Not working during nursing school?

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For those of you that didn't work during nursing school and are single with no one to support you how did you pay for your bills and expenses?

I'm taking the prereqs now and applying and this is my biggest worry as everyone said I will have to significantly cut back.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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I am SO sick and tired of people trotting out the "dun wanna support you wif muh tax dolluhs" whenever someone mentions going on food stamps or taking another form of assistance while in nursing school. The EBT, medicaid, and daycare grant that my wife, our 2 year old daughter, and I currently receive while I'm in school full time are NOT paid for with YOUR tax dollars. They are paid for with MY tax dollars.

Before I went back to school I worked 15+ years, making anywhere between 50-100k per year. My wife did the same. Paid taxes on all of that, and never once took any kind of assistance. If you do the math, that's roughly 3 million dollars in taxable income between my wife and me. Taxed at 20% federally (+ / - deductions, state income taxes, sales taxes, etc), that's about 600,000 in taxes we've paid out over our lifetimes. Once I'm done with school, barring some disaster, we'll be making 200k+ a year combined income. Given that we're in our mid 30's, we can expect to work another 30 years before retiring. So add another 1.5 million (at a minimum) in federal taxes we'll pay out before retirement. That's 2.1 million in federal taxes, total, over our lifetime.

So yeah, excuse me if I don't hang my head in shame over the EBT, health care, and daycare assistance we're drawing over the next two years. We've paid more than our fair share into the pot, and I absolutely refuse to become a stranger to my wife and daughter or cut corners on my education for the sake of what some of you very mistakenly believe are YOUR tax dollars.

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Nursing is my second degree, second career. I saved up for nursing school expenses while taking prereqs because I knew I could no longer work full time and go to nursing school due to conflicting schedules. At 30 I took a job at costco while in nursing school. I would work at least 24 hours a week to have health insurance (required for our program) and make a little money as well. I had friends that lived off loans but would not encourage that. Most places are flexible with school if you need to work which it sounds like you may have to in order to make ends meet. Nursing school is stressful regardless if you are working or not. Find a flexible job and if it becomes too much then you can cut back or quit. Save that money now though!

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For those wish to take out loans for school whether it be for school fees or living expenses , make sure you do some RESEARCH. We have a student loan debt crisis in the country due to unemployment and/or people borrowing more than they can afford. I'm a senior in nursing school and I'm working at least 24 hours a week at the hospital and may work more than that during some weeks. For me its worth it, I'm in a competitive job market and I know individuals who are still looking for jobs and they graduated 2 years ago. Working as a tech or student nurse is a great to earn some money and get your foot in the door.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology.

I'm definitely not going to say that all people who choose not to work during nursing school are lazy because I don't know their situations, but I definitely know nursing students who know they could work and choose not to because they don't want to compromise on social activities and such, and also don't mind getting government assistance. Personally, I work because I like my job in the ER (medical scribing) and I don't want to depend on someone else for money if I can do it myself. I managed a 4.0 last semester with 17 credits and a job. It's not impossible.

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Your post regarding her education only spoke to the NP program but she clearly had to obtain a BSN first and that wasn't tailored to working students. Just a thought.

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You can take college loans out to cover expenses. Make sure most credit bills are paid off. Apply for SNAPS, Food Assistance. Bunk up with a friend or family member. If can ditch the ride take a bike or bus to school library go for it. Sign up for school work program's that can be flexible to your school needs. Sign up for per diem work/casual work pick up work when you can. Bank money in the summer if not at school.

Best of luck unfortunately for myself need to work going to try to wiggle into a night position eventually see where things go. Probably have to forego nursing if working less than 24 hour's ugh!

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There isn't any shame in food assistance programs although I personally would prefer my tax dollars go to those who aren't able to work and need to feed their families not just to those who want a lower stress college experience.

People and their fallacious tax dollar arguments :nono:

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Everyone's situation is different. Some people can't handle working and going to school.

Some people simply don't have the luxury of NOT working. Whatever works best for YOU is ultimately what YOU should do.

Yep! Its really that simple.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
People and their fallacious tax dollar arguments :nono:

Yeah baby cause everything is just freaking free, right? :no:

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This thread soo rabbit trailed

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And then you followed the trail and resuscitated a dead rabbit? Lol

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