paying for "life" while in full time school

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Hello all - I start nursing school this fall - I'm told that I should expect to be in class 8-4pm Monday through Friday, yet the FA counselor has told me not to expect FA to pay for my living expenses... What I want to know is if I'm in class/on campus 40 hours a week, and of course spending another 15+ hours over the weekend studying, how can I have even a part time job to pay for a tiny portion of my living expenses?? Also, many current nursing students say it's impossible to work with the class load.

My yearly Pell Grant pays for more than 100% of my tuition, books etc, so I know I will receive a small refund each term; I've applied for many scholarships that I don't have the results of yet (this month) and I know there are loans I can take out, which I don't mind doing at all, but will they be enough?? Also, the FA counselor said they are getting less and less funding every year. I'm just panicking about being able to get through this. I've worked so hard to get here. I am a single mother, my daughter is 17 - she's pretty independent (as much as a 17 year old can be!!) but has another year of high school, and I need and want to provide a home for her - Rent here (Oregon) is really high, even in the crummy neighborhoods... If it was just me I'd rent a room and spend every waking hour at the library, but that's not my situation. Anyway, looking for some experienced advice - we have an information session in a few weeks and I hope to get all my questions answered, or at least asked there.

Thank you!!

Jules

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I feel your pain and I do have a full-time job. I support myself solely and work three 12-hour shifts a week, Fri., Sat., and Sun. It's especially tough when you work your three days and then you have to wake up bright and early for an exam the next morning. It seems as if there is not time to study. I'm also more broke than ever; it's bad. This is the first time I've had to pay for school since I had an academic scholarship to get me through the BAS program. Anyway, I'm sorry I have no advice for you but I wanted to relate and you are definitely not alone. Just remember this - work hard and you'll be done in only 18 months! Think about how you feel now and then imagine having to do it for even longer in an event you don't apply yourself or become slightly unmotivated and fail a term. You can do this!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I worked doubles on the weekends thru school as much as possible. If that is an option. During the week I studied every extra second.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I do part time CNA in LTC, every other weekend 3-11 and one day during the week 3-11. That's for summer schedule. Fall I might have to change it up depending on my course load/clinical. I pay for school out of pocket so I feel your pain. If I wasn't living with someone who paid the mortgage I'd be living back home with my parents (and I'm 50, so that would double-suck).

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Specializes in Education, research, neuro.

You are incorrect on the hour ratio. If a theory (lecture) class is worth 3 credits, then figure 3:1 hours (9) of study for that. If you have a lab course (med administration, for example) it's about 1:1. So 2 credits in a lab class = 4 hours a week. When you are in clinical (let's say you are doing 12 hours/week in the hospital) it is about 1:3. Or 4 hours of outside study.

This is just a rough guess-tament. Everyone is different.

But no school has 40 hours/week in the classroom. Rather, being a full time student is a full time job and it should take about 40 hours/week TOTAL to succeed.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I am also in your situation. I do not have children, but I am in a long distance marriage due to my choice to go back to school to provide a better life for myself and my husband who has a life-altering physical disability. I am currently awaiting to be accepted into the ADN program which is 16 months full-time. I understand the dilemma of this and it has been partly what has held me back thus far in my decision to pursue nursing school full-time.

My plan is this: Applying for every single scholarship that is available to me through my college (for my college this is usually AFTER the first semester of nursing school has begun, but may be different for you where you live), Using the refunds from my Pell Grants/Federal Loans and making that stretch for extra cash throughout my stent in nursing school, and working 2 12 hour shifts on Friday and Saturday nights in the hospital I am currently employed with to have Sunday as a recharge, study, tidy up my home etc. day.

At 26, I am currently living at home with my parents. I was living in New York City with an AA degree and did not want to wait to be an in-state resident just to be able to go to college. So I left my husband, his needs with his disability, and our home to move back in with my parents, be basically broke with working a part time job just to pay my monthly bills, and spending all of my free time trying to absorb every bit of knowledge I can get out of my current job as a CNA in a hospital. I regret doing this many days because I sacrificed my marriage, my happiness, and most of all my time with my loved ones just to obtain a degree. I would say to anyone if you are going to do this route of obtaining a nursing degree, make sure that you are not completely dismembering your entire life unless it is your true passion and you are willing to invest everything you have to get it done as quickly as possible so you can enjoy and move on with your life.

My bills DON'T include a mortgage, which is why I moved to my parents at first. I do pay for my car, car insurance, gas, food, phone and any other miscellaneous bills that may come into play for the month. This situation is NOT ideal, but will most likely continue even when I am accepted into the program for the fall, due to my husband being away and maintaining our home (with all the bills) in another state.

I even thought about using my refunds each semester to pay some of my monthly expenses in advance WHILE I attend nursing school just so if I needed to say go PRN or stop working that would be taken care of. For MAJOR expenses, like doctor visits (I do have medical insurance through my employer thankfully), dental appointments, and other bills that may arise I have come to terms with having to put these things off until nursing school is finished.

The biggest part of going through nursing school is that it stops your life. I stopped my life when I moved back to my home state and moved in with my parents. I was lucky enough to be employed through a hospital and gain over a year of experience, which I know will help me immensely with the clinical aspect in school, and if I was employed at anywhere else I wouldn't even bother working during nursing school IF that was an option for me. You will need some kind of support system, because if you are in the boat of pretty much everyone else in the world, people depend on you for things, whomever they may be, and you will also depend on them. Remind people that this sacrifice is for the benefit of not only yourself but those around you who continue to be your supporters and encouragers through this journey. Good luck to you and I wish you all the best in your journey!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
But no school has 40 hours/week in the classroom. Rather, being a full time student is a full time job and it should take about 40 hours/week TOTAL to succeed.
The private vocational/practical nursing programs in CA require the student to be at school and/or in clinical approximately 40 hours per week.

When I was attending a VN program, clinical practicum was conducted on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:30am to 3:00pm, and the theory (classroom portion) took place on Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00am to 4:00pm. In other words, I was physically present in school 40 hours weekly.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

"Clock hour" vocational schools have to meet a different set of regulations based upon students' physical presence in the learning environment. Credit-hour (traditional college) programs include 'assumptions' of study time that make up the total educational requirement. The assumptions are based on average... some students will require more, but some of us will require much less. Bottom line, it is not "impossible" to work while in nursing school. BTDT.

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Thank you - I'm learning as I go, but when I spoke with the nursing adviser she definitely said 8-4pm Monday thru Friday; including class time, labs, clinicals etc. I will get my fall schedule on the 18th of this month, so I guess I will see then exactly what I'm up against.

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If this helps any, I'm a full time nursing student here in Texas , I also work full time, Friday , Saturday and Sunday nights 12 hr shifts. I pay for my classes out of pocket, no FA. Have three children a wife and four dogs, a house payment and two car payments, and all the bills that come along with this. Son just graduated.. $.. Daughter is a senior$ and youngest in gymnastics $.. If I can do it so can you. You just have to do some creative financing and cut out a lot of non essential things, like eating out, shopping for clothes that you really don't need. It's been a long time since I had a new pair of shoes or clothes. I usually wear scrubs every day anyway ,just me. But it can be done.. My instructors said I wouldn't have time to work but I don't have a choice in the matter I have to live and provide for my family no matter what. So take a good look at your time and schedule and sit down with a calendar and writ it all down it really helps if you have an employer that is willing to work with you also. GOOD LUCK!! And GOD BLESS!! It can be done.

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