Soooo... Are you at a disadvantage at NS? I think I am.

[Spikey9001]

I'll be starting the nursing program for my school next week. I have all my supplies, books, and things that I need... but I'm at a considerable disadvantage seeing as I don't have a car or a job right now.

I hear about people that work 40 hours a week or more, but I just don't see how you can do that unless you're "working" at a job that allows you to sit down, read, or use the internet freely. I know most certainly that I couldn't work a retail job 40 hours, heck, not even 30 hours and still pass school.

Having a reliable way to school and the clinical sites is going to be a MAJOR problem for me. I don't know if my classmates would be willing to give me rides to and from the clinical sites and I fear that once I run out of money for public transportation, I'm going to fail due to attendance.

I guess this is more of a rant than anything and I had to get it out before it sat on my mind too long.

[sandyfeet]

I had an emergency happen right before school started and I had to approach the Nursing department at my school for money. I filled out an application and 3 hours later got an email saying my check for $700 would be ready in two weeks! It was part of an emergency fund they have for students. All I had to do was ask.

I know with the job search AND transportation issues AND school life can seem pretty bleak, but just remember that this is only temporary. After you graduate you will be skilled and marketable. This is just the process to get there.

I looked for a job for almost a year before I found one working overnight shift in assisted living (with no medical experience). There are agencies that will hire you without experience to be a non-medical caregiver traveling to people's homes. And I would talk to your clinical instructor about answering that phone call during clinicals. You never know, they might be understanding.

I don't think you would have posted if you were really ready to give up...you just need some encouragement. It's going to be hard but you can do it!!!

[caliotter3]

I did not get unemployment while I was in school because the unemployment department did not care to hear that I could work night shift and still attend school. They said if I wanted unemployment benefits, then quit school. You are missing the phone interview, thus insuring that they will deny your claim.

[gumby1411]

I did not get unemployment while I was in school because the unemployment department did not care to hear that I could work night shift and still attend school. They said if I wanted unemployment benefits, then quit school. You are missing the phone interview, thus insuring that they will deny your claim.

I got laid off from my job and I'm collecting while in school. I obtained a student waiver from the unemployment office so that I'm exempt from having to look for work will attending class full time. I didn't have to do a phone interview, just had a meeting at the unemployment office and provided them with various items like proof of class registration, unofficial transcripts, class schedule, etc. Each state varies on how they process unemployment, though. Hopefully you can collect while in school because it's definitely saving my butt.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

I did not get unemployment while I was in school because the unemployment department did not care to hear that I could work night shift and still attend school. They said if I wanted unemployment benefits, then quit school. You are missing the phone interview, thus insuring that they will deny your claim.

I went up to the unemployment office and talked to them about it... they said that if I do miss the call, they'll mail a form and I'll have to fill it out manually and mail it back and based off what they get (my schedule), they'll make the determination then. I'd prefer the phone call because it's a lot more subjective and therefore I can leverage my case vs black and white paper.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

I did not get unemployment while I was in school because the unemployment department did not care to hear that I could work night shift and still attend school. They said if I wanted unemployment benefits, then quit school. You are missing the phone interview, thus insuring that they will deny your claim.

I went up to the unemployment office and talked to them about it... they said that if I do miss the call, they'll mail a form and I'll have to fill it out manually and mail it back and based off what they get (my schedule), they'll make the determination then. I'd prefer the phone call because it's a lot more subjective and therefore I can leverage my case vs black and white paper.

And I HIGHLY doubt that my school has "emergency funds" to help nursing students. They're gonna be like "you signed up for this, knew the circumstances etc..." But I'll ask about it and tell them my situation.

[caliotter3]

Can't hurt to ask.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

My little community college has an emergency fund. I think it's for the nursing dept. actually. You get it and you have 30 days to pay it back. Are you getting student loans??

[diane227, LPN, RN]

It's going to be hard but DON'T BE LATE for clinicals. The instructors hate that.

[mspontiac]

My friend doesn't have a car and she works nearly full-time at Culver's. She simply plans ahead for taking the bus, and graciously accepts a ride when it's offered. She has no problems being at clinical on time, and her grades are excellent. It's do-able.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

My little community college has an emergency fund. I think it's for the nursing dept. actually. You get it and you have 30 days to pay it back. Are you getting student loans??

Yes, I'm already taking out student loans...

And of course I'm gonna try my best to not be late to clinicals and class, even if that means waking up two-three hours early unfortunately.

[BluegrassRN]

Cry me a river.

I worked full time overnights in a group home, 5 days a week. I could do about 4 hours of homework per 8 hour shift. I had a house payment, a husband in grad school, a 4 year old and a breastfeeding infant. And one vehicle in a town with no public transportation. My school was 45 minutes away in another town. Clinicals were 45-75 minutes away in the other direction. My husband and I made due with one vehicle and a couple of bicycles with a trailer for the kids.

You aren't any more disadvantaged than thousands of other nursing students on limited budgets. You don't work, don't have kids...I don't know what you're complaining about. Get a bike, get a bus pass, or get a job.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

Cry me a river.

I worked full time overnights in a group home, 5 days a week. I could do about 4 hours of homework per 8 hour shift. I had a house payment, a husband in grad school, a 4 year old and a breastfeeding infant. And one vehicle in a town with no public transportation. My school was 45 minutes away in another town. Clinicals were 45-75 minutes away in the other direction. My husband and I made due with one vehicle and a couple of bicycles with a trailer for the kids.

You aren't any more disadvantaged than thousands of other nursing students on limited budgets. You don't work, don't have kids...I don't know what you're complaining about. Get a bike, get a bus pass, or get a job.

Exactly... you worked at a group home which allowed you to SIT AND DO HOMEWORK... as well as "relax." I highly DOUBT that you would have been able to do home work and pass nursing school if you had a fast food or retail job... or ANY job where you weren't allowed to bring books and study materials... plus school isn't at night so that isn't an excuse either. You can always sleep on your job if you really have to.

And getting a job is a lot easier said than done. Otherwise, I would have been had one by now. And don't hold it against me that I decided to go to school and get things done BEFORE I had kids.

This is my thread and I'll rant all I want until I'm done doing it. It's better than complaining to people in real life about it, so I might as well do it here because I'm not gonna let it simmer on my mind.