Would you work during nursing school if you didn't have to?

Students Pre-Nursing

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rnmomtobe2010

1,051 Posts

Not a chance!

mturner88

35 Posts

Specializes in CVICU.
Congratulations

Thank you! I admit that I am extremely nervous because I find ICU to be overwhelming but I am ready for the challenge.

law3576

74 Posts

i have the option not to work while in school so i didn't. I will be graduating this coming June and I will start a PRN job as a PCT just so I can learn time management skills and become familiar in the hospital setting.

I think that if you don't have to work then you shouldn't but maybe when you're getting close to graduating it's a good idea to pick up a little job in the hospital just to learn a couple skills. PRN is perfect because i only have to work 24 hours a month and it's whenever I want. I chose my shifts so I don't feel pressured to work and go to school.

Specializes in Critical care, Pediatris & Geriatrics.

no way would i try to work while in the program. it is way too much work to try to juggle and go home and care for the home, husband and my 3 children. i'd die. lol. best of luck to all of you who will do it though, i just couldn't imagine doing it.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

i worked through nursing school, but not full time. didn't have the choice. i had loans & scholarships which covered most of my BSN (mom and dad offered to pay the balance, so since they did that, i wouldn't have had the audacity to ask them for more money otherwise) i worked full time as a tech in the summers, PRN during the school year, and also had a part time campus job in my dorm during the school year. i agree that working during school teaches time management--i managed 2 jobs, a full courseload plus honors program independent work, and my role as treasurer of two campus groups. still found the occasional time for friends/downtime...and graduated cum laude, so it's do-able. it just depends on how motivated you are and your reasons for needing to work.

of course, i didn't have kids or a hubby, but everyone's situation is different.

serendipity123

192 Posts

I am working 1 shift a week (4-5 hours) at a super-easy retail job during pre-reqs. I am only 19. So far it has worked out fine. However... I haven't started any of the intense sciences yet. Chem, A&P, Micro, etc. I am starting some of those this Fall, and I am a full-time student. I don't HAVE to work. I currently do because, well, it's fun and I need something to pass my time and a little extra cash never hurt anybody.

However, if my one measly little shift even starts to be a problem for me while juggling my full load of pre-reqs, I will quit so fast my manager's head will spin. School comes first. Period. I am thinking that it won't be long into the semester when I quit. But who knows.

And you can bet that when I am in nursing school full-time I won't have a job. Nursing school is basically a full-time job! Most schools don't even allow you to work during the program. People who work while going to NS even part-time have my utmost respect. Honestly, I don't know how they do it. Lots of red bull maybe? I dunno but I refuse to put myself through that.

mochabean

411 Posts

I have rent/bills to pay, so I have no choice but to work. Whatever offers flexible hours would be great.

OnTrek

17 Posts

Just finished nursing school and there is no way I would work during it. I was able to be a straight A student in my Pre-Reqs while carrying 22 credits a term. My nursing school wrapped up all classes (Pathophys, Pharm, Clinicals, Skills lab, etc) all into one 9 credit class and everyone had a tough time keeping up. -- If you don't have to work - don't do it.

I'm still doing prerquesite courses, so I'm not yet in nursing school. But I am one of those in a very fortunate situation that my husband makes enough for the both of us. I still work part-time because I told him from the beginning that I insist in paying off my own debt that I've accumulated before we were married. I know I shouldn't feel guilty because we're married and therefore we share everything, but I can't help but feel guilty still. It's one of the reasons why I study so hard to make those grades because I would feel awful if he's over there working so hard for us and our future, and here I am, making just "good enough" grades. As a result, I've aced every science class so far. I plan on continuing to work part time time (20 hours/week) until I've paid off my debt. Thankfully, I don't have much. I can quit after my first year of nursing school.

So my answer is that I don't technically have to work, but I do because first of all, I handle it pretty well. Secondly, I want to pay off my debt before I focus 100% on school.

penelopelp

130 Posts

If I could, I definitely wouldn't work during nursing school. I had a friend who was a nursing major, and she was busy every day/all day without having a job. I don't see how I could possibly not work for 2 years.

mnbvcxz

18 Posts

no way would i try to work while in the program. it is way too much work to try to juggle and go home and care for the home, husband and my 3 children. i'd die. lol. best of luck to all of you who will do it though, i just couldn't imagine doing it.

good one!

heartnurse2be

15 Posts

My number one pet peeve in life is people who don't understand those different than themselves!

Seriously, it ticks me off. When I read someone saying, "I worked full-time in school so you can, of course you can too..." I get all kinds of :angryfire because that may or may not be true for others. (Not directing this at anyone on this thread, btw.)

Now if I might throw my gripe out there from the other side of the coin - I work 70+ hours per week at 2 jobs, more if available - is this my choice? No, of course not, just part of my life at this point. I will be entering my 2nd year of an ADN program this fall with a GPA of 3.8 (Darn B's in pharm;-p) , with a child and a husband. Also mine is not directed at anyone on this board - on here I have only found supportive people who have helped me tremendously and understand NS like only other NS'ers can but...

The one thing that really bothers me is people who say it can't be done - or like the above poster who narrows it down a little to it can't be done by everyone. Every other day on this board there are people worried sick because they can't quit working to go to school - much of their anxiety is caused by what they hear from other people about it being 'suicide' or 'impossible'. I really think that's why I'm always so adamant with my responses along with the rest of those who have done it/are doing it right now. Anyone can do it if they want it bad enough and set their minds to it - everything in life is a matter of will.

I don't begrudge those who work less or not at all. Heck yeah, enjoy it while you can - working as a nurse will be hard enough - Just don't say it can't be done because there are real people out there that you are discouraging from even trying...

Sorry guys - just had to throw that thought out there.... Don't hate me ;-)

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