What is the schedule like for nursing classes?

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I am going to be starting school soon at either Sentara School of Health Professions or Tidewater Community College in Virginia. I am going to be doing the traditional program, not learning distance or advanced placement. I have read through all of the information books for both schools and also have talked to a few school reps and all sources tell me that classes are normally from 8am-5pm and clinicals on the weekends. The reps from the schools tell me that Nursing school is like a full time job, which I completly anticipated. I have heard from them that it is nearly impossible to work. Right now I work part time at a bank, but the bank is open the traditional hourse... I am just worried that I am not going to be able to work while going through school... Am I going to have to stop working, or get a night job? I have not been able to discuss this with any current or past nursing students, only the college advisors. What are the schedules like? I can understand and accept that I will be so busy that I will have to put some things on the back burner, but my job... my only means of having a home, food and clothing? I am just a little worried about it.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Many students work and attend ns. I've never had a clinical on a weekend, but don't see how that would affect what you do at night. If you have to work, you have to. I've known people to work full time and make it through, although I doubt I could do it. I was lucky to not have to work for most of the time. I'm in my last semester and am working as a lpn currently. I will quit in a quick heartbeat though if I can't give my all to my last semester.

My classes were not 9-5 at all. I had my prereqs completed before starting ns, so I had just nursing classes (which were difficult enough). The classes were a few hrs a week with a ton of outside homework. I went part time so I could spend time with my children. I was pretty much a single mom (oops, still am), with no family around to help. No regrets though.

Good luck and welcome to nursing!

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Thank you for the feedback! Good luck through your last semester! You are already there!!!!

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Does either of those schools offer an evening/weekend program? That's what I did. I worked full-time at a pediatrician's office which has hours similar to a bank. I went to class 2-3 nights a week and had my clinicals on the weekends. During my last year I had to cut back to working part-time, though, because we had more labs and clinicals and I didn't think i could maintain a decent GPA while working full-time. Good luck with whatever you choose!!

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

It is VERY difficult to go to nursing school full time and work full time too, if only for the reason that if your work has to happen during the daytime, there would be no time for classes (and vice versa). Nursing classes typically are during the day (I'd say almost always) and clinicals hardly EVER happen on weekends. This is because the instructors usually don't want to work weekends, and they have to be around during clinicals. I'm sure it happens sometimes that an instructor would choose weekends, but I bet it doesn't happen much. I was an instructor for 10 years for a major university and not one of the instructors had clinicals on weekends during that time.

If you're just starting school after a time away from it, I'd say you might want to consider trying it part time to see how it goes before you jump in full time. Nursing school can be quite time-consuming and is difficult for many. Also, that way you can fit things into your work schedule more easily. Maybe you can work part time? I also think you might be able to get some pre-reqs in the evening.

It's alot to think about!

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I start Monday. All of my pre/co reqs are done. My schedule is:

M 1:00 to 3:50

T 12:00 to 2:50

W 8:00 to 11:50

R 8:00 to 4:50

F no class

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Specializes in LTC.

My schedule was :

Mon- 5:30-7:50PM

Wed- 5:30-7:50PM

Every other weekend 7:00AM-3:30PM

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Thanks all!!!!

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