Part-time or hungry?

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2014

i did an ABSN in 2006. I had previous degree in Business admin. I quit my job and just banged it out. It was 21 hours a semester but was just fall spring summer fall and then done. I lived in a crappy apartment but I had saved from my prior job. I did take out loans for tuition but lived on my savings for food etc. My thought was I am in school. I didn't even have a tv. Any free time I was studying or at the gym. Nothing else. First off look at your cost of living. Do you have kids? I have no kids or spouse so just me. Are you going to school in the local area? Find out the cost. You really need to talk with the school and find out what they offer. I do not know of any part time nursing, but there may be somewhere. Usually nursing schools are super strict about their programs. They accept x amount of students and expect them done at a certain time to get the next group. If you haven't been accepted or applied then you got at least a year before you will start more than likely. Lots of schools have waiting lists. All I can say is talk with the school. And start saving every dime you can. I was happy to go accelerated because I wanted it over and to get to work ASAP.

RunBabyRN · Jul 13, 2014

I don't know of any part time programs, but I've heard on here that maybe one or two exist somewhere in the world. People do make it work working full time during a full time nursing program, but a teaching position is unlikely to offer the flexibility you NEED in nursing school. You don't usually get to pick and choose when you take your classes. Your classes are offered at this time on this day, period. You're in clinicals on this day at this time, period. Then, the next semester, it's a different schedule, but equally rigid. You may have to work a different job while in nursing school, realistically. Maybe tutoring or something else very flexible for which you're very qualified.

Next, cut your expenses ASAP, and scrimp and save every penny. Rent a bedroom in a house, move in with your parents, ride your bike to save gas, no eating out, no travel, no extraneous anything. Work a second job for now to get extra income (or start building that tutoring base). Avoid private loans like the plague. They're very dangerous, and you'll spend a very long time paying a lot of money.

Also, find out about scholarships.

Next, find out about the job market in your area. Do they even HIRE ADN or LVN-prepared nurses? In some areas, no one does anymore, and as it is, it's very challenging for new grads to find work. The major cities in TX are pretty impacted. Check out the Texas forum. In most cities, you need a BSN to get a hospital job, and almost every position requires RN experience. Do your homework before you take this leap.

Good luck!

cleanmedia · Jul 13, 2014

windsurfer8 and RunBabyRN,

Thank you for the comments. I did a job search on Indeed.com for Houston LVNs, and it returned quite a few results (658 to be exact), not all of which are full-time. I read on another post here that there are some online-lecture/arrange-your-own-clinicals programs. I found one that may fit that description over the weekend, so I will have to call during the week. I am seriously cutting expenses starting now - downsizing the car, the apartment, the utilities, everything and more. I have to have a 2 bedroom (just not an expensive one) - I'm a non-custodial parent, and my daughter is 13 - needs her own room. Thanks again.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2014

Good day, cleanmedia:

Check for schools that have part time LPN/RN programs. In our geographic area, there are at least three school that have evening programs for those who need to work full time. It does add a year to the completion time.

Thank you.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jul 13, 2014

My area has no part time programs within an hour or so from me. The people I know who worked full time either had home based businesses they ran with help from family or worked as CNAs--the pay is not good-- a little more than minimum wage.

A lot of people took out private and federal loans to supplement their income.

I just scraped by without working. It was hard, but I made it. I did a 1 yr Lvn program, now I can work part time as an Lvn while finishing my RN. Lvn pay is decent, so part time work provides adequate income for me. As the OP said, reducing expenses was (is) key. I don't have cable or a car payment. I live where rent is low. There are bridge programs in most places so you can transition from Lvn to RN in 1 yr. in my area , the bridges are about 3-4 days/ wk, which allows for some work. Then the RN to BSN program is 1 day per week on campus. My way is taking longer but I can earn as I learn.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Jul 13, 2014

Part time programs are few and far between. However if you did not take loans in undergrad you will qualify for federal loans through financial aid which typically covers the total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, living expenses, etc)

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2014

You will have to check with financial aid. Since you already have a degree you may not have any money available. Part time programs are rare, but they do exist. I could not imagine working in the program, but I know many people who do. Just do some research and see what is available to you.

cleanmedia · Jul 13, 2014

Thanks so much to everybody. I am single, so moving to where there is a part-time program such as PA or CA may be possible, although what I have heard and seen of California is that living cost is pretty high.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2014

If you are going to do it..look also at places like Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota..SUPER cheap cost of living. Also I would seriously consider an ABSN. If you already have a bachelors they are perfect. They are designed for career changes. Check out Univ. of Wyoming. Laramie is cool city and great program.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2014

Thanks so much to everybody. I am single, so moving to where there is a part-time program such as PA or CA may be possible, although what I have heard and seen of California is that living cost is pretty high.

There are programs that you can do part-time, but all that means is that you are taking less than the traditional 12 credits that defines full-time. You might not need all the pre-requisite courses, as you have a prior degree, but it IS likely you will need all the sciences. Those classes come with labs, and significant study-time commitments, so...."part-time" is a little misleading.

After you get that settled (assuming you are able to do the pre-requs in time-fitting pieces), you will need to enroll in a nursing program that also fits your teaching job availability....and THAT is where you will hit the wall.

Even nursing programs that allow for less than full-time status for the first few semesters at some point really WILL become full-time. But your biggest problem is going to be the scheduling of the courses and clinicals themselves: "self-scheduling" only means that as long as it's working for everyone, you can pick your clinical locations and times....and course times. HOWEVER (and this is a HUGE "however") you cannot count on that always being the case. Even when you have a schedule that makes you do the Happy Dance, you might just get that phone call telling you that your clinical group is being reassigned; now instead of meeting Saturdays at 10am, you meet on Wednesdays from 9-5. And the lab you wanted to take in the evening? Sorry, that one's filled, no one is willing to switch, and you must take the one on Tuesday mornings. And don't forget that this semester, a course you absolutely MUST take, no exceptions, will be held for everyone in the program at the same time: Thursdays, noon.

How well will this work into your employment schedule teaching HS math?

Online courses may be an option for some classes, but probably only the ones you already have under your belt. Anything with a lab attached won't likely be accepted in whatever nursing program you ultimately wish to land. And, of course, you have to be certain that the pre-requs you DO take ARE accepted where you wish to go for nursing itself, as otherwise, what's the point?

Something to think about: you currently have a job, and while I don't know how well it pays, or its benefits, you HAVE a JOB. In much of the country there is an overabundance of nursing school graduates who cannot find jobs. Some places it's definitely better, but are you sure you're willing to move to the very rural, less-than-desirable locations that might want to hire you?

One last thing to consider: keep away from California, probably the worst idea you can come up with at this time. Full programs, long waiting lists, and NO JOBS upon graduation. I'm talking just shy of half of all new grads cannot find any employment in nursing. And then next year.....thousands more new grads.

Slight chances of getting in, slight chances of employment afterward.

I think some more thinking on this is in order.....Good Luck!

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2014

RNsRWE do you have statistics on that? What confuses me is there are X amount of nursing schools that can only create X amounts of students. So even if there is a 10 year waiting list you are still only going to have X amount of new nurses who graduate. I graduated from the East coast in 2007 and I have worked since day 1. In Boston and DC they are still hiring new grads constantly. And still the med surg units are always scrambling for staff. I just don't get the thousands of new grads how that is different than before. Are there hundreds of new universities? I just don't understand it. As the populating of elderly is skyrocketing..Are you talking specific jobs or even LTC facilities? Just curious.