What are idea work hours/days while in Nursing School

Meshell92183 · Jul 5, 2009

I just switched from working nights to a day shift because I got accepted into nursing school. For me it was really difficult to switch back and forth from going to classes during the day then working all night, I always felt off.

I worked weekends and I was always really exhausted on my first shift because I would get up in the mornings on Friday for school, go to school all day then go to work all night...then sleep during the day saturday, and during the day on Sunday after working all night...so by the time Sunday night would come around I would have a hard time going to bed to get up early for classes Monday. :eek: Day shift is just a better fit for me.

I understand when you say 'not working is not an option', I have a family that I have to support while I'm going through nursing school...I'm excited for all this hard work to pay off soon! Good Luck!!

Michelle~

rholman · Jul 5, 2009

I just switched from working nights to a day shift because I got accepted into nursing school. For me it was really difficult to switch back and forth from going to classes during the day then working all night, I always felt off.
I worked weekends and I was always really exhausted on my first shift because I would get up in the mornings on Friday for school, go to school all day then go to work all night...then sleep during the day saturday, and during the day on Sunday after working all night...so by the time Sunday night would come around I would have a hard time going to bed to get up early for classes Monday. Day shift is just a better fit for me.
I understand when you say 'not working is not an option', I have a family that I have to support while I'm going through nursing school...I'm excited for all this hard work to pay off soon! Good Luck!!
Michelle~

Thanks for the reply, are you working day shift during the weekends or during the week. When are you findng time to study and do homework?

Meshell92183 · Jul 5, 2009

Once nursing school starts I will have classes 4 days a week, so I'll work one weekday and every Sat., which will give me Sundays to spend time with my family and to have a few hours a week for myself. When nursing school starts I plan on using those 4 days a week to get all my work done, I'll use the labs and library to study.

scrubs4me86 · Jul 5, 2009

Well, I am fortunate to have a job that is very flexible to fit with my school schedule. I work most evenings after class and 22 hours on the weekends. I have a nurse extern job where I work 12 hours one day a week (because I am only allowed one shift there) and I work at least 30 hours at the other job. I, however, do not have a family to support. I only have to support myself, yet I have very little time off to spend doing things for myself or others. Many of my classmates can not work as much as I do, yet I have managed to maintain a respectable GPA and I will be graduating in a few months...so IT CAN BE DONE!!! You just have to have good time management and the capacity to work on little sleep :)

shann106 · Jul 5, 2009

I work 12 hour shifts Fri, Sat, and Sun. I also work another part time job a few hours a week before class and after clinicals.

The 12 hour weekend shift seems to work best for most nursing students I know. Most of us are parents and going to school during the day and working 12 hour shifts at night means we would never see our kids. I have to take my daughter to dance girl scouts etc every night.

My school advises against long night shifts during the week because you will be tired in clincials, and if your instructor thinks your are to tired they will send you home with an incomplete. One of my classmates got kicked out because he had class all day on Tuedsay, drove the 2 hours home then worked a 12 hour night shift then came into clinicals and nodded off during pre-rounds.

Future TX RN · Jul 5, 2009

Well, I am fortunate to have a job that is very flexible to fit with my school schedule. I work most evenings after class and 22 hours on the weekends. I have a nurse extern job where I work 12 hours one day a week (because I am only allowed one shift there) and I work at least 30 hours at the other job. I, however, do not have a family to support. I only have to support myself, yet I have very little time off to spend doing things for myself or others. Many of my classmates can not work as much as I do, yet I have managed to maintain a respectable GPA and I will be graduating in a few months...so IT CAN BE DONE!!! You just have to have good time management and the capacity to work on little sleep :)

thanks for the reassurance. I just got a job as a unit clerk in the Medical ICU dept. @ the local hospital - I'll work 3 12 hr [7p - 7a] days a week [ANY days, luckily the nurse mgr is awesome and works around school schedules] and I'll be in class M-Th.

I worked 3-midnight last semester and had class @ 10 on 2 days a week and it was fine; I'm not too worried an am very confident that I can do it :) but it's always good to hear other people in a similar situation. I, like you, only have myself to support - no kids. My fiance travels a lot, so most of the time it's just me.

Good luck to you and again, thanks for your post.

hopebewild · Jul 6, 2009

I work 7a-7p every sat and sun and get paid as though I worked 40 hours as a cna in a local hospital. If you live in an area that offers something like it I highly recommend it.

2ndLife · Jul 6, 2009

Is it difficult to get a CNA job if you are not already certified and are just starting nursing school? I don't have any such work experience so I'm wondering if there is something I can do to become more marketable. I wouldn't mind doing a short CNA course this summer or on the weekends this Fall if I could find one, but so far no such luck. Where's the best place to find such training? I checked online for CNA classes for my area and found a website but when I checked the places they listed, most were either no longer in existence or for high school students or there were other reasons why they wouldn't work.

Gen2Nurse · Jul 6, 2009

I have 4 weeks under my belt in an LVN program. I have been getting straight A's on all my tests, knock on wood. I had to cut back on my pt job (waitressing). So I work fri, sat,sun and have school mon-thur. Its doable but I ache for a day off. I study every day, with only a night off here and there. I couldn't see staying sane and working any more than I do. I also have two young kids, and a helpful hubby. Its all the other stuff in life like b-days/holidays/family obligations that are really wearing on me. Good luck to you. Just remember that NS is your top priority.

A New Start · Jul 6, 2009

I know it's not health care, but you can check your local paper and see if they have a Sunday edition street hawker program (if that's not beneath you) Don't let those grubby sweaters fool you, the good ones make 3-400 dollars on Sunday. It takes a few weeks to get a corner rolling. You'll see regulars. Let them know what you're trying to do with your life. Run, don't walk to their cars with a big grateful smile. Many of them will pay you 4 or 5 bucks for a paper you're going to pay .75cents for. Just a thought. I used to manage a similar program for a newspaper, and I have my own corner in my fall back plan if need be.

Good luck! Gary

rholman · Jul 6, 2009

I know it's not health care, but you can check your local paper and see if they have a Sunday edition street hawker program (if that's not beneath you) Don't let those grubby sweaters fool you, the good ones make 3-400 dollars on Sunday. It takes a few weeks to get a corner rolling. You'll see regulars. Let them know what you're trying to do with your life. Run, don't walk to their cars with a big grateful smile. Many of them will pay you 4 or 5 bucks for a paper you're going to pay .75cents for. Just a thought. I used to manage a similar program for a newspaper, and I have my own corner in my fall back plan if need be.
Good luck! Gary

Hey Gary, what i a Street Hawker Program? I never heard of it.