RN program/parent/working ?'s

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I just want to get a general idea of anyone who works while they are in the RN program. I am in a full time RN program and I want to work 16-24 hours a week. Im married and I have a one year old. So I still mostly (not every night) need to be able to cook, clean, spend some time with my son.

It looks like I will probably have to work 16-24 hours a week and go full time as well. So what is it like if you work and do the RN program full time. I was thinking about my schedule and it will more likely be:

mon-work7-4

tues-645-1245 clinical

wed-8-11-lab

thurs- lecture 2-5pm I am thinking about taking it online to pick up a shift this day.

friday-work.

sat-study all day at library

sun. study/clean home/spend time with family/ organize for the coming week.

i know open lab is tues and fri. i was thinking i could go to open labs on tuesdays.

I also have a 1 year old and a husband and plan to study for a 2-4 hours at night after his bedtime (my son's not my hubby's lol).

what do you all think? is it feasible? any other working, student moms out there want to share how they balance it all and still excel. i love to here your schedule/study plans.

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I only have one kid, and that's me lol. I did, however, work FT as a LVN while in a RN program. Do you mind if I share?

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Specializes in PD,Nxstage,hemo.
I only have one kid, and that's me lol. I did, however, work FT as a LVN while in a RN program. Do you mind if I share?

Share! Share!

I'm a single parent of one (9yr old) and I plan on working 3-4 days a week when I start LPN to RN bridge in January.

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yes I love for you to share:-).

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Thanks guys.

I attended a LVN to ADN bridge program from 2010 and 2011. This consisted of a brief summer class, two semesters and one winter class. I'll give a break down of my hardest semester which was the fall when I took med-surg 3 and psych:

Fall semester

- Thursdays were lectures for med-surg and psych. 9am- 1pm. I came to school at around 7 am to review for exams.

- Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays were work days. 7am-7pm.

- The hard part about this semester is that we have to pick out our patients and research them on Sunday so we are fully prepared when we hit the floor on Monday. I would go to the hospital Sunday 4 am to collect patient info by hand. We were not allowed to make photocopies for some reason. Go to work, get home by about 8 pm, research as much as I can before I get too tired. These days really were trying.

- Monday and Tuesday clinicals. 6:45a-6:45p.

- Tuesday night I studied on my own.

- Wednesday morning to afternoon was study group.

- Wednesday evening was "free" time that was spent on cleaning, laundry, groceries etc.

4th semester was easier, oddly enough. I did not have back-to-back work and clinical days. My preceptorship was hairy because my nurse went through a lot of personal issues that caused her to shift her schedule frequently. I made it through, chaired the fundraising commitee and helped with planning graduation ceremony as well.

I gotta say that I am proud of the fact that I got serious about my health in the 4th semester. Nursing school's hard enough without the serious punishment I put my body through with the lack of sleep, poor eating and lack of exercise. I lost 30some lbs during 4th semester and am continuing to lose. 52 lbs in total! :D

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Thanks guys.

I attended a LVN to ADN bridge program from 2010 and 2011. This consisted of a brief summer class, two semesters and one winter class. I'll give a break down of my hardest semester which was the fall when I took med-surg 3 and psych:

Fall semester

- Thursdays were lectures for med-surg and psych. 9am- 1pm. I came to school at around 7 am to review for exams.

- Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays were work days. 7am-7pm.

- The hard part about this semester is that we have to pick out our patients and research them on Sunday so we are fully prepared when we hit the floor on Monday. I would go to the hospital Sunday 4 am to collect patient info by hand. We were not allowed to make photocopies for some reason. Go to work, get home by about 8 pm, research as much as I can before I get too tired. These days really were trying.

- Monday and Tuesday clinicals. 6:45a-6:45p.

- Tuesday night I studied on my own.

- Wednesday morning to afternoon was study group.

- Wednesday evening was "free" time that was spent on cleaning, laundry, groceries etc.

4th semester was easier, oddly enough. I did not have back-to-back work and clinical days. My preceptorship was hairy because my nurse went through a lot of personal issues that caused her to shift her schedule frequently. I made it through, chaired the fundraising commitee and helped with planning graduation ceremony as well.

I gotta say that I am proud of the fact that I got serious about my health in the 4th semester. Nursing school's hard enough without the serious punishment I put my body through with the lack of sleep, poor eating and lack of exercise. I lost 30some lbs during 4th semester and am continuing to lose. 52 lbs in total! :D

Do you feel you still had time to spend Quality Time with your kid? This is my biggest fear. I really don't want to miss out on being with him, but this sacrifice is worth it in the long run

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Do you feel you still had time to spend Quality Time with your kid? This is my biggest fear. I really don't want to miss out on being with him, but this sacrifice is worth it in the long run

Oh no no no. When I said I look out for one kid, I meant the kid is ME! :lol2:

I am not a mother and that is why I hesitated to contribute to the thread.

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lol. now I get it. I don't mind you contributing you had pretty hectic schedule regardless. It definitely does help me I can believe you worked 36 hours a week while being in nursing school. good for you.

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Have the administrators mentioned anything about working and going to school? At my school, at the beginning of the program, they discouraged us from working since the program is so intensive. At first I didn't believe them, but as I went through it, I could see they were right. I would suggest speaking with other students from your program to get their perspective. That should give you a better idea.

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yes they don't recommend working either. but I will only be maybe working part time. I also work at a place where I can shorten my hours or decide not to work at all, if need be.

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Specializes in Maternity.

ugh...my program didn't recommend working throughout the rn program either but i absolutely had to...

i am a single mommy of a 4 year old, but she was 18 months when i started. i worked 3-4 days a week (mostly weekends) as a front desk agent at a hotel while attending the program full-time.

it wasn't always easy, but it wasn't always hard either. some weeks were better than others.

point is plenty of students do it and it just isn't feasible for all not to! you can do it :)

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Specializes in Ortho/Med/Surg.

I'm kind os in the same situation, so can I share my schedule??

Fall 2011

Monday - prep for clinical 1pm-3pm. I'm also clinning, cooking, shopping this day

Tues - 7am-1pm clinical, after I come home - do paperwork for clinical

Wed - 7am-1pm clinical, after I caome home - do paperwork for clinical

Thur - 9am - 1pm lecture, I usually stay until 2pm in lab or do papers.

Fri - 9am-1230 - lecture, I usually stay until 2pm in lab or do papers.

Sat, Sun - work from 0630 to 1500.

Reading, writing aasingments and all the family time happens on evenings.

And yes... my son is not in daycare. We decided to manage it ourselfs. So....

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