should a person work if they don't have to while in school?

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simple question. what's your opinion? if a person is a full-time nursing student in 2nd year of program; should they work at all if the finances are not needed by family (husband has income to provide for family).

Thanks for your input.

sproeber89 - Wow, I totally agree w/ u :up:. Good advice. :wink2:

AllSmiles225- I agree w/ u to.

If I were u I would work at least PRN/Per Diem anywhere. I got alot of advice on working from current & post nursing graduates. They all told me not to work. Even the instructors said that on our orientation day. I think it is good to work so that you have an outlet of nursing school because you do need to get away from your studies sometimes and apply what you are learning.

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I start Nursing school this mon. and I am in the same situation as you. I do not really have to work but would like to just to have some of my own money. The general response I have got from current and past students is do not do it if you do not have to. So I think I am going to start school and if i feel like a can handle it I may find a place to work a few times a week.

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As a new grad of a ADN program, I just interveiwed for a staff nursing position and they counted my time as a PCS in the hospital as experience because it gave me the knowledge of what goes into caring for a patient, how to interact with the patient and families and over-all how a hospital functions. It is giving me a leg up on the new grads from the BSN program who have no healthcare experience outside of clinicals. Also, the nurses I worked with knew I was a student and let me assist with any procedures I have the time for. It kept me a step ahead of my fellow nursing students.

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By over studying is a lot of students literally took it as a full time job, which is understandable. However, they would literally be at school from 6 am till 5 pm. They studied everything the teacher talked about and things that she didn't even mention. then would panic and think they were getting things wrong because they had absorbed soo much information. They then began second guessing everything we were tested on.

The only advice I could give is to if you are going to not be working a good idea is to just take some time out for yourself, I truly love my job right now and for me its an escape from school but I also get to learn all kinds of neat medical things. It's all about balance in life.

Also, I noticed that the students who didn't work in my class would pester us who did work. Ask us why we worked. I got very fed up with it and finally started saying "Because I haven't found the money tree yet." Everyone in my classes were married or engaged and had kids except me (not even exaggerating here either). i didn't have the extra income and therefore couldn't afford to just not work, my parents don't pay for anything but health insurance but are gracious enough to let me live with them until I graduate. I just can't afford to NOT work.

Thanks again. It sucks that they were pestering you about you working. They don't pay your bills, so how can they just come up to you and ask questions like that?

I think the key is time management and the quality of studying, and that goes for people who work and don't work. I can see where you're coming from, but I think it's individual-specific. Perhaps people who don't work didn't enjoy their job, and therapeutic is the last word on earth to describe it. Maybe they can benefit from hobbies, or other interests. I myself just put in my notice a couple days ago, so I won't be working when I start nursing school this fall. But it doesn't necessarily mean that I won't use that time wisely.

Anyway, thanks for your input because I've never seen it from your point of view, and it definitely gives insight and perspective. :)

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I wouldnt say it is necessary to work if you are not financially obligated to, but having a healthcare job wouldn't be a bad idea because it will help you gain clinical experience outside of school and help get your foot in the door for jobs in the future.

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Overstudying is actually an interesting concept. I struggled with the issue of whether or not I should work while in nursing school. But, I decided that I am still going to work part time (8-12 hours/week) once I start nursing school because I would like some money on the side to pay for bills and I have a feeling that my mind will become desensitized from living and breathing nursing school for the next 2 years. My job is not really stressful, so that's a plus. But if nursing school is too demanding, I would definitely quit my job because I don't want to jeapordize my career goals. I hope school and work altogether will teach me excellent time management skills.

Anyways, everyone has a different situation and we all have different comfort levels when it comes to stress and pressures of school and work. Definitely do what you feel is best for you and your overall situation, try not to base it on what other people are doing. :)

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I would say it depends on your grades. If you can maintain your GPA and work, by all means, i would recommend keeping on working.

I know that others will tell you to stay at home and study BUT i would disagree. Working would be a great stress relief when you can't stew about your nursing instructor ripping your paper apart because you didn't follow APA format. Plus, the extra money comes in handy when you need a drinking binge following a bad day at school/clinical.

C

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Specializes in DOU, Medical-Surgical.

I decided to quit my job after I found out I was accepted because I was told repeatedly to not work, but I mainly quit because of the conflicting schedules I would have. However, after getting a feel for it during my first semester I might look for a new job due to the fact that I'm supporting myself and will be living off grants and loans :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I think it's up to each person/family to decide what's best for them. If we didn't need my income, I would quit my job in a heartbeat. I'm going to be taking 19 hours next semester so I'd love to not have to worry about working. We do need a little money, and the healthcare benefits that come with my job, so I'm going to work part time.

I can't imagine why anyone would pester someone who chooses to work while in school. I would think it would be the other way around--the workers would be a little jealous of those who are only going to school.

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Just wanted to make a quick comment..

I am not going to work while in nursing school (at least for the first year), which starts Aug 24th for me. If I had the option to work as a CNA, I probably would keep my job while in nursing school, at least for 1 or 2 days a week, just to have more experience. Unfortunately, my current work schedule won't allow for me to keep working and going to school, so I am not going to work at all. I'm hoping after my first year that I might be able to work as a CNA or apprentice nurse... We'll see!

I don't understand how anyone can work 5 days a week and doing nursing school full time! I'd probably lose it! But I definitely applaud those working that hard! :yeah: It sounds really difficult.

Also, about the "pestering those who work" comment...I've actually had it the other way around. I've been asked "Why can't you work while you're in nursing school?" and "How are you going to afford not working?".. It gets old, but I just tell people I have it figured out! haha

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No. Focus on your school.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I'm still taking my pre-reqs and having to do them part-time because I HAVE to work at least 30 hours/week to keep my health insurance. I have to keep my health insurance because I have multiple health conditions and my husband can't work, so therefore can't get insurance for the family. It sucks. If I could work only 2-3 days/week I'd be able to go to school full-time and would already be finished with my pre-reqs. I don't know what I'll do when I start the actual nursing program. Have a nervous breakdown from stress and lack of sleep, maybe?

I'll figure it out. I can technically go without health insurance if I abolutely have to and just pay out of pocket for my office visits and use assistance programs from the drug companies for my meds. I don't like to do it that way, though. Too risky. I wish I could Medicaid but adults can't get it in MO unless they're 1) pregnant, 2) disabled, or 3) unemployed and the household income is under $300 and something a month.

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