Is it true you shouldn't work when you get into the nursing program?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 17, 2014

Is it true they tell you this? Yes. It's true. They tell you that you should quit your job before starting nursing school. The reality? Depending upon your work schedule and your school schedule, and how well you can get them to mesh together, it's possible to work and do nursing school. I was very fortunate that I was able to work full time and go to school full time and still get decent grades. It wasn't easy at all, and part of the time my job/co-workers had to make some accommodations that allowed me to go to school. That's a gift that I'm eternally grateful to them for.

Exhaustipated, ADN, BSN · May 17, 2014

That depends on the program and on the individual. I personally wouldn't work, but I'm in a situation that allows for that. I know people who started out working but have since quit their jobs. I know people in my program who work -- some because they have to, some because they want to. There's no hard and fast rule. You do what you have to do and/or what works for you.

datalore · May 17, 2014

Two things I've been weighing in my decisions of whether (and how much) to work are: (1) will my work let me work one or two days a week? and (2) do I have a bunch of general education courses I need to be taking during fall/spring semesters?

My job will let me reduce my hours significantly and pick up shifts during less crazy weeks, and I took all the general ed courses already, so I'm going to keep working as much as I can! Think about how those factors impact the amount of time you'll have available in your first couple semesters. If you're good at managing your time, anything is feasible. A lot of people make it work, if they need/want to.

MrsICURN14 · May 17, 2014

To each their own. I was lucky enough to have a husband who supported me through school, and I felt like nursing school was hard enough by itself.

That being said, the majority of my friends did work. It's doable. Just don't take on too much. You'll get a good feel for what you can handle once you start the program.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · May 17, 2014

You should do what you feel you can handle. Our school strongly advises not working more than 20 hours a week while in the program. There are a few students who try to work full time, but they struggle.

Personally, I couldn't imagine trying to work and do this at the same time without grades suffering. Only you know what will work best for you.

RunBabyRN · May 17, 2014

It's really a matter of how your school is set up, the kind of job you have (taxing? Flexible?), how you manage your time, and the other factors in your life (married? Kids? Bills to pay? Other responsibilities?) I tried to work part time when I started my program, but my boss basically refused to give me any time off as I needed it, so I had to quit. Of the parents in the program, I think 2 kept working. Many of the younger "kids" (sorry, but early 20s, kids) worked, generally in CNA jobs, while in the program. It's a matter of what's on your plate and how you balance it.