Job while in nursing school?

[haleymcole]

Hello, I'm about to begin my journey to the big 4 year university, and am wondering about working while in school. I am a CNA, but think that working as a CNA while in school, will be rather hard. I am considering working as a lifeguard on campus while in college. Would this be a positive thing for a future nursing career?

[InsideWindow]

I just finished my pre-reqs and am only in the first semester of fundamentals, so my advice can only be applied to such. Working during pre reqs and school is possible - I have many classmates who juggle both. However, it may take a hit on your grades if you decide to work full-time. During my pre-reqs, I attended a 4 year university and was able to work full time. However, I have since moved and now attend an accelerated 32 month BSN program and decided against finding work here due to the heavier load, so results do vary between program criteria. Within the first 2 weeks at my accelerated university, majority of employed students have dropped down from 40 to below 15 hours a week, whereas the 4 year university mates mostly worked around 30 hrs average.

You can always try it. The worst that can happen is speaking to your boss and requesting fewer hours, or ultimately riding it out unemployed. Luckily my husband makes the bills disappear so I devote my life to class work, but still find it time-challenging. Hope this helps.

[Blossom7]

Working as a CNA while in school it is not hard if you are a supplemental employee. As supplemental, you will make your schedule and you will only be required to work 8hrs a week or 12hrs every two weeks or event none hours required at all, it always depends of the facility. I do recommend you to work as a CNA. You will learn so much from that experience and you will have the foot in the door when you start looking for a RN job after school