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

ms.nikki · Aug 1, 2012

Thank you for the great advice!:) but it is hard to find a job just for couple hours a night....my fiance has been laid off so I'm kinda stressin to my limits....its gonna be hard but ill have to find a way to make things work somehow:( any other great advice will help! Thanks again:)

Tragically Hip · Aug 1, 2012

Get in touch with the unemployment/job retraining folks in your state or county. Since the believe there's a nursing shortage, and so many are interested in the field as a second career, they will often help pay for job retraining. In my low-benefits state, you need to either qualify for unemployment insurance, or not qualify because you haven't worked enough.

If you do qualify for retraining, they will pay your tutition, etc. (I'm not sure what the limits are) as long as you're admitted to a nursing program. It's definitely worth looking into.

They may also be able to guide you to other services, such as food assistance, rent assistance, child care, etc.

Aongroup1990, CNA · Aug 1, 2012

Ok, Do not be ashamed of what you need and I suggest you apply for food stamps, cash, and go to the unemployment office. Try to get free daycare or apply for section 8. You may really be in need of help from the government based on your situation. They also offer free cna training as well. In certain states.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 1, 2012

Just be aware if you quit your job to go to nursing school you might be deemed ineligible for assistance programs from WIA (Workforce initiative--a program designed to help laid off & unemployed individuals get back into the workforce), unemployment, and other programs. Some government programs automatically disqualify you if you quit your job, even if it is to return to school. Kind of like full time students generally cannot collect unemployment after only working 4 months of the summer and return to school.

You can also check with your financial aid office for potential funding and possible discounts on child care, etc.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 1, 2012

ok, so this is my first time on this so please forgive me.... i'm about start nursing school and its mon-fri from 8-4pm... i currently work 5am-1pm everyday but with school i can not work...i don't know what i can do or get help with, i have to pay my bills...can anyone help?

i don't understand why you can't work. go out and get a job with different hours. or ask to have your hours changed.

Elladora · Aug 1, 2012

I worked through nursing school. Many times I slept in my car between classes and work. It's hard but it can be done.

See if you can work different hours or find another part time job with hours that work for your schedule.

creativemom, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2012

I'm in the day program M-Th and work nights T, F, Sa. During the week I forgo some sleep due to having to care for my child. You study in the car at stop lights, while waiting in line, after your child goes to bed and when eating.

Life sucks when in RN school but just think, once you're done you'll have better salary, hours, and pay. Look to the end not today.

Work weekends if you can. Hospitals pay better and may provide you with better hours. They understand school (most, not all) and see that it's in investment for most likely you'll end up working for them on their floor. Great way to get your foot in the door to an RN job.

They have parent shifts, PRN, full time, part time, etc.

ms.nikki · Aug 2, 2012

Re: Ruby Vee

I understand what you are saying but I don't think you understand what I'm trying to get acrossed. I have worked at panera bread for 5 yrs since I have graduated from HS. They will work with my schedule but I could only work 4 hrs a night I would drive myself into the ground for a check that wouldn't even pay half my rent. I have to make sure I can pay my rent nipsco school payments and other necessities every month. I have applied for other jobs but they don't wanna hire me because of my availability.I live in indiana so if you have any better ideas let me know.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 2, 2012

Have you tried looking at any of the healthcare facilities for an evening or weekend job? Even working as a dietary aide (would likely be weekends only as they dont' usually serve meals overnight), unit secretary (there are often shifts around the clock and weekends) or transporter would get you some additional exposure to the healthcare industry. Plus it may get you some recommendations or even a job offer when you graduate and pass the NCLEX. (though not many hospitals hire new grad LPN's) You can also inquire at a LTC about a CNA position (not high pay, but may be a free certification class. Some states permit you to challenge the CNA exam once you complete a portion of your nursing education--usually nursing fundamentals)

You can also try home health (many agencies offer free training/certification as a home health aide) which will help you develop your patient care and interaction skills.

Pets to People · Aug 2, 2012

I see what you are saying OP. I gave up my job to go back to school because the economy was making it so difficult to find a full-time vet tech job. I had always had my pick of jobs before, but when I made the decision to go back to school to get my RN I was working a job that had to bump me down to barely part-time.

Now I do not work, I have recieved a scholarship (could have gotten WIA instead but I prefer the scholarship, amount is the same, can only take one, can't have both), two grants, full amount of one loan (the scholarship replaces the other), WIC and food stamps. If I were to work I would not qualify for the food stamps, the grants and possibly not the scholarship and definately not the WIA. It is crazy that it is easier for me to not work than it is if I were to have a job! If I were to get a job in this area, I would only make minimum wage, and with going to school I would only be able to work part-time, I would have to pay extra or get extra assistance to put my children in daycare and lose what little time I have to spend with my children when I am not in class, so it would not even be worth it.

So I suck up my pride, take all the help I can get, and know that once I graduate I will make up for all the government assistance I recieved through the higher taxes I will pay via my higher salary.

Also, food stamps go by what you've made financially in the past 6 months, not past year, and if you are not employed (they don't care if you quit or were fired) you just need to provide proof that you are no longer working, as well as proof of your bills, rent, etc which they take into account on how much you will recieve. Financial aid goes by what you've made in the past year. This happened to me during my first year at school for pre-reqs...because I made too much money the previous year I only recieved loans and not grants, but for the next two years I recieved all that I mentioned above. I pay all my bills up for 6 months to keep me until the next round of loans, and keep my bills to an absolute minimum. My car was repo'd when I was pushed to part-time and couldn't afford my stupidly high car payment, so I first bought a really cheap beater, then after two semesters was able to buy a more reliable car, no more car payments for me, ever!

We buy only what we need, rarely if ever eat out, I grow a garden and raise chickens to add to reduce food costs, commute with other students when I can (gas costs are crazy), don't buy stuff I don't need and so on. I have been through hell these past few years but I have learned a lot. You never realize what you can go without until you are forced to go without it, then you find out that hey, you can survive without it. I have had situations where I have had to choose whether I would use the change I was able to dig out of my car, because we spent out last dollars on gas, to either buy toilet paper or food. Of course food would come first, but you have to be able to wipe for crying out loud, so I would have to "borrow" TP from school. Not having health insurance sucks as well.

I keep my fingers crossed every day that all this will turn out to be worth it once I graduate and start practicing as an RN. My family and I have not had a vacation in going on five years now.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Jun 21, 2016

Hi , I thought you have to work 20 hours a week if you are a student to get food stamps?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 21, 2016

Hi , I thought you have to work 20 hours a week if you are a student to get food stamps?

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