Jobs during Nursing school/ How do you afford this??

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 11, 2008

Student loans and working part time.

I'm working full time this summer while on break (as an extern) so that helps, too.

Best,

Diane

amjowens · Jul 11, 2008

I use financial aid. I personally wouldn't be able to maintain the grades I have while working more than 24 hours a week or so. This site is with a few nurses/students who are very against financial aid, and worked through school without any assistance. So, apparently, it can be done.

pumpkinhead · Jul 12, 2008

Combination of savings, loans, plan to work part time, and have a supportive husband who is doing side work to bring more money in. We've also changed our lifestyle in little ways here and there that seem to add up.

Sarah Bellum · Jul 12, 2008

I'm planning on working part time as a unit clerk, 2nd shift, mostly weekends.

dannibee · Jul 12, 2008

I will be working 24 hours a week (weekends) as a unit secretary and I have a wonderful husband that is willing to fill in any financial gaps.

auxilio/odie · Jul 12, 2008

Wow,

I'm starting Nursing school at the end of Aug. That involves quitting my job of 11 years. Scary! Yet I have been blessed with help from my angel mother-in-law, my husband and just plain cutting back. i will probably look for some employment after the first semester in a hospital to gain some experience. Good Luck to us all!

Saskia77 · Jul 12, 2008

Hey!

I´ll start my studies of nursing in october in Hamburg in a special program which combinds a conventional (German) apprenticeship in nursing with a nursing study at a college.

We have 3 months theory rotating with 2 months practice - 4 years long.

In times of theoretical lessons we have Mo,Tu, Thu and Fri lectures - Wednesday is free.

Practice takes place at a common hospital with shift work.

I will get some money from this apprenticeship (clear 430€/month = 680 USD) and from accomodation allowance (130€/month = 200 USD).

In addition to that I have to work (as a research nurse) every wednesday and earn 250 USD/month - in theoretical times anyway.

Fortunately I got a room in a residence hall which costs 330 USD/month, I couldnt afford to pay the rent for a "normal" appartment - Hamburg is too expensive.

sbostonRN · Jul 12, 2008

I start nursing school in the fall and I'm planning to work full-time. I've had this job for 3 years (since graduating from college with my first degree) and the money I make is too good to give up. I work full time as a medical technologist (in a hospital clinical lab) M-F 7-4.

My classes are in the evenings 2-4 days a week, usually from 5:30 to 9 or 10. Clinicals are every other weekend, Friday night, Saturday and Sunday 8 hour days.

It will be challenging, but the way I look at it, I don't really have an option. I need the money to continue paying down my student loans (from my first degree) and to support myself. I live with my boyfriend and don't want to depend on him to support me, and I haven't received monetary support from my parents since high school.

Good Luck - if you put your mind to it, you can succeed!

Saskia77 · Jul 12, 2008

@ sboston :

this is really much, more than 14 hours a day! - you could do it a few time. But don´t forget yourself - you still need free days to have a rest.

Good luck!!

kimmyj74 · Jul 29, 2008

I am hopefully starting nursing school in August (as long as I get funding) and Im currently a CNA-
My schedule will be Mon-Thurs 8-3 until we start clinicals which will be on a Fri or Sat - and I have church Sunday for a couple hours that Im not willing to give up on a regular basis- So basically I would think I could work Fri & Sat but thats just 24 hours a week...
And I have a phone bill, a car bill, rent, utilities, food, gas ...
I sort of just want to sell my car & get an older civic or something for good gas miles & less of a car payment, but I dont want to risk getting a crappy car thats going to break down while Im in nursing school.
Anyways, if you can share any tips or ideas or what you did if you didnt have any parental or spousal support that would be great!

I am in this very same boat and this is what I've decided to do.....

-I'm not going to get ride of my gas guzzling Jeep that is paid for. I thought about it, but then I said --people think nothing of taking out a 10,000+ loan for a car. I will keep my good car and take out student loans to pay for school and living. At least the interest is lower and I will have my car for at least another 5 years.

- I am also looking for a part time job that I can continue during my schooling. That should help off-set some of the bills.

- I called all my utility companies and lowered my bills. Some I could only save $5-10 a month but it will add up.

- I plan to utilize food pantry's for help with the grocery bill.

- When I finish school I can get another part time job as a nurse or work some OT to pay off those loans faster.

BTW, I am married, have 2 kids, mortgage, husband's truck payment, bills. I just thought " the $10-$13,000 is worth the money I will be making in the future."

Good luck! :up:

shoegalRN, RN · Jul 30, 2008

I can say I've truely been blessed!

I am a single mother of a soon to be 12 year old son, and I worked for a great company for 14 years prior to going to nursing school. Before I entered nursing school, I saved up enough money to live off of for the first year in nursing school. It took me 3 years to do it. I didnt work the first year in nursing school.

Then my job offered me a generous buyout that I couldnt refused. It's been a year and I'm STILL living off that package. I also got a mortgage, two cars, (one paid for), and just recently did some home remodeling.

I also work as a Nurse Intern and have been since December of last year. I work about 4 days a week during the summer and this is just extra money to put into my savings, or to pay bills, since the larger bills (mortgage, car payment) are cared for.

Also, I get scholarships and my school has a deal with a huge healthcare system here that if you agree to work for them 3 years after graduation, your schooling is PAID for 100%. I jumped on that and still took out the government standard loans and paid off my credit cards. So, I have no debt, other than my car payment which I hope to have paid for one year after graduation.

I plan on working 4 days a week as a nurse, and that extra day I'm putting towards my student loans because I want to have them paid off within the first year after graduation. I'm gonna do my 3 year commitment time, then work agency for the same healthcare system for a higher pay rate.

So, it's a win-win situation for me all the way around!

debatwork · Feb 27, 2010

hi is your hospital in new york?