Nursing students get any assistance from the government if school wont let you work?

k_girl153 · Jul 31, 2012

A lot of people take out additional money to help ease the pain of bills during school. Nursing school definitly isn't ideal when it comes to finding a job. My best friend keeps getting rejected due to our schedule next semester.

Can you work part time? I would try to find a pt job with hours starting after 5 pm. Waitressing is also a good way to earn money.

hgrimmett · Jul 31, 2012

Don't expect any help from the US gov't. Even if you applied for food stamps, if they find out you had a job and quit, they're not going to like that. Good luck.

I know people who work 11P-7A in a nursing home and then show up for class at 9 AM. Don't know how they do it.. maybe because they're younger than me. I cannot imagine doing that for two years straight.

Chad Collins · Jul 31, 2012

Unfortunatly any gov't assistance is based on your income last year. If you made decent money you wont get any the first year if your income drops you may get some assistance the second year sucks don't it

kristin6727 · Jul 31, 2012

I would suggest getting a later job. I am sure you can find something in the evening.

mickey_RN · Jul 31, 2012

I am going into my 4th semester of nursing school (ADN), and it is very hard to work and go to school. What I have done is to get a Part-time job in a nursing home (I work every Friday and every other Saturday and Sunday) I take out extra student loans to make up the difference. My BF works, and I am lucky because he pays most of the big bills (rent, and groceries.) but every month I make $400 less than what we need to make up the difference. When I decided to go to nursing school, I prepared beforehand, we have no car payments, we do not take vacations, my kids get things for their birthdays and christmas, and thats pretty much it. We live cheap, we go without new things, we drive older cars, and I work pretty much full time between semesters. Its not an easy way to live, and I am frequently jealous of my classmates that do not work, drive new cars, go on vacation, and have endless time to study. But that really only gets you so far and how I handle it is up to me...:) You are capable of much more than you think you are! Oh, and the song "Better Life" by Keith Urban has become my theme song! lol

"Oh now there's a place for you and me

Where we can dream as big as the sky

I know it's hard to see it now

But baby someday we're gonna fly

This road we're on, you know it might be long

But my faith is strong

It's all that really matters"

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jul 31, 2012

You CAN work - I sure did in a program very similar to yours. You just need a different job. I worked three evening per week plus every single weekend for a year. Fun? No. Hard? Yes. Worth it? Graduated debt free. (did the same thing with my subsequent ADN, BSN and MSN programs, too)

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Jul 31, 2012

Don't expect any help from the US gov't. Even if you applied for food stamps, if they find out you had a job and quit, they're not going to like that. Good luck.
I know people who work 11P-7A in a nursing home and then show up for class at 9 AM. Don't know how they do it.. maybe because they're younger than me. I cannot imagine doing that for two years straight.

I did that and survived. Fell asleep in class at least once. PM shift is better.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2012

I'm in school pretty much every day this semester too (with the exception of weekends & Tuesday). I'm just gonna work the weekends (like I did before as a CNA). I would definitely recommend looking for a PRN position or a weekend part-time position. It isn't fun like others have mentioned, but it's doable.

hereicome · Jul 31, 2012

I don't know if your school offers the WIA program. My does and they pay for your fees, uniforms and books. If your fee is already covered they give you $1000 per semester. They also give $12 a day for transportation if u are in class for at least 3hrs and $70 a week for child care. If u made too much last year, u just need to wait 3 months and apply. All they care about is your income for the past three months. They have been very helpful. Good luck

SlaveHeart · Jul 31, 2012

Yeah I'm pretty sure most states will give assistance to students to help pay for daycare and transportation. Where I did my CNA class my kids went to daycare for free, I was able to get foodstamps, a buss pass (but I rode my bike, lol) and a tuition waiver. I was able to use my grant from financial aid to pay for rent. I'm hoping to get the same thing when I finally start nursing school, whenever that is!

yolandaoz · Aug 1, 2012

First thing congrats on getting into nursing school. You can do anything you put your mind to, you did not mention if you have a family or not. But as I said before it's durable. If you are single, you can move into a room or get a roommate and share some of your bills, if you have a family then you need to figure that. There are lots of programs out there, at my current school a lot of the people are collecting unemployment and they also qualify for food stamps, book vouchers you name it, I'm still trying to learn all what's available. I did not qualify for financial aid, but was advised by one of their advisor to apply for something that was available for people that already has a degree, I applied and was approved. And I work prn, go figure. With you working full-time, as you get more into the program you may need to lessen up your workload or as someone above suggested to go prn. Again if you want it badly you'll get it...Good Luck.