LPN Student who Needs Job - Should I stay in school?

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Good morning, Nurse Beth,

I'm a current evening LPN student. I just started 3 days ago I was so excited. My problem is my job cancels me like every other day. I need money. I have a car note, a baby on the way, and on top I do have to pay $71.00 a month for school.

I'm so stressed out because no job can really work with me because I can't work on weekends because clinicals are every Saturday 8-4. I feel like I really need to work but I'm the type of person that after awhile I will put work in front of school and then a year later I will feel like I'm still at square one I don't know what to do or which way to go .

Should I just keep looking for a job and stay in school or should I put school off for awhile?

Dear Should I Stay in School?,

You are stressed, and your job situation is unstable. You have financial concerns and a baby on the way.

Take a break from school. You have too much to handle right now. There will be an opportunity for school later.

In the meantime, give yourself time to plan how you will manage your work schedule, your clinical requirements, and child care when you return to nursing school. Look into financial aid. You will need a support system when you you return. Allnurses Student Forum is part of a good support system for student nurses.

Stay healthy and take this big burden off your plate for now.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Why not work eve or night shifts on the weekend? Many I work with do that to work on clinical days

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Obtain your Certified Medication Aide license; work part time doing that; it pays more than CNA work. I worked 16 hour double shifts every Saturday and Sunday while I was in RN school. I also cleaned houses a commercial office buildings parttime. I had to drop out for 6 months for financial reason's but I picked right off where I left off and graduated. I don't know what state you live in but both KS and MO have assistance programs for nursing students through Workforce Development Office (formerly Job Service Center. Seriously check that out.

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I agree . Maybe you should work and set aside enough money to carry you when you go back to school. Also plan to apply for scholarship if there are any offered at your school. I just graduated in August and passed my NCLEX October 20th. I didn't work while in school either and I paid out of pocket. I have a job now! Good luck!

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There's some schools with horrible schedules, these schools are not made for the working student. Perhaps go to a school that will accommodate your schedule and or will make it possible to attend school and work. I was going to go to west coast university but they require saturdays, national does as well APU Azusa Pacific University has no evenings, no weekends so I'll be able to work in home health and work OT on weekends such as 12 hrs or double time for weekends and possibly one day out of the week. I don't know her location of course but she should choose a school to better accommodate working students

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Specializes in Perioperative Care.

Everyone is different so I suggest you sit down and figure out what you really are willing and able to do.

I sat down with my husband and we decided we would have the baby first. He worked FT, I worked PT and took prerequisite courses while we waited 5 years for the younger kid to get into in school so we wouldn't need to get daycare. I signed up for scholarships and student loans and got straight A's to qualify for a very competitive (and cheap) community college.

When I did get in, I worked right after lectures, and right after clinicals. I pulled anywhere from 10-35 hours a week. I used PTO when I couldn't work my 20. I used a lot of that time to catch up on sleep. Good thing I saved up all that vacation time! It was crazy and I was tired, but after 2 years I am an RN, and will be a 45-year-old RN-BSN by May!!!

If you stay in school, work out a schedule, find a job that doesn't cancel you (save up money), and schedule in down time and catch up time (because stuff falls off the plate when it's full). My schedule is super full but flexible, and I schedule in family time and try to give myself a lot of time to finish early. Haven't missed a deadline or lost my mind, completely (yet!) Otherwise set a future goal and don't be discouraged. Time really does fly. Just see what works best for you and be honest. Best of luck!

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As someone who was in a similar circumstance, I went for scholarships and grants. Loan for work, etc... I was able to receive enough of them to cover all my expenses through school. That may help with some of the stress, well worth checking out. Get in touch with financial aid dept at your school as well as online, and state programs. Best of luck.

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