Nursing student and overhead costs

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2019

The moderators might move this to the nursing student forum for a better set of responses. I also cashed in some retirement to pay for nursing school and took a giant tax hit that was not offset by my not working. Also I was absolutely not able to work during nursing school but that was just me. If I had it to do over I might have attempted to get a CNA or PCT certification and done weekend work, which would have given me a better view of the hospital.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 24, 2019

I moved it for you. ? I have always worked while going to school. Best of luck in your program!

Tacocat, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2019

I work an office job full time during the day and take evening classes. I'm lucky that my job is flexible when I need to leave early for classes or clinical.

DavidASmithRN2B · Apr 24, 2019

I am currently in school as well, also a male similar in age (34). I work two 16 hour shifts on the weekends (32 hours total) and attend school during the week. I am doing this with 4 kids as well. It’s hard but manageable. I plan to continue on to a DNP program as well. Good luck to you in your endeavor.

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2019

Depending on what your school schedule will be like, finding a weekend job may be your best bet without interupting your studies if you're worried about that. Otherwise many people, especially non-traditional students, are able to work full time and go to school full time. You just have to accept and get in the mindframe that your life will likely only consist of school and work for a while and that it will be worth the sacrifice.

Oldmahubbard · Apr 24, 2019

I went to an ADN many moons ago. Nobody I knew worked 40 hours, and took 4 classes, which was the definition of full time in those days, and succeeded.

Not saying it's impossible.

On the other hand, I worked 25 or so hours a week and it was quite doable. But I was also only taking 3 classes, because I had previous college credits.

araew2129, ADN · Apr 25, 2019

I'm also a nontraditional student. Luckily I have my husband to help pay living expenses, though his income is not enough so I will have to work. I currently work 34 hrs per week as an in-home caretaker, which gives me a lot of flexibility. My plan and hope is that I can continue to do so throughout nursing school. We will have to use private student loans for tuition and school expenses as I am a second degree student.

ThatChickOmi, ADN, RN · Apr 26, 2019

I started my ADN program at 32 as well. I paid tuition out of pocket and it's just me paying my bills. I also work a job totally unrelated to healthcare. I work Friday-Saturday-Sundays (AM shift, 5am- whenever I get out), generally anywhere from 24-27 hours per week. I'm about to graduate in less than a month and I've maintained good grades. It's possible. I have like no life anymore besides school and work and I haven't seen any of my non-nursing school friends in months, but hey....sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you want. They understand.

The only difference with me is I do have money saved up (years of being a workaholic) so I was fine even after taking the hit after working less hours and all the costs of school and books, etc. I wish you the best. Maybe looking into getting some sort of assistance with food and whatnot for the time being?

ThatChickOmi, ADN, RN · Apr 26, 2019

On 4/24/2019 at 4:33 PM, JadedCPN said:
You just have to accept and get in the mindframe that your life will likely only consist of school and work for a while and that it will be worth the sacrifice.

Bingo.

Luchador, CNA, EMT-B · Apr 29, 2019

On 4/24/2019 at 9:01 AM, pi.student said:
Hello Nursing community,
I come here as I am certain that my situation is not unique and am curious to learn how everyone else has managed.
Situation: I am not 100% certain on how I will cover my overhead costs once I start an ADN program this Fall 2019. (In four MONTHS!)
Background: Non- traditional College Student (age 32). Male. Debt: I will use my retirement to clear my debt by the time I start Fall 2019. I will have virtually $0 in savings. No other source of financial support. No family to co-sign on a loan.
GPA: 3.7 Science GPA: 3.5 TEAS: 77%
I have the following questions for those who have been through this:
How did you manage? How many hours max did you find was reasonable to work without impacting your studies? What suggestions do you have for me?
Thanks for sharing.

I'm also a non trad student with only one more year to go (woot!).

I've been able to manage by working part time and my lovely wife is acting as bread winner these two years while I'm in school. We are just eating crap for two years while I'm a student.

Be careful working full time. Everybody in my cohort that had to work full time flunked out.

ThatChickOmi, ADN, RN · May 4, 2019

I think working would only work during nursing school if your jobs are non-traditional hours (not the "9-5" hours). I have a few classmates that either worked only 1-2 overnights as techs/CNAs at the hospital, or were in childcare and was able to chill at work to study. My job involves a lot of driving so open-book studying isn't really an option for me, but I do listen to recorded lectures quite literally my entire shift. It's worked out for me.

Many of my classmates had to either cut back considerably or quit altogether.