Jobs while in school??

[wbrantle]

Hi! I am new to this forum and was wondering what kind of job everyone has while in school?

I am currently awaiting my acceptence letter for a Spring 08 entry into Nursing school and I am freaking out about working full time while trying to do Nursing school. I dont want to mess this up since it has taken me so long to get to this point! I'm not sure if i should continue working, try cutting my hours, or take out a bunch of student loans and not work at all if possible. What does everyone else do? does anyone else struggles with this issue?

I really cannot afford not to work. how do people do this?

[MAmom81]

I'm an EMT and I work an average of 50-70 hours a week, every week. Sometimes more. This week I have 84 hours on the schedule, which means that I will end up with around 90 hours when it's all said and done. But school isn't in session this week. My normal work schedule is 24 hours on and 48 hours off and yes, we can sleep at work. I try to study as much as possible at work. Some days are better than others. Sometimes we're busy with calls and other times we're really slow and we sit around all day. You never know how it will be from one moment to the next.

Last year, I worked full time as a ward clerk in the same hospital (about 32-40 hours a week) while taking 12 hours in pre-reqs and 10 hours of EMT school for the entire year. NOT FUN! LOL I guess I'm just used to working too much and having too much to do.

Question what is a ward clerk? I have never worked in a medical facility before and I been a stay-at-home-mom for about 5 years and my last job was in retail and I am waiting to get into nursing school-Fall 2008 if not for sure Fall 2009, and I wanted to start working in the medical field now and gain some experience before I start, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

[NaomieRN]

I am working fulltime Monday through Friday 7:30-3:30pm. I have lecture on Monday 5-8:30pm, assessment on Thurday from 6-8pm, and all day Clinical on Saturday. My only day off is Sunday. I cannot afford to not work, I have bills to pay. It is a sacrifice that I am willing to make.

[Knorremeisje]

I work as a Unit Secretary/Monitor Tech in a hospital 2 days a week (so 2x12hr). Right now I mainly work for the insurance since I need to get some dental work done early this year. However, once I get into the nursing program we'll be living of my husband's paycheck and our savings.

Once you've passed the second block of nursing school, you can work as a Nurse Extern. Most hospitals are very flexible with the scheduling for Nurse Externs because they basically just shadow other nurses. The pay is better than what you'd get as a CNA, so maybe you could consider not working during the first 2 blocks and getting maybe a smaller student loan. And then start paying the back while you're working as a Nurse Extern during block 3 and 4.

I hope it all works out! Good luck!

[2btxnurse1972]

As many of you have said, I'm in the same boat!! I am applying next month to hopefully start the nursing program in the Fall. I started back taking prereqs and core classes in 2005 and I hadn't had any schooling since I graduated high school in 1990. It was really tough at first, working a full time (non medical specific) job and going to school at night. I currently make a better salary then most nurses, but because this is something I have always wanted, I have to endure the pain of late nights, early mornings, and one day, not the pay I have been used to. Late last year I made some MAJOR adjustments in my life style. I am single with no children, but I had a VERY busy social life. I had to make my friends understand that the party thing had to slow down so I could focus on paying off some bills. I got a roommate, refinanced my car, and paid off all of my credit cards. That has now allowed me to save up enough money to cover my personal expenses (minus rent and bills) through nursing school. My focus now is to continue saving money and hopefully applying for Grants, Scholarships, Financial Aid and lastely student loans to get me through. My opinion is where there is a will, there's a way. You will have to make many sacrifices to make sure it happens, but I believe all of our efforts will be worth it in the long run. My program says DO NOT WORK!! So, my first semester I will see how that goes. If I feel like I can keep a part time job, I may see about doing an extern program, working retail, or waiting tables just to try and make ends meet. Rely on the people you know to help you out. Who knows, maybe a friend or family member can let you move in while your in nursing school free of rent, or at least at a reduced rate. You may have to pay storage fees, but that's still less than trying to pay it all for yourself. Don't be a afraid to ask for help. If your friends and family truly love you, the worst they can say is no! Have faith, it will all work out in the end! :1luvu:

[RNMom2010]

I struggled with this decision. I went back and forth on how many hours and if I was going to work while in NS. Needless to say, I ended up going the route of not working and taking out extra loans for my expenses. I see extra loan money as a wonderful idea if your tuition is low. I attend a community college, so my tuition and books are pretty low in cost, which allows me to take out the extra money without being $30,000 in debt. However if you are attending say, a private university, you may want to consider what amount of debt you will be in upon graduation and not get in over your head. Let me tell ya, I am really nervous about starting NS next wednesday, but it helps SO much to not have to worry about working, studying around work, ect!! Best of luck to you!!

[Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP]

I'm still in the prereqs stage right now, but I work for a large doctors' group in the med records department. I scan the patient records into the electronic health records system, so at least I can get some experience with that and with charting in general while I'm waiting to apply.

[shippoRN]

I currently work full time as an clinical administrative assistant, and i just started my second semester of nursing school last week. Its not easy, and my only saving grace is that there are certain points during the day at my job where i can break out my books and read. I went to kinkos and had them chop up my fundamentals book and i just bring the chapters that i need with me so i'm not lugging a massive book with me. my new med surg book is in two volumes so its a little easier to manage. I am studying on the subway to and from work. I am studying during my lunch breaks. Any little milisecond i can find i break out my chapters until i am sick of looking at them.

I am only taking my one nursing core course worth 7 credits. I finished the majority of my pre-reqs which helps my situation a whole lot. Last semester I had to take 2 classes.

I am on the go 7 days a week, and have no days off, i am either working, at school or at clinicals. I am up and out my apartment to get to work or school for 7:30am or 8:00am.

This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I take it one day at a time and I've shed many a tear. When i hit the front door of my job (which i am not to fond of) I spend the walk from the front door to the unit praying to god thanking him for all the oportunities I have been blessed with and for peace, serenity and strength to get through my day.

You guys can do it, its hard, its very very hard and depending on your course work load it may or may not be doable. Like i said before i got alot of my pre-reqs out of the way which helps alot. Only you will know whats best for you.

Good Luck!

[paccookie]

Question what is a ward clerk? I have never worked in a medical facility before and I been a stay-at-home-mom for about 5 years and my last job was in retail and I am waiting to get into nursing school-Fall 2008 if not for sure Fall 2009, and I wanted to start working in the medical field now and gain some experience before I start, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

A ward clerk is a floor secretary or unit secretary in a hospital. Basically you take orders off the chart, write them on the cards used by the nurses, put orders in the computer, call the doctors for consults, call other departments in the hospital to coordinate patient care (xrays, CT scans, dialysis, surgery, etc etc etc), get new patients admitted by doing all of the above things, answer the telephones and the call lights, keep the desk organized and everything running smoothly. It's not a difficult job, but you do have to be organized enough to multi-task constantly. It's definitely not a clinical job, although you can get a little bit of clinical experience if you volunteer to help the CNAs and nurses with things like turning patients, moving patients in the bed, helping patients to the bathroom, etc. It's not a bad job, although I wouldn't go back to it after working as an EMT. I definitely prefer the fast pace of EMS and I love the clinical experience. If I were you, I'd try to get a CNA certification (or EMT cert...although that does take longer unless you're in a state that allows EMT-B...mine doesn't, but anyway...) and get a job working in a hospital. The experience you will gain is invaluable when you become a nursing student and then a new nurse. As a ward clerk, I always researched anything unfamiliar. As a result, I have a very good working knowledge of pharmacology, procedures, diseases, and various other things. I also took any free classes offered by the hospital, such as basic rhythm strip interpretation. Definitely comes in handy in EMS!

[MAmom81]

A ward clerk is a floor secretary or unit secretary in a hospital. Basically you take orders off the chart, write them on the cards used by the nurses, put orders in the computer, call the doctors for consults, call other departments in the hospital to coordinate patient care (xrays, CT scans, dialysis, surgery, etc etc etc), get new patients admitted by doing all of the above things, answer the telephones and the call lights, keep the desk organized and everything running smoothly. It's not a difficult job, but you do have to be organized enough to multi-task constantly. It's definitely not a clinical job, although you can get a little bit of clinical experience if you volunteer to help the CNAs and nurses with things like turning patients, moving patients in the bed, helping patients to the bathroom, etc. It's not a bad job, although I wouldn't go back to it after working as an EMT. I definitely prefer the fast pace of EMS and I love the clinical experience. If I were you, I'd try to get a CNA certification (or EMT cert...although that does take longer unless you're in a state that allows EMT-B...mine doesn't, but anyway...) and get a job working in a hospital. The experience you will gain is invaluable when you become a nursing student and then a new nurse. As a ward clerk, I always researched anything unfamiliar. As a result, I have a very good working knowledge of pharmacology, procedures, diseases, and various other things. I also took any free classes offered by the hospital, such as basic rhythm strip interpretation. Definitely comes in handy in EMS!

Thank you so very much!!! I really appreciate your advice and a ward clerk sounds like a great job but I think I will take your advice and become a CNA. My Community College offers CNA classes and they are only 4 weeks long-Perfect!!!, the next opportunity for me to register for the CNA classes is in the summer and since I am currently enrolled for the Spring 2008 semester-A&P I get priority registration-I really hope that I get in I am already on the LVN wait list-#85!!! I might start this Fall 2008 but if not my CC said for sure Fall 2009!!! When I called the woman in the Health Sciences department told me that if I cannot get in the CNA classes that I can be put on the wait list:banghead::sstrs::oornt:!!! I really do not want to be put on another wait list, I am so tired of waiting I know other people have waited longer but I want to start already!!! Thanks again for the advice, sorry for the long post!!!

[Music in My Heart]

Thank you so very much!!! I really appreciate your advice and a ward clerk sounds like a great job but I think I will take your advice and become a CNA. My Community College offers CNA classes and they are only 4 weeks long-Perfect!!!, the next opportunity for me to register for the CNA classes is in the summer and since I am currently enrolled for the Spring 2008 semester-A&P I get priority registration-I really hope that I get in I am already on the LVN wait list-#85!!! I might start this Fall 2008 but if not my CC said for sure Fall 2009!!! When I called the woman in the Health Sciences department told me that if I cannot get in the CNA classes that I can be put on the wait list!!! I really do not want to be put on another wait list, I am so tired of waiting I know other people have waited longer but I want to start already!!! Thanks again for the advice, sorry for the long post!!!

I'm sure you can find a private CNA school at which you can start within a couple of weeks. Up this way, they cost around $1,100 - $1,500.

You should also look at your county's ROP program or adult vocational education. They're usually only $200-300 but may take longer to get into.

By far, of course, the cheapest route is through a public community college.

[strider1500]

Some of you have mentioned taking out extra student loans. When I talked to my financial aid person at school she told me that the total amount I can get is $2500 per semester. How do you guys live off of that little amount?

I applied on wells fargo and they denied me because of my bad credit, so I'm wondering what other ways do students obtain funds.

I was told that I made too much money last year to be eligible for grants.

Thanks.

[Silicone]

One thing about waiter/waitress jobs is that you end up having to wait before you can get the prime weekend evening shifts. Depends on the town, the restaurant, and how long the other waiters have been working there.