What are idea work hours/days while in Nursing School

CuriousMe · Jul 6, 2009

I just read 2 post about working 12 hours night shifts during nursing school and it was strongly not recommended.
Some very good points were discussed, why it would be very difficult, however, it blew my game plan out the water. I too was going to quit my day fulltime M-F job once accepted to NS and work as a CNA on the weekends during night shift. Now I think I need to revisit my plan. Sometimes I think I am superwoman, but being a little older the S is starting to fade on my cape LOL!
Anyways, my question is for those who can share what have been the most ideal work scenerios during NS. Is it work weekends or the days you don't have class during the week, night or day hours. Please don't reply "not to work" because that is not realistic for me or most of us for that matter. However, I am aiming to work part time while in nursing school.

Honestly, my work schedule changes every term because my school schedule changes every term (some terms we had evening labs after lecture days, each term I had clinicals on different days, some terms my schedule was 5 days a week, and some were 3-4 days a week). So, your ideal work days/hours are really going to depend on your program.

hopebewild · Jul 7, 2009

hey 2ndlife you can usually work as a nursing assistant in a hospital after your first semester of nursing school. They usually call those positions nurse tech or patient care tech positions. Other wise some homehealth or nursing homes are able to train people as cnas. It would be too late to do a summer cna program now at a community college. So if you are starting nursing school this fall I say just wait until december and then try to get a job as a tech then. Best of luck!

A New Start · Jul 9, 2009

Sorry for long time to answer. Still finding my way around.

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rholman · Jul 9, 2009

Sorry for long time to answer. Still finding my way around.
A Street Hawker is a Newspaper vendor that sells street side. Far more lucrative than most folks think.

Oh.. thanks for you're reply. I can see how that could be lucrative. Thanks for the idea

studentinnursing · Jul 9, 2009

What's the ballpark for a nurse tech? If it's about $10, I work at home and make more than that, plus no gas, clothes, etc., and of course, you can't beat the flexible hours--I do have a family to support and spend time with and I study every other waking moment--but I'm not getting any experience, and my plan was to go along as I am until I have my AA/ASN, and then actually get some experience while doing my BSN (which is completely online through our University Partnership program). I have my AA in Spring and applying for Nursing then, and I'm told with my GPA I "should be" accepted for next fall. Anyhow, I want to work in ICU and BSN is my goal as of now. Anyway, to get into ICU, I hear they want floor experience, one hospital around here has an actual student nurse program, etc., but I don't know exactly what that means yet. What are y'all's thoughts on trying to get my foot in the door before RN. I'm just starting to wonder if I should also be trying to get an "anything" job at a hospital (I have thought of volunteering too) or am I no matter what going to need a certain amount of floor experience before they'll let me in ICU, does it depend on facility? I have also heard new grads are accepted more easily into ICU rather than RNs with experience (!), something about they've learned stuff one way and ICU is different, but again, I'm just a pre-nursing, and would like to know what I might want to try to do first, go ahead with RN/BSN plans and work at home til RN or try to get some kind of job in the hospital so when I have my RN, I'll be better accepted/prepared for an actual RN job? Do clinicals prepare you enough? I know the most experience is best, but I am not CNA or LPN, so I won't be able to get a hands-on job.

I have 2 kids, so 4 days a week will be nursing school 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. is our window, so you get an idea of where I'm coming from with staying at home and working until RN, but if answering phones in the emergency room 2 days a week or something is going to get me into ICU, or RN on any floor quicker, . . . anybody have ideas or advice? I know this is student forum, but I know some do work in hospitals and do see who gets hired first I'm guessing, and RNs read these too :)