possible. I worked full time and had a family of three children. It is a matter of wanting it.

EZduzzit · Sep 24, 2009

I'm about a month into nursing school and I work a full time job. I had the same concern when I decided to pursue a nursing degree. I was able to complete all of my prerequisites while working full time, but I knew the RN coursework would be more demanding. I work 8-5 Mon-Fri, then I have lecture 2 nights/ week from 5:30-8 pm. I have on-campus skills training, 4-5 weeks per semester, on Thurs & Fri from 5:30-10:30. Those make for REALLY long days. The rest of the semester I opted to do my clinicals on Saturday & Sunday. I'm in a program with a fair amount of flexibility with regards to my clinical schedule, fortunately. I also live 5 miles from my office & 10 miles from my school, which helps. I'm only a month into it, but so far it's been very do-able. I know the coursework will become more difficult as I progress, but I think proper time management will allow me to complete everything that needs to get done. There are several other people in my class who work full time. There are several others who spend their days caring for multiple young children.

I believe it will be difficult, but it is a short term sacrifice for a long term reward. Good Luck!

steelersfan39 · Sep 24, 2009

The clinicals are what is weighing heavily on my mind right now. I'm sure that I can handle to class work, but I'm not sure what to do when it's time for clinicals??? If I knew that weekend clinicals were an option that would lift a lot of the weight off of my shoulders. If day time clinicals are my only option, I'm not sure how to handle my job situation. I make pretty good money and certainly can't afford to take a lesser paying job. I'll figure something out??? Thank you all for your thoughts and support. This has been very helpful. Please keep them coming.

John

cracksbacks · Sep 24, 2009

I did it while working full time.

Keep in mind, I am a chiropractor. I have plenty of science courses in my prior educational experiences. I received my nursing degree from Excelsior College, which is a distance learning program. I needed only a CLEP in developmental psychology in addition to the Nursing Concepts courses. It took 7 exams, the CLEP and a clinical evaluation (CPNE). The CPNE took three tries to get it right, but I did it. Two and a half years to complete the concepts exams, another year to get the clinical finished and a few months for the CLEP.

After I got my AS last December it took me till September 8 to take my NCLEX, which I passed on my first try (266 questions UGH).

The bottom line is it is possible to get your degree while working full time. You may need to do it via a distance learning program and it will take some time. But you can do it. I did. Now I just have to find a job which is another beast onto itself.

Good luck to you, keep a positive outlook.

cop2bnurse41 · Oct 6, 2009

Im doing it right now brother and most of the time I am dragging my ass at home. However being a male nursing student and working in the hospital i am bright eyed and bushy tailed. I wont let my instructors , co-workers or supervisors see me dragging its a pride thing! :yeah:

jrw03282009 · Oct 6, 2009

I don't know what would happen to me if I were working while doing this. Five days a week from 8-5 with 2-3 hours per subject to study every day? No thanks, I want to live to graduation.

ERtech · Oct 6, 2009

it is definitely possible. i am doing it but i work nights so it is a little different. since being in school i have gone to working only weekends and picking up some scattered shifts during the week and it has worked for me. monday mornings are never fun but you gotta do what you gotta do. as far as the clinicals go, if you are in a big program there are usually options available to work with your schedule. for example, this semester i have clinicals 1 day a week but there were also options for weekend or night clinicals if that was what you needed to work around your schedule. when you start school they will tell you that you "can not" possibly work full time during school but i have known plenty that have done it. it is all about balancing your time!