LPN school and night shift

Published

Hi all! I am new to AN! I am currently a full time nights aide at a SNF. I start the LPN program in June but I am worried about working and going to school! Class is M-F 8-2:30p. I get off work at 7am. I am trying to drop my hours from 75hrs to 60 hours as that would give me 2 days off during the week + every other weekend but I want to see if I can maybe work 12s on the weekends and have T-W-T off. I have my own apartment and am having a really hard time with the thought of giving it up but I will do whatever is necessary to graduate! Looking for advice or anyone's personal experience in this situation! Thanks so much in advance! 😊

Good luck my dear in whatever decision u make. I hv six months left of LPN school.... I work 40hrs on the weekends 3pm-7am on Fri and sat. Then 3-11 on Sunday. Its a hard call if u hv tons of bills to pay. My grades are great, u may just hv to work harder. But if u don't have to work so much like me, then cut the hours

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Post Acute Care.

Hi everyone! I haven't been on here in a while but I wanted to thank you all for your great advice! I took time to think and decided it would be better for me to keep my apartment so that I can have a quiet place to study as my other options didn't really give me that. My DON worked with me and I was able to drop my hours to 30hrs every week and I will have a couple days off during the week. I think I will be just fine as long as I manage my time well and focus. I'm so excited!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm glad everything worked out perfectly for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Post Acute Care.

FuturenaijaRN Thank you very much!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

you are welcome my dear.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well this won't be easy my dear here's my story...single mother of 2 at the time n pregnant working 12 hr shifts in a SNF in a prison night shift. LVN program in the morning 5 days a week. Paying bills...rent...car n regular basic bills. Its doable but hard not gna lie I wanted to run n hide n make it all go away. But I did it...determination is the word. Time management and sleep was the key. I did my homework to work n my coworkers helped me out so much. So hang in there

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Post Acute Care.

Wow mariafromcali you're a tough cookie! Thank you for sharing your story with me. I have read so many posts from people who tell me they went to school and worked all while having children too. Amazing! I Dont have any kids right now, if you can do it I can too! Thanks for your encouragement ☺

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

I work three NOC 12s a week and am almost done with my first semester. I'm married with five kids from a graduating senior down to a second grader. We are making it work but there is no way I could do it if I worked five nights a week. Everyone in my program who works, works 12s as far as I know. Between lecture and clinical, school takes three days a week, and then work takes three days a week, and somewhere in there we study.

My clinicals were on Saturdays, so this advice wouldn't have worked for me, but if you don't have that situation and you're still working the SNF, I think double weekends are probably your best bet for making it work. And I agree with others who said maybe give up the apartment and find living arrangements that will cost you less.

Good luck. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Post Acute Care.
I work three NOC 12s a week and am almost done with my first semester. I'm married with five kids from a graduating senior down to a second grader. We are making it work but there is no way I could do it if I worked five nights a week. Everyone in my program who works, works 12s as far as I know. Between lecture and clinical, school takes three days a week, and then work takes three days a week, and somewhere in there we study.

My clinicals were on Saturdays, so this advice wouldn't have worked for me, but if you don't have that situation and you're still working the SNF, I think double weekends are probably your best bet for making it work. And I agree with others who said maybe give up the apartment and find living arrangements that will cost you less.

Good luck. :)

You go! That is a really want tough schedule! I have no kids and I'm single. My school schedule just changed actually, its now M-Th 7:30-2:30 and then Fridays 7:30-11. With my new work schedule I will have off M-T-W work Thurs and then have Friday off. 16hr shift Saturday and a regular shift Sunday night into Monday. It will be a but rough I think, but Im almost sure that I'll be okay as long as I focus. I really want to do this, and I decided to keep my apartment only because it's more beneficial for me then my other options. My parents have agreed to help with whatever I need financially, so I think I'll be alright. Thank you so much for your advice! ☺ and good luck to you too dear!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place. How long is your program? Mine's only 2 semesters so I'm half done. Thank goodness.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Post Acute Care.

Oh I know you must be relieved! Lol my program is a year long. I start in June and end in June of next year. It's going to be a loooong year haha

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am in the same boat. I have a $300 loan to pay monthly, $150 car insurance, $8,000 in debt, and the program is $100 a week. I work 24 hour's variable shifts 8 hour day's 3 x week. I am debating taking a 12 hour shift job closer to LPN school either 2 or 3 a week. I need to make no less then $1,500 a week.

I want to be a nurse, but don't want to be bankrupt and homeless.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion