Who worked during nursing school?

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2008

It is highly recommended to forego employment during school if you are able. I can believe that counselors would say that.

Nursing school demands a lot of your time. It is also not flexible. They don't care if you are tired or behind on your work/studies because of a job. You are expected to eat, sleep, and breathe nursing.

That being said, there are people who work and do just fine in school. I think it's all in where your priorities lie. I worked through all of my pre-reqs and up until my last year of nursing classes.

spiceyqueen · Oct 10, 2008

worked during nursing school ( full fee paying student) so really i had no option. worked two jobs through all my uni years, and studied full time. worked even through my clinical placements,came out of it still sane. Its not the best life but assess your needs first, and your how you can cope

jzkfel · Oct 10, 2008

Of course I worked during nursing school - full time. My family and I needed to eat, we had bills to pay, etc. I did a two year community college degree, where most of my peers were in similar circumstances. I transfered credits in from a previous degree, tested out of sociology, and did an online course for ethics. I did the program in three years. I found A and P courses and microbiology courses that met one day a week, and did those the first year. I actually used three different community colleges to get the best schedule, and transfered the credits in. During the 2 years of clinicals, I worked nights in a pre teen inpatient psych facility, where I often had time to work on care plans, etc while the patients were asleep. (not always, but enough to help). I made sure I went to all the lectures, and highlighted stuff that I dindn't get, and focused my reading on those areas. I didn't miss classes, but I did skip reading if I felt I knew the material well enough from the lectures. I got the anatomy and physiology coloring book, and worked on that while watching tv, etc.

Overall, it wasn't much harder than what I was doing before - teaching school and working nights to make up for the lousy pay! I had to take a very practical approach to getting through, but if you have already had some life experiences you probably have that ability. I made a small group of reliable friends who were in similar circumstances, and we studied together when possible. And I made sure to keep spending time with my family. They were a huge support.

It is very possible to work and complete an RN degree. It takes persistance, flexibility and you have to always keep your goal in sight. I am very glad I did it. I love my job, and I am in much better shape financially.

hellerd2003, RN · Oct 10, 2008

Counselors told students not to work during nursing school, b/c it's extremely hard. Sound more like a myth!!!
Anyone worked during nursing school?

During my first RN degree (post-bacc certificate), I worked 20-32 hours/ week in an ED as a unit secretary. It was a nice setting, because I could apply nursing school stuff to what I saw at work. But I also didn't have a ton of free time-- it was the sacrifice I made, and I made it willingly.

Finishing my Master's, I worked full time (and sometimes overtime). But nursing theory is far different than learning the ins and outs of nursing care/ diagnoses, etc.

I might be an exception to the rule, however. Prior to nursing school, I was an occupational therapist (this is my second-- and final-- career). While getting my MA in OT, I worked 60 hours/ week and went to school full time. So I'm used to little sleep, very strong coffee, and a terrible social life. ;-) Although now that I'm married, I don't think I could do the OT school work schedule EVER AGAIN. LOL.

mama_d, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2008

I so wish that I could manage to not work while I'm in school, but I'm the main breadwinner for a family of six, with four kids from eleven to two.

When I initially went to find out about the bridge program, I was upfront about the fact that I had to work full time while attending (they asked, I didn't lie). This was before I got pregnant with kidlet #4. The woman was very rude to me about it...I told her that I could see where she would be concerned, but that she didn't know anything about me or my capabilities, and that the electric company wasn't going to care one whit if I was in school or not when the bill came due. After I pointed out to her my GPA of 3.8 and my ACT composite in the 30's, all done while working and raising kids, she shut up. Honestly, knowing that I have all these other obligations makes me more dedicated to making sure that school stuff gets done instead of procrastinating.

What I find funny is that around here the ADN programs are very snotty about working/families/life commitments outside of school, but as soon as you go to bridge to your BSN it's accepted that these are issues. Makes no sense to me, since there seem to be more non-traditional students in the ADN programs than in the BSN bridge programs. My guess is b/c it's cheaper to go the ADN route at the community college for those of us with families, whereas all the BSN bridge students right now don't have as many people dependent on them (either no kids yet or kids are out of the house already). I'm just praying to get through the ADN program with my sanity intact to make it to the BSN bridge!

daisydoll · Oct 10, 2008

I worked all through school, I was living off campus and needed to work to pay rent, utilities, and other bills. I worked just about every weekend and on weekdays I had off from school. Sometimes I would even work after school. It was crazy, but doable. I didnt study as much as I could have, partly because I was tired from working and drained from school. Any free time I had I would relax and spend time with family/friends. I guess I'm one of those ppl who didnt study a whole lot and did relatively well, though my gpa could have been higher had I been more motivated. I got through nursing school and am now contemplating if I want to go back for my masters, just not sure what I want to do yet. I think if you are well organized and make sure you have enough time to study you can work and be in nursing school. Just remember school comes first and request days off for times you have big exams/projects/etc coming up. :nurse:

flightnurse2b, LPN · Oct 10, 2008

i worked full time and graduated with a 4.0.

it CAN be done, but if you can afford not to work, i wouldn't. it definately is not easy.

Farmer Jane · Oct 10, 2008

I did, because I had no choice. Food > free time. I wouldn't have done it had there been another reasonable option.

kythe, LPN · Oct 10, 2008

I didn't work at all while going to school. I struggled enough as it was that I know I would have failed had I tried to hold down a job as well. Working concurrently was highly discouraged, and I did see several classmates drop out of the program because they were overwhelmed and unable to manage school, family life, and a job.

Not working during school wasn't easy financially though. I am a single mom and survived off of prior savings, child support, a scholarship, and the maximum amount of financial aid I was able to recieve. I lived in a low-income neighborhood during the school year and still ended up borrowing money from my parents at the end just to apply for an application for license and the NCLEX. But I got through, so that is what matters.

I plan to go back for RN next year and I do plan to work part time this time. If I keep just one 12-hour shift per week plus school holidays, I can still bring in a significant enough amount of money to keep me from struggling like I did before. Since I've been in nursing school once, I know what I'm getting into this time and I believe I can manage time well enough that it won't affect my school performance.

CRNATOB · Oct 10, 2008

Counselors told students not to work during nursing school, b/c it's extremely hard. Sound more like a myth!!!
Anyone worked during nursing school?
I currently work 20 hours on weekend, Fri-Sun. and study a lot on weekdays. Anyone work more than that? Or suggest, not to work at all! LoL
Basically, no free time for myself.
Eat sleep drink, all about nursing.

I'm not sure about your school, but at the school where I went, about 65% of those who tried juggling school and work flunked out.

RedCell · Oct 10, 2008

Counselors told students not to work during nursing school, b/c it's extremely hard. Sound more like a myth!!!
Anyone worked during nursing school?
I currently work 20 hours on weekend, Fri-Sun. and study a lot on weekdays. Anyone work more than that? Or suggest, not to work at all! LoL
Basically, no free time for myself.
Eat sleep drink, all about nursing.

The counselors you talked to are wrong. I worked full time as a EMT in an emergency ward as a nursing student. Got a better education and skill base from the ER nurses than I ever could have gotten in "nursing school". These guys taught me things that beat the hell of my time wasted sitting through some cultural sensitivity and nurse theory class. Just find time to write the papers and the benefits will far outweigh the hardship.