Is it possible to go to LPN school while living on your own with a part-time job?

[Kohai]

I'm a pre-nursing student and I plan on going to practical nursing (LPN) school in 2020. I still live with my mom and have a lot of time to finish my prereqs, get a good job, and SAVE MY MONEY before I go.

The thing is, I want to move out and be on my own before starting nursing school. I know that I would save a lot of money during nursing school if I stayed with my mom, but the house is very chaotic and stressful. I live with my mom and teenage nephew who is basically a delinquent. They bump heads quite a lot, and it even turns violent. Almost every day. I literally can't study or concentrate living with them. I enrolled in three classes this semester and had to drop two of them because of my mental health (stress) and lack of concentration. Lucky, those classes weren't super important, but that's not the point.

I always kept good grades before all this happened, at least when I was living on campus at my old school. I know that if I lived on my own, I could concentrate better on my studies.

But I was always told that nursing school was very hard and it was best not to work during your studies. However, it's hard to study now with just prereqs and I live at home for free while working.

I'm torn between taking a chance and setting myself free or staying at home and risking failing due to too many distractions...and possible mental breakdown in the near future if I'm being truly honest here.

Should I move out before starting nursing school? Is it possible to do LPN school while supporting yourself?

[It'sYaGirlK, CNA, LPN]

I swear this is my life but I'm wayy older with a 7 and 9 yrs old... i was going to move back in with my mom but alot of my siblings (it's alot of us) already live with her...and um to put it lightly..my family is a hot mess..so for me moving back no longer was an option...thank goodness I was able to find a weekend CNA position that pays great and has a sign on bonus so I'll be able to start school and pay my bills..which for me is next month YIKES

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I'm sure you'll hear stories from people who finished LV/PN school while working full time to support themselves. As for me, I'm a good/great student. However, I couldn't work even part time while in LV/PN school.

We had so much busy work/ homework. And we had 2-3 days of clinical plus 2-3 days of classroom. 5x8 HRs each week.

Plus we commuted to clinical sites 1-3 hrs one way.

As for me, I was an older student with dependents, newly separated from my spouse. I was homeless for part of school, couch surfed a bit, and then moved in with a crazy controlling bill paying boyfriend for a bit. Then was back on my own.

I survived and graduated and passed the NCLEX PN 1st try.

YMMV.

[jd81pn]

It depends on the length of your schooling and your ability to digest information (if with little time to spare, students find themselves stressing out due to poor or lack of sleep and inadequate nutrition) but nothing impossible. I know some students who are working a full-time job and still able to pass our classes.

If you're a good reader with a good memory skill, I don't think that it's a problem.

[misspy]

On 11/4/2018 at 12:17 PM, Kohai said:

I already avoid going home all day, like a lot, but I still have very little confidence I'll pass nursing school living with my family. I'm scared that my avoidance lifestyle won't be enough for nursing school.

And to answer your question, I may or may not go to RN school. I'm already doing prereqs for it but I might do LPN instead or as a backup just in case I don't get into RN school. Plus, I'm in this grant program that pays for either-or and it will end before I'm done with RN so I thought I'd do LPN which I'd finish before the program ended. Then I'd do an LPN to RN program with better income to take care of myself. Do you think that's a good idea? I'm a first generation student so I really have no one close to me to talk about this with.

Sound a little similar to me...

Well I'm almost near 30 now and I live at home. Its discouraging that I'm going back to school, instead of moving on with adulthood; i feel may be its not really their fault but mine because I shouldn't still be there so its my responsibility to leave.

I understand much, I tried a program and I failed. It was also fast paced and I felt like such a dummy because I just couldnt concentrate the way I wanted.

With a normal program it seems like you can actually schedule time somewhere for study and then crash like another user suggested...with fast paced or accelerated programs its different.

Overall I think staying could be ok, also I would kindve want to stick around mom ya know to be the good energy ya know.

Lpn programs aint that long you'll be out in a year. Just stay focused, dont bring school work home, and dont bring personal buiz to study; dont let the two intertwine.

When you go home enjoy a nice cup of tea, wine, something relaxing to promote well being and positivity and get your mind off things; less worry. Itll also be nice to ask your mom about her well being.

[Nurse_Nell]

It is definitely better to minimize how much you work, but it's a bad sign you say things turn violent between you and those you live with. If you stay, I'd recommend you find a designated place to study outside of the house. Others have said the library, and I agree with that, but make sure you feel comfortable in the library you choose. Try to minimize the time you spend at home if the environment is that harsh. Stand your ground and make nursing school THE priority. Set harsh boundaries if you need to. I started a youtube channel with a video about how I got through nursing school in the midst of panic attacks/a lot of personal stress. Check it out, I think it will be helpful for you: youtube--> Nurse_Nell

If you do move out, which would honestly save you a lot of stress in one way, but heighten stress in another (money), you may have to deal with a roommate so make sure you find someone quiet/who has a schedule that differs from yours a bit. I may recommend moving before starting school, just to start with more peace of mind.

Good luck!

[19Kristin]

It's possible, but you have to have the right mindset, maturity and drive to do it. I went to school to become an LPN almost 10 yrs ago, I was a teenager and I did not have the maturity or drive to hold down a job and go to school, so I took out loans and just went to school. Fast forward almost a decade later and I am wrapping up my BSN and I completed it while working part time as an LPN and raising two kids. But I grew up a lot between now and then, it isn't for the faint of heart- it's tough and I know my 19 yr old self would not have been able to do it. But other people have more determination and maturity than I did at that age so it is possible. Just understand it is difficult and will take a lot of work.

[AshtonR]

I wouldn't recommend moving out and going to LPN school. I'm starting school on the 30th of this month and I can't imagine living on my own while going to school and working a part time job. I live in NJ where rent is crazy high and I know I wouldn't be able to afford it. I'm very blessed to have a husband who is going to handle all of our bills while I attend school for a year. I'll be working a part time job to have money for gas, food, etc. Good luck! I hope this helps.