Nursing School and Working Full-Time?

heelnurse · Feb 5, 2012

is it physically possible? yes.

are there enough hours in the day to go to school an work full time? maybe

should it be done? honestly--no.

If you are doing an accelerated program I cannot discourage it more.

Your first 2 semesters in nursing school are the hardest, so if possible I'd say don't have a job then.

I'd wait and feel out at least the first semester; see how much time you really need for studying, clinicals, and class time...then assess how many hours you can realistically put into a job

I think your best bet is a part time, if you really need it

maccheese · Feb 11, 2012

I agree, working full time 9-5 would be tough. It may be a bit easier if its an evening program and they allow all practice time and clinical time to be in the evenings. I am in nursing school and working part time but work schedule is very flexible as it seems things always are "coming up." Also, if you don't have kids, its a bit easier to balance work and school.

Hey everyone,
I'm actually a transferring BS student hoping to start a BSN program this fall. I have I think 60 credits right now and will take a couple pre-reqs over the summer to get the ball rolling, but my concern is that I need to pay my rent! I already have student loan debt from my first university and I know nursing school is going to be a huge workload, which may be impossible to commit to with a regular 9-5. In all honesty, I'd love to take out a loan and pay my bills with it so that I can really apply myself to nursing school, but that's a tremendous financial burden to carry. I'm trying my hardest to find need-based scholarships in NY, but they seem to be few and far between...
Is anyone else in this boat? Can working and going to nursing school at the same time, full-time; work?

Wrench Party · Feb 11, 2012

There are women in my traditional BSN program that work full time on the weekends, have families, and are in school full time, but they have good support networks behind them (family help with the kids, a spouse to share responsibilities and income with). I do know they don't get much sleep and feel constantly pressed for time.

I don't know anyone in my school's accelerated program that works full time- the most I heard was 2 12-hour shifts on the weekend, and he was able to pull it off because he had saved up a lot of money beforehand.

Some possibilities I can think of for you include:

1) work part time while in school full time, if you can manage a tight budget and the time management to do it.

2) hold off on school until you have built up a "nest egg" of living expenses for your total school time.

3) look into part time programs

MorphineIVSTAT · Feb 11, 2012

I work 50 hours a week minimum (this is absolutely necessary for my expenses). I get zero help (single and my small family is far from wealthy) and also get zero financial aid, so I am paying full tuition out of pocket. I care for my grandmother and a teen (legal guardianship). I attend an accelerated program full-time (four classes this semester). I would be lying if I said it was easy. I would also be lying if I said it was impossible. I have 2 BAs already and had this same crazy schedule through them. I maintain high grades. It is all about finding balance and working out a really good schedule. Finding balance is difficult and I have days where I am literally flying by the seat of my pants to get all of my obligations met.

I am in my second semester of nursing school and it is incredibly challenging, but doable. I am of the mind that if this is what you really and truly want, you will make it work and get it done no matter what. This is what I continue to tell myself on those days where I am so exhausted that I am ready to fall over :) I just know that in a little over a year, this will be done and I can sit back and be proud that I got it done. Also, I will absolutely be doing my Masters part-time lol

nashgirl516 · Feb 11, 2012

I am in my third semester of a two-year program and couldn't even *imagine* working full-time! As it is, I started out working a .7 (56hrs per two weeks) and dropped to a .6 (48hrs/2wks) last semester. Even working this much is difficult! I typically spend most of my dinner breaks trying to fit in an assignment or some study time. I have a mortgage, so I should be working more than I am to pay the bills, but I take out enough in student loans to cover my tuition+books+about $2500 extra to help with additional expenses throughout the semester (that I can't pay because I'm not working enough). So, yes... I will graduate with a fair amount of debt, BUT I also know that I should be able to pay it off within a year or two of working my butt off as an RN, so I don't worry too much about it for now. I've got the rest of my life to make $$ -- and a student loan is about one the cheapest/best debt you'll ever accrue!