Schedule in Nursing Program

Holy moly! I think we only spend about 18 hours in class/clinicals per week and I'm not sure how we're going to survive. I can't imagine that kind of school commitment PLUS studying and working. If you can pull it off, I will be in compete awe of your multitasking prowess :)

Me too!

Is night shift an option for you? When I was doing my pre-reqs I was going to school full time and worked 3 14hr shifts Th-Sat. If you need 22 1/2 could you work 12 hrs Friday and Saturday nights? Catch up on sleep Saturday when you get off, then have Saturday night and Sunday for down time and studying as well as what you can fit in during the week. With my job on nights, I was able to do a decent amount of school work and studying at work as well. Just an idea!

Note: This was with pre-reqs only not nursing school so I'm not sure how well it would work for you and your scenario.

Best of luck to you and I hope you can figure this out without too many kinks.

Yikes!! That schedule is crazy!! If you add in all the reading you will have to do, working full time (which is what your employer is requireing of you - right?) if not an option. You will be setting yourself up to fail school.

I work 24 hrs a week - 3 8hr nights. I'm lucky because I'm a secretary so I do have time to read, but it's still tough when I have to go from work straight to school. I would also look into student loans (for the first semester at least til you can take your CNA exam) and then look for a parttime job on the weekends or nights somewhere that offers tuition reimbursement.

If you had to choose ONE, (nursing school or your job) which would it be?

I was placed in this position once, and the job I had was a retail position in a SANDALS store in NYC. It was located in a upper class shopping area and given the merchandise, the peak sales would be during the summertime. The only year-round employees were myself and the manager. I worked about 22hours a week and had the store all to myself for most part of the year. Did I mention there was a couch in the front of the store where I would put all my books and study?

The easiest, most lax job i've ever had. This place pretty much paid me to babysit the store while I sat there and studied, and finished all my e-assignments on their computers. But I still had to quit it during my second semester because I couldnt be distracted by the very few customers that would come in and had to tend to. I was fighting myself for months until after asking myself which one was more important, and I chose nursing. I saved up as much as I could and quit my job. Apply for financial aid (which pays for all my student tuition), find yourself a scholarship (which you should do NOW before the nursing grades drop your gpa). My scholarship gives me a stipend each semester, provides a paid internship at a hospital each summer, and will help develop my professional career.

YOU WILL find a way to get through nursing. There are a lot of people who aren't able to make it past the pre-clinical phase, but YOU did. If I found a way, you bet your ass your gonna find a way also, but its not gonna be easy. Best of luck!!

Thanks for all the advice and support! I should clarify that my clinicals are either 6:30-3 or 2:30-11, I do get to pick which set of hours I would like (per my Nsg counselor). The deadline to apply for the nsg program is Feb 15th, so I am trying to get a gameplan BEFORE I apply to nsg school. I will honestly do whatever it takes, I am not going to give up on my dream of being a nurse. If the only way for me to do it is by taking out loans, that is what I will do but I prefer not to do this. Also, because my work pays for my school, they require a work committment which states that after they are done paying, I owe them 2 years if full-time and 3 years if part-time. If I do not follow through with the work committment, I will have to pay them back all of the funds they have paid for my schooling. After calculating how much I would need to get out in loans for living expenses only, it comes out to about $20-$30,000 for the 2 years I'm in school. Of course, this is not including the cost of the actual program, fees, books, etc. I've come up with a budget that has elimated a majority of things that are not needed. That just seems ridiculous to me to come out with an associates degree! But, as I mentioned, I will do what I have to do. I should also mention that I'm not even sure I would get approved for that amount. Of course I'll still apply and see what happens but my credit is not great and I dont have a cosigner. How are people with no support system supposed to make it in this world? My credit isnt great because I've had to live on credit cards (not all the time but sometimes when money gets real tight), otherwise I would be homeless. Now, I have some stuff in collections because I can't afford to pay the debt back because I've had to put every dollar into being able to survive day-to-day. But then here I come to try and better myself and get a degree, oh but no, I need a cosigner to get approved for money to be able to go to school. Its a vicious cycle and I'm not sure how people in my situation are supposed to climb up the ladder if things keep pushing them back down. Just getting frusterated with this whole situation! Thanks again for all of your help and support, you Nurses/Nursing students on this site are my saving grace for questions, support, etc =)

If you had to choose ONE, (nursing school or your job) which would it be?

I was placed in this position once, and the job I had was a retail position in a SANDALS store in NYC. It was located in a upper class shopping area and given the merchandise, the peak sales would be during the summertime. The only year-round employees were myself and the manager. I worked about 22hours a week and had the store all to myself for most part of the year. Did I mention there was a couch in the front of the store where I would put all my books and study?

The easiest, most lax job i've ever had. This place pretty much paid me to babysit the store while I sat there and studied, and finished all my e-assignments on their computers. But I still had to quit it during my second semester because I couldnt be distracted by the very few customers that would come in and had to tend to. I was fighting myself for months until after asking myself which one was more important, and I chose nursing. I saved up as much as I could and quit my job. Apply for financial aid (which pays for all my student tuition), find yourself a scholarship (which you should do NOW before the nursing grades drop your gpa). My scholarship gives me a stipend each semester, provides a paid internship at a hospital each summer, and will help develop my professional career.

YOU WILL find a way to get through nursing. There are a lot of people who aren't able to make it past the pre-clinical phase, but YOU did. If I found a way, you bet your ass your gonna find a way also, but its not gonna be easy. Best of luck!!

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement!!! It truly means SO much to me to hear from others that have gone through/are going through the same thing as me! I would definitely choose nursing, no doubt in my mind whatsoever! You've given me some hope with your story =) Thanks again!

in response to the shifts at my work: i work in rehab at a skilled nursing facility, I used to do transport but now am doing all of the therapy scheduling so its a lot of office work. I am required to work normal business hours but am a wee bit flexible in my hours (no earlier than 5am, no later than 6pm and prob have to work at least 6 hours/day). However, if i were to work in the healthcare division of the company as a CNA (no unit clerk positions), their shifts are 7-3, 3-11, and 11-7. Theres also another catch: If i move over to the healthcare side, I wont get tuition assistance anymore. They are much more strict on their policy for the tuition assistance program and am not taking any applications at this time.

I think you need to get another job. Maybe one in a hospital. Working as a cna would be soo helpful for you. Id look for flex or pen positions with 12 hour shifts and work on weekends holidays as well as take loans out. Do. Good luck!

I did anticipate some of this but some if it I did not because my companys rules for the tuition assistance have been changing as well as other aspects of my job/school. Luckily, I have pretty understanding bosses that are trying to help me figure out a plan for work once I start clinicals. This is a dream of mine, so even though I did anticipate some of this, I am not letting it stop me from accomplishing my goal of being a nurse someday. To me, its just a matter of figuring my best option and since many people on this website have gone through nursing school and know whats it like, I figured this would be a good place to come for advice.

Good Luck with nursing school. I, too, don't think I have any choice but to work during nursing school, which starts this following Monday the 20th. In the beginning my classes will be 8a-3pm and with clinicals 6a-3pm. Currently I work full-time as a CNA/PCT on surgical floor on day shift, 7a-3pm but that will change when school starts. I'm lucky that the hospital works around schedules and is supportive of staff going back to school in the healthcare field and help out as much as they can. I am a single mom of a 15 yr old son and so I HAVE to work. My problem was I couldn't go to part-time because I would pay more out of my paycheck for insurance and I run the risk of being put on call often (part-time & PRN staff is first to be put on call before full timers). I worked out the following schedule, Sat & Sun 7a-7p, Mon 3p-11p, Wed & Fri 3-7pm. I realize this will be tough but I also realize it won't be forever. I believe working at the hospital will benefit me some because I will be able to observe the practices that I will be learning in class. Also when we do clinicals a majority will be done at the same hospital I work so a few of us in my nursing school class will be a step up in some ways cause we will be familiar with the computer/charting system. Believe me, I'm nervous and a bit scared but very excited and I will do all I can to make it through to the end.