RN school and working ...?s

Published

Hi All,

I have wanted to be a RN for 20 years and now at 45 I am seriously considering going in the spring of 2015. However I can't quit work and part time is not a option in my job field. (Same position for 13 yrs but only work 15 days a month) because I am divorced and have a mortgage and other life bills. Can it be done? I am looking at either Kaiser or Rasmussen. RASS is only 30 min from me and Kaiser is a 1 20 hour away. The advantage to kaiser is that I can start the GEN ED courses then take TEAS (I missed my TEAS by 5 pts) so to start RASS I have to retake TEAS before starting. The community college would take 3 yrs and the other two above schools are 24 months for AS but pricey.

Can anyone give any thoughts on this? or any info about the two schools mentioned? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just trying a bump....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can't comment on those specific schools, but I can talk a bit about the working stuff. If the days and hours for those 15 days a month are flexible, it could be doable to work and do school. If the days and times are not flexible, it may be nearly impossible. My nursing program made it clear in the beginning that they own us and at times we have been instructed to be places with less than a week's notice.

The reality is it depends on you. If you are the type that learns quickly, is motivated to complete assignments, and can survive on little sleep at times it is very possible do nursing school and work with a flexible work schedule.

There are other factors, too. If you are still working on prereqs, those are very doable and I did work full-time throughout my prereqs.

From a personal perspective, for the first year of my program, I worked 16 VERY flexible hours per week. I do very well in school and have not found prereqs or nursing school overly difficult, but I personally could not have worked full time in the beginning of my program purely due to the amount of schoolwork. I will admit that I do require sufficient sleep or things get ugly fast with my mental and emotional outlook!

Ultimately, you have to do some evaluation and soul-searching to figure out what will be best for you and what you are capable of doing! Best of luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi

Here is kinda of example of my shifts.......right 28 day routation........either 5 AM to 5 PM or 5 PM to 5 AM. Every other weekend I am off fri, sat, and sun and two week day days. So this week.......I will work Mon ,Tues, fri, sat,and sun. the next week I will work wed and thurs.

The schools I am looking at are Rasmussen and Keiser. 24 month program. The Comm. College is 3yrs and a wait list.

Any thoughts on these schools? Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi

Here is kinda of example of my shifts.......right 28 day routation........either 5 AM to 5 PM or 5 PM to 5 AM. Every other weekend I am off fri, sat, and sun and two week day days. So this week.......I will work Mon ,Tues, fri, sat,and sun. the next week I will work wed and thurs.

The schools I am looking at are Rasmussen and Keiser. 24 month program. The Comm. College is 3yrs and a wait list.

Any thoughts on these schools? Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks

If I were you I would talk to your schools of interest to see what their class schedules are like (make sure to ask about nursing class schedules specifically, as they are usually less flexible.) Working 5am-5pm mon, tues, fri, sat, and sun would not have worked during a lot of the classes in my program, even if it was every other week.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.

I was one who had to work full time while I was in school. Fortunately most of the time, the work/school schedule worked out great and required no accommodations or adjustments on the work side. Know that school will not be flexible at all as they have worked out various clinical rotations among the other schools and facilities so that no "collisions" between programs happen. You'll have to make sure that your job can accommodate your school schedule as needed. The hardest part of working and going to Nursing School will be your time management. It's going to have to be very good to make sure that all your needs are met to some degree.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's a weird schedule that would be hard for nursing school. My community college has a day or night option and many of my cohorts work - some full time like me.

I am self employed and can literally work whenever I want, but it has to be tougher for the other students. For example, most night students work a day shift job, but during this current semester they will have do a daytime clinical which will certainly make problems with employers.

I am a day student and work nights, but i am so flexible that I could even do an evening clinical if I had to. Others work 3 overnight 12's from 7-7. They can often adjust their schedules each semester as to not have to work the night before clinicals. If you could adjust your 15 12 hour shifts around your school schedule, you could make it work. But it doesn't work the other way around usually. Even though there are various days when clinicals are offered, we have no choice in which days we are assigned.

So yes, working full time during school is possible, but it's not always easy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You can do the pre-req's easy on your schedule. I chose Keiser and am finishing mine soon. It's one class per month, online, very condensed, and I do study ALL the time to maintain good grades, but it's totally doable working full time, 3 kids, sports, yada yada. When it comes to the actual 'program', it's hands on days, 7or8am-3or4pm, then studying, so that might be harder.

Good luck with your choice!

btw, I am 40 yrs old!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion