Hi there! I've browsed the site on a few occassions but finally decided to sign up and ask my question! =)
I'm 25 years old, married and currently working a fairly well-paid job in Finance. However, as I'm sure many of you nursing-as-your-second-career folks know, good pay does not always mean a rewarding career! :wink2: I was hoping to apply to our city college's RN program this Spring but, working in finance, that's exactly what I'm worried about! LOL.
As the programs around me are only offered as morning-to-evening weekday courses, enterting the RN program will require me to leave the job I currently have. As my husband is a teacher, we can't survive on his salary alone. My being out of my regular job will be a pretty big dent for the two years the program runs and I am concerned about part-time night/weekend shifts being enough to supplement that missing chunk.
Talking to our nursing program advisor, she explained to me that most students find working part-time jobs (waitressing, bartending, card dealing, Kinkos, etc) while going through the program to be too demanding and that they have little quality time to study - hinting that attempting to do so could hinder my chances of being well prepared for the NCLEX.
To cut costs, we're obviously ditching the "frills" (i.e. Netflix, my gym membership, eating/events out, etc) but we'll still need at least a bit of additional income (roughly $800 net). I am nervous enough about finding a logical way to make up the missing revenue and was made MORE nervous by the suggestion that its a poor idea to work while doing school.
I can't imagine the only folks accomplishing RN programs are either a) folks still living off their parents b) wifes/moms whose partners make enough to support everything.
So my questions for folks are - if you managed to succeed in a similar scenario:
01. What tips/suggestions to do you have for maintaining any missing income if you previously worked?
02. What tips/suggestions do you have for balancing school, night/weekend shifts & family?
I appreciate all your clever tricks to making this possible - I'm willing to make the sacrafices so long as bills still get paid and I've still got time to study! =)
Have you already done your pre-req's classes? I just started going to my CC taking the pre-req's and I still work during the day(mon-fri). I plan on doing what I can online and do saturday classes. My husband works nights so it is just me and my 3 kids at night. If you have to do pre-req's first maybe you can do those while still working? Then if possible you can save money during that time, so you can have some money to live on while in nursing school? That's what I am hoping to do. But, everyone is different so you have to do what is right for you. Good Luck!
I, too, am going to school and depending solely on my poor husband's income to pull us through! To make up for the additional costs that are needed I take out student loans to supplement daycare and rent needs. I know it is a scary idea to have to pay it back, but if I didn't, then I wouldn't be able to go.
As for balancing everything-I've yet to figure that out! I feel like I am a complete recluse during the semester! I play with the girls (4yrs and 2 yrs!) until bedtime and then I am up until 1:00AM on average studying or completing homework. I am completely sleep deprived and tired all of the time. I would love to work weekends as well, but it seems as though I don't have enough time as it is!
Good luck to you! It won't be easy, but with a few sacrifices, you can do it!
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
My current job (medical transcriptionist) allows for flex time, so I am hoping they will let me drop to about 30 hours per week along with the already present ability to work unusual hours when I start full time nursing school. That is our "ideal" scenario. However, I have no idea how intense nursing school is going to be for me (I think it differs for everyone!) so I have plan B and plan C in place. Plan B (if working 30 hours per week turns out to be too much) is to get as many scholarships as possible and take out loans for the rest while cutting back on hours even further or stopping working completely. Plan C is to live off savings and take out loans for the rest. Given that many nursing jobs in our area offer tuition reimbursement after graduation in exchange for a contracted number of months/years I probably will lean more toward taking out loans than using savings.
I think just make your plans fluid enough to allow for any eventuality. Some people successfully work full time and do just fine. Others can't work at all in order to get through it. Plan out your best and worst case scenario and then go with the flow. As long as you and your DH are a team regarding getting you through it, I think you will do fine.
TinyMuggle, Have you taken any of your pre-nursing classes? I would recommend doing that first and then taking the nursing classes. It may take a little longer but you might be a little less stressed and be able to work while going to school. I am a single person with a home and bills to pay for. I worked at a hospital as a CNA part-time while going to school. Which I think help me out tremendously. They did pay for my RN year in exchange for me working 2 years and it would be forgiven. I also got a forgivable loan thru the state in which I live in for the student loans that I had to take out to pay for housing and living expenses.
I also agree with others that say "you know what kind of student you are". I have seen some nurses that got A's in college but when it comes to patient care they (in my opinion) don't act confident enough to be there and have been nurses longer than I have.
I wish you all the best. It will seem like there is no end but it goes fast.
Like others have said it is totally individualized as to what you can or are willing to do. I worked a min of 30 hours a week all through nursing school and graduated among the top in my class. If I couldn't have done that I wouldn't have gone to nursing school. I'm too old to take a hit on my income for 2 years, lol. Best wishes with whatever you decide, Jules
dfw2lax
21 Posts
Have you already done your pre-req's classes? I just started going to my CC taking the pre-req's and I still work during the day(mon-fri). I plan on doing what I can online and do saturday classes. My husband works nights so it is just me and my 3 kids at night. If you have to do pre-req's first maybe you can do those while still working? Then if possible you can save money during that time, so you can have some money to live on while in nursing school? That's what I am hoping to do. But, everyone is different so you have to do what is right for you. Good Luck!