Long shift then class?

[OnlyDreaming]

Has anyone worked a 12hr night shift and then go to class? I am thinking about do this. I just was offered a 12hr shift 36hrs a week at the local hospital as a patient representative(checking in). I really want to get my CNA while finishing my bachelors then apply to Accelerated BSN programs. Do you think it will be too hard? Most classes/clinicals are listed as 4 hrs long. BTW, my schedule is 7-7

[mvm2]

I don't know. For some I think they might be able to push it if it was a morning class that went no longer the 12-1pm. But some like myself could never work 12 hours and then expect that I would be alert enough to do well in class and on clinicals.

You have to think about being on 3rd shift as well. Unless you are already a night owl, switching to 3rd shift can feel brutle at first and you just might want your bed after working in a hopital for 12 hours then to sit in class or even go to a LTC and be on your feet working on your clinicals for another 4 hours.

[OnlyDreaming]

Ya i think if I do it , i will wait until spring for the CNA class to get adjusted

[kellirae4392]

It will be hard. When I did it my brain was fried after work. I was so tired! I did it. But I wouldn't personally ever do it again. It was especially hard to study and do homework after class!

[annie.rn]

I did it for one summer (working 11 to 7 as a CNA 5 days a week) and it was brutal! I had a lot of trouble getting the most out of class b/c I was always tired and there were not enough hours in the day to study. Will it be possible to have time to study while at work? Will there be any flexibility to schedule yourself off on nights before you have school? Another thing to consider is driving impaired. I got so little sleep that summer that I really was a danger behind the wheel. There were several times I dozed off and drifted over to the shoulder of the road. I think back on that and cringe! Please factor this in when making your decision.

[mvm2]

I did it for one summer (working 11 to 7 as a CNA 5 days a week) and it was brutal! I had a lot of trouble getting the most out of class b/c I was always tired and there were not enough hours in the day to study. Will it be possible to have time to study while at work? Will there be any flexibility to schedule yourself off on nights before you have school? Another thing to consider is driving impaired. I got so little sleep that summer that I really was a danger behind the wheel. There were several times I dozed off and drifted over to the shoulder of the road. I think back on that and cringe! Please factor this in when making your decision.

Wow very good point, and that was working only a 8 hour shift and not the 12 hour shift like OP would be working. Though it might be a little differance when you worked 5 days and she would only be working 3 days it seems.

[OnlyDreaming]

well the CNA class would be across the street from the hospital(lucky this way) and I live 4mins away from the hospital! :)

[nlitened]

I work at a hospital and so many people I work with do that same thing..work night shift and then straight to school. It is doable, but boy are they always tired;)

[mvm2]

I work at a hospital and so many people I work with do that same thing..work night shift and then straight to school. It is doable, but boy are they always tired;)

Then you start to think are these people putting their patients at risk, and when will you hear of the day that these tired people make a huge mistake that harmed a person all because they are trying to do all things but get the sleep they need.

[strawberryluv, BSN, RN]

If you're going to CNA school and working in the hospital then I say go for it only if you can focus on your classes to finish your bachelor's degree. Don't take on more than you can handle. Your priority now is finishing up your undergraduate degree so I would spend a lot of energy trying to pass the courses with good grades. It's not a good idea to go to school full-time and work full-time. I do not recommend you do that unless you are very good at time-management (this also means you have good self-discipline).

I know I couldn't do what you're attempting to do.

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

I do the opposite. ..a long shift after a 5 hr class-overnight. If I work the night before or my sleep is inadequate it is no fun! In the future I will schedule differently

[mf1211]

I work days at a hospital, so I personally don't do this but I know people who work nights that do. They're able to work full time (3 12 hour shifts per week) and do this, but they are ALWAYS tired and don't seem to have a lot of down time. If I were you, I would maybe look into per diem CNA positions. That way you can set your own schedule. Per diems at my hospital have the option of working partial shifts as well, so that may also be an option! Good luck!