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.
I plan on renting but I don't know how much financial aid I will get & most likely will have to pay some portion out of pocket for nursing school. So any way I can save money, I will.
You can even try buying or renting the older editions of your books offline as well! They'll be even cheaper than the newest edition and for the most part just as good! page numbers for reading may be off, but I had tons of friends use the older editions and get along just fine. Also keep an eye out on the bulletin boards outside the school bookstore or the nursing lecture halls for posters that graduated nurses may have put up to try and sell their textbooks. You can also try craigslist if you have a lot of nursing schools in the area and see if anyone posted their old books.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
You can even try buying or renting the older editions of your books offline as well! They'll be even cheaper than the newest edition and for the most part just as good! page numbers for reading may be off, but I had tons of friends use the older editions and get along just fine. Also keep an eye out on the bulletin boards outside the school bookstore or the nursing lecture halls for posters that graduated nurses may have put up to try and sell their textbooks. You can also try craigslist if you have a lot of nursing schools in the area and see if anyone posted their old books.
That's a great idea! If I get lucky enough & get into the same program my ex is in, he might sell them to me. If I don't get in there, I'll look on the campus bulletin board. I'm sure I can find them cheap somewhere. Thanks!
I worked 2 12 hour shifts each weekend. I went to school M thru F. 11 months with 0 days off. If I didn't have school, I worked on those days. I had 0 social life. I graduated with a 4.0 and Cum Laude.
It is definitely possible to work during nursing school but it depends on many factors. With the nursing program I was in, it was 40 hours per week with just class and clinical. Then there was homework assignments every night. I was able to work part time but it was extremely difficult.
I also hate the don't work answer. I am a single mom with a house payment, car payment etc. If I "don't work" who is going to pay those bills? When I went to LPN school I worked as a cena, I worked double shifts on the weekends (my daughter was about 5 then) She is older now (teenager).
The only time I'd say you can't work while in school is when you're anesthesia school. All else is very doable.
Yeah I wouldn't even attempt working in the anesthetist school. My mom is in the process of going through that and basically told me she won't be able to work at all for about 2 years.
But I figure if you can save up enough then that's okay!
Unfortunately without having a college degree, getting a job that would allow me to save enough to go to nursing school and omit working throughout is pretty difficult. I have a decent amount saved up so I can probably drop to doing 2 16s a week or something and be just fine (which is better than nothing!)
I also hate the don't work answer. I am a single mom with a house payment, car payment etc. If I "don't work" who is going to pay those bills? When I went to LPN school I worked as a cena, I worked double shifts on the weekends (my daughter was about 5 then) She is older now (teenager).
Yep, I have phone, rent, utilities, internet, car payment, car insurance, medical insurance, medical bills and a plethora of other things. No way in hell can I get by without working to pay those things. I am extremely envious of those who don't have to worry about that stuff!
But what you did is pretty much what I'm planning on doing. Just get a PRN job and work two doubles a week. It's not a full 40 hours, but I'll be fine with having a little smaller of a paycheck during school since I have some saved up I can pull from if absolutely necessary or even pick up an 8 somewhere in there if I have a chance to.
Either work or don't work...you may pass or you may not..nothing is guaranteed. All you can do is try your best. I went to school with people that worked and passed but I also went to school with people who worked and failed. It is what it is.
I'll keep my mouth shut. yes, I was a working student in my early life. I completed high school and a few semesters in college.I still remember how hard it was.
I appreciate my husband's effort to make sure that I'm free from anxiety. I'll make his delicious meal to show my gratitude.
yes, I was a working student in my early life. I completed high school and a few semesters in college.I still remember how hard it was.
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You can even try buying or renting the older editions of your books offline as well! They'll be even cheaper than the newest edition and for the most part just as good! page numbers for reading may be off, but I had tons of friends use the older editions and get along just fine. Also keep an eye out on the bulletin boards outside the school bookstore or the nursing lecture halls for posters that graduated nurses may have put up to try and sell their textbooks. You can also try craigslist if you have a lot of nursing schools in the area and see if anyone posted their old books.