Nursing School while still working?

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Hello,

I have long thought about being a nurse, but have set it aside as life was busy with kids (now grown - 1 in Nursing School) work was plentiful and fulfilling, etc.... Now, my industry is very slow, financially it would be a bit more doable, etc... Everyone that I have asked either within the industry, or others that have made midlife changes has said they think I would make a great nurse, and to go for it. We have a highly regarded Associates Degree Nursing program right in out small town with somewhat flexible class times, and the Financial Aid looks like it would be the best while my kids are still in school too. The stars might be aligning :D

What my biggest worry at this point is I would need to keep working part time at least to make it work financially. I am not sure how much time I would need to allot to work vs. schooling, and if I could fit it all in. My job is pretty flexible as far as 'when' I work, so that would be a huge help with scheduling.

I would need to do all the pre-requisites, as I have had no relevant courses under my belt. The courses here are somewhat gear toward 'adult students' in a way that it is usually 9-11 credits per semester. The way most semester (I figure it would take me 3-4 to do pre-reqs, and 4 for the nursing classes/clinicals) are laid out they are 9-12 classroom/lab hours for pre-reqs and about 4-6 classroom hours and 11-12 clinical hours for the nursing classes, until the last semester with bumps up to 15-16 clinical hours.

So, what I am wondering is this; with that type of load, how much, on average, would you all say it took to do your studies outside of the classroom/clinicals? I have 'heard' that 2-3 hours per credit hour is 'average'. I honestly don't know how clinicals work and if/how much outside studies are associated with that part. Is 20-30 hours of extra studies an accurate 'estimate'?

I feel I would need to work at least 20 hours per week to make things work. If it could be more, all the better. I an no stranger to working 60+ hours per week in my current job when needed, so lots of hours dont really bother me. I would say I am most likely a little better than average learner - better at concepts than memorizing facts.

Thanks for any advice you can provide,

djd

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I have three kids - 2, 7, & 11 work around 20 hours a week and I'm in nursing school. It's hard - very hard. First your children are grown so that should make it a lot easier and you having a flexible job is a plus. You just had to make up your mind whether you want to put in the long hours studying and the hard work. If so you can do.

Clinical days are hard. You pick up you patient assignment the day before clinicals (usually around 3:00 - 4:00 pm in the afternoon). You are required to look up and know all meds, the side effects, and other information. You must know your patient illness - let's just say that you have lots of paperwork to complete and do the night before clinical. So sometimes you don't get in bed until midnight and will have to get up at 4:00 to make it to clinicals by 6:00. So if you have function on a few hours of sleep you'll be fine. I don't know how much I study a week but do know that all my free time including weekends is now consumed with nursing school.

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Wow. That's scary. I'm also thinking about a BS in nursing. I will be graduating in Dec with a BA in sociology and is contemplating nursing.I am a CNA who does home care.It has helped me work part time while I went to school full time. But I'm changing my track, I no longer want to be a social worker. I also have 3 kids 16,14, and 2. T

I have the same concerns as you do, but I know I have to work some.

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its not THAT bad. My advice, re-write your notes as soon as you get home, it stick better that way. The thing i love about nursing school is that its mostly common sense. review, review , review. Get CONCEPTS down. learn nursing care and inventions. NOBODY cares if you know how a virus replicated in the body, in nursing care they only care about WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR YOUR PATIENT.

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I worked full time, while going to LPN school full time (8 hrs a day, 5 days a week for 15 months..none of the typical 'college' breaks. We only got a week at Christmas...the Federal holidays off and I want to say 1/2 a week in the Spring). My two daughters were in kindergarten and a freshman in high school. I graduated with a 3.8, passed my NCLEX 3 days after graduation first shot.

Now I'm in my LPN to RN bridge, I still work full time, still have the two kids..now the little one is in 5th grade and the older is in her sophmore year of college, I'm doing well.

I would rather NOT have to work at all, but times are tough for everyone. If you can't quit all together I might suggest figuring out the least amount of hours you have to work in order to live..and if you're able reduce your work down to that.

While, I do have a lot of hours that I have to devote to studying, I have never had to invest the 2-3 hrs/credit type studying. Some people have to in order to keep their grades up. I'm thankful that I don't. Most of my study time is my sciences. Math, Psych, Sociology, etc don't take up a lot of my time.

while in LPN school, clinical was rough. We had to be to clinicals much earlier than what we did for class. There was a ton of paperwork to do prior to clinicals and a ton of time consuming paperwork and assignments after. THAT is when I soooo wanted to not be working. And when clinicals start for my RN I'm sure I'll again dread that I have to work as much as I do.

You're kids are older so that makes it a bit easier. They are self-sufficient and don't need "mom" as much. You have a flexible job..thats a big plus. If available I'd suggest taking a few online classes for your pre-reqs, that makes it easier too.

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I did nursing school full time and worked full time. It took me 4 semesters. Here is what that looked like.

Each morning my day started at 4am. I was out the door by 4:30am, at clinicals by 5:30 (had to take the train) or at school by 6am. I was done with class either by 12pm or 1pm, depending on if it was a clinical day or not. Then I went directly to work. Work was over at 8pm, I would go home, study and be in bed by 10pm.

It can be done, its hard but its only temporary.

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