"Don't Work" Isn't An Answer

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Specializes in PCT, RN.

Prepare for a minor rant...

I've been a member on AN since Feb. and was an avid reader for months prior to creating an account. I've noticed on tons of threads asking for advice on working during school, a very popular response is "don't work" or "you won't be able to work full time and go to school".

Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to take off for two years or cut back on hours (and pay) in order to focus solely on school. Not everyone with an interest in nursing is blessed with extra money or another person to keep them afloat while they attend school, and some are unable to take out more loans on top of school loans to pay for their living costs.

Please stop giving "don't work" or "you can't work" as answers, because it's not only discouraging, but it gives the impression that it isn't possible to complete nursing school with a job.

I'm not saying it's easy and of course there are restrictions on working hours availability since school will need to take precedence, but with proper time management, support, and dedication, working full time can be done during nursing school.

/end rant

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Specializes in PACU.

I think, for a lot of people, "don't work" is kind of like the answers on the NCLEX. If a perfect world that WOULD be the answer to the question. That's why so many people give the answer.

Is it realistic? No, but it's an option. I will most likely be working during school for extra money but school is my priority. If at anytime work interferes with that, it gets dropped like a hot potato because my future depends on me graduating. However, I have an AMAZING support system that many others don't have that allows me to have that option. I don't worry about rent, groceries, or utilities. Many people in my cohort don't have that option like I do, and it would be a slap in the face for me to say "don't work" because I don't understand their situation, and my situation is completely opposite of theirs. I will not chastise someone for taking out living loans if it is the difference between eating or starving, coming to school, etc. You have to do what you have to do to succeed, and as long as you are informed about the choices you have made, it doesn't matter.

Going back to school has consequences, good and bad. It just depends on how much stock you put in those consequences and let them affect your life. Some people worked full time in nursing school and pulled a 4.0, others have crashed and burned. It all depends on the person's time management ability. That is why I dislike the "you can't work" versus "you probably shouldn't work."

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Specializes in PCT, RN.
I think, for a lot of people, "don't work" is kind of like the answers on the NCLEX. If a perfect world that WOULD be the answer to the question. That's why so many people give the answer.

It just drives me insane because it always seems to be on posts where someone is asking for advice on a good job to apply for while in school and there's always that one person that says, "Oh don't work. You can't." Because it isn't always an option for everyone.

I envy your ability to not have to worry about anything while you're in school and I appreciate your understanding of the "other side" of things when it comes to different situations for different people.

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

I worked 36 hours per week (3 12-hour shifts) as an ER tech throughout nursing school.

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Specializes in PCT, RN.
I worked 36 hours per week (3 12-hour shifts) as an ER tech throughout nursing school.

That's great! I love successful working-during-school stories/examples.

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Worked 30 hours first as a waitress and then 36 hours as a nurse tech the last year. Not only did I have time to study, I also had time to go to the gym 5 days/ week, celebrate with friends after exams, hang out with my boyfriend and friends, and keep a fairly clean apartment. People just like to scare people away. Just make sure you have at least one full day per week to study and complete assignments and you will be fine.

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Specializes in Public Health.
Worked 30 hours first as a waitress and then 36 hours as a nurse tech the last year. Not only did I have time to study I also had time to go to the gym 5 days/ week, celebrate with friends after exams, hang out with my boyfriend and friends, and keep a fairly clean apartment. People just like to scare people away. Just make sure you have at least one full day per week to study and complete assignments and you will be fine.[/quote']

DITTO

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I worked a 40+ hour per week day job all through nursing school. Had class in the evenings and clinical on weekends. Did it suck? Yup. Did I make it work? Yup. I was pretty much non-existent in my husband and daughter's life for those two years. Was it worth it? Absolutely!

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That's great! I love successful working-during-school stories/examples.

I worked 40+ hours a week while in nursing school. Never failed a class. It takes a lot of sacrifice but it can be done.

I actually think working helped me more than hurt me. It helped me stick to my schedule. I know me. If I hadn't worked, I would have thought, "that test isn't for another week. I'll study tomorrow". And before you know it, it's test day. Since I worked, I couldn't do that. I studied after work and on weekends. I promise it can be done.

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I worked 40+ hours a week while in nursing school. Never failed a class. It takes a lot of sacrifice but it can be done.

I actually think working helped me more than hurt me. It helped me stick to my schedule. I know me. If I hadn't worked, I would have thought, "that test isn't for another week. I'll study tomorrow". And before you know it, it's test day. Since I worked, I couldn't do that. I studied after work and on weekends. I promise it can be done.

SAME I was always the first to get things done and the most prepared for clinicals and exams. People would ask how I found time. You just get it done earlier and faster than anyone else because you KNOW "ok I only have THIS two hours so I better finish EVERYTHING.

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Specializes in PCT, RN.
I actually think working helped me more than hurt me. It helped me stick to my schedule. I know me. If I hadn't worked, I would have thought, "that test isn't for another week. I'll study tomorrow". And before you know it, it's test day. Since I worked, I couldn't do that. I studied after work and on weekends. I promise it can be done.

That's basically exactly how I am. I'm a serious routine person, I love having a daily routine and I stick to it pretty well. These past two semesters consisted of work during the day, gym after, then homework after that and Saturday's was dedicated to studying for the TEAS test.

Working during nursing school is hard, sure, but definitely doable! And all of the testimonies of that on this post are wonderful. It's crazy how discouraging others can be and how not understanding they can be in regards to the situations of others. Believe me, I'm sure if we could we would all quit work to focus on school but sometimes that just isn't a reality!

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I figure that'll be me. Although I have lucked out and work from home, and have 2 kids under 5. Last semester, I took 17 credits and it made me super organized. I wrote out notes for all my A&P classes before hand and I was consistently 3 weeks ahead on my online classes. Ended the semester with a 3.9. This semester I only took 8 credits albeit two hard sciences, but I lacked the organization of last semester and boy did I feel the difference. Nursing school +working forces me to be super organized and task oriented, because it's really easy to wander off and want do other things when at home so much.

Anyway I have no choice but to work, I have to pay for day care, gas in order to go to school and help with other bills. Just me and my husband, no family nearby to help, we make it work.

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