work AND school??

hopefulprayers1 · Jan 4, 2012

I'm not a successful nurse YET :) but what I can say is plan out a short term daily schedule sun- sat. If you know what times you will have class weekly put those in. Then add in the potential hours you may want/have to work. Then put in a sleeping block(the number of hours you must sleep to run at your best) After all of those are in, see what time in left over. If it's not enough or you're uncomfortable with the amount left over then you should eliminate some time from work. Hope this helps!

I faced the same dilemma except I have no husband or kids, just a bf, so we pretty much take care of ourselves. I'm looking to work pt-time so at least I can have a few hours a day to do normal things lol.

I'm going to be applying for an LPN program and I'm trying to plan out my entire year (what I can anyway) so that not too many "surprises" come up while I'm trying to focus on school. Anyway, I guess this is the golden question for anyone looking into nursing school, but should I bother trying to work at all? I have a job, which I can easily switch over to part time once I start school. I'm just worried that if I'm working all day, then at school all night for the entire week..what will my family be doing? I feel like I wont have much time with my daughter or my husband, no time really to cook dinner let alone sit and have dinner...and then what little spare time I will have, will probably very likely be used for homework and studying. I'm trying to convice myself I can handle it because I've hear of so many others that do handle it and are awesome nurses. BUt I dont want to set myself up for disaster by trying to be superwoman and manage too much...in other words : all you successful nurses out there ..HELPPPP!!

x_factor · Jan 4, 2012

If you need to work, can you work just weekends? I don't have a husband or kids, so that makes things a bit more flexible for me, but I switched to working just weekends at my job. I was working evenings after class while I was doing pre-req's and that was difficult enough. I couldn't do it while in actual nursing school. So I'm just working Saturday and Sundays at work to keep a little income flowing in for any necessities I may need.

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Jan 4, 2012

It depends on how much you can handle as an individual. I know that it would be near impossible for me to work while going through the nursing program because of how well I know my threshold level. It also depends where you work though, I have no experience in the nursing/health field currently, and I was working at wal-mart...customer service and a job that doesn't comprehend a load of 12 credit hours or more and continues to schedule you when you're in class or not available is not going to work in nursing school, so I quit. You said you would easily be able to drop down to part time once you start the program, that's great considering your walking the line between deciding to keep working or quit. If you could work only weekends, that would be great. If you did decide to quit working, is there any struggles that you guys would face from it? I do not have many bills and I still live at home while I am going through the program, so it is relatively easy for me to not work while going to school. Just weigh out the pros and cons and if things look wobbly when you first start the program, I say quit if you're able and before your grades are at major risk. Best of luck in whatever decision you choose! :)

nekozuki, LPN · Jan 6, 2012

I was also planning to work part time during my LPN program, but after being repeatedly warned (and pleaded with) by my teachers and other students who had completed the program, I cut out weeknights and will only be doing Fri PM/Sat/Sun. Financially, it will be a huge struggle, but given how tremendously challenging the program is, I know the LAST thing I want to do is fail because I wanted to be superwoman!

Someone gave me a wonderful piece of advice: You can do ANYTHING for a year. Cutting time with friends, putting social obligations on hold, eating ramen soup and living VERY frugally, and even losing some precious time with family, it will all be worth it in the end! Those who love and care about you will understand the temporary sacrifices you are making. Stay strong and be confident that this is the right decision!

Also, as a sidenote on your family: When I was little, my father worked two jobs on top of putting himself through firefighter/paramedic school. We helped him study, and it was very much like a game. Even at five, I could spend time with my Dad as he studied, hold up flashcards for him and even learn a little something in the process! (You'd better believe I could recite a lot of woundcare and first aid!)

prisicruz · Jan 9, 2012

Thanks for all your advice. I do work in the healthcare field, I've been a CNA for three years now. Everyone I work with, including my bosses, are very supportive and understanding as far as nursing school because they're all nurses. So working only weekends wouldnt be an issue as far as work goes. I'm just worried about bills and how to juggle it all. It helps to have a supportive family, which I do have. But the idea of not working or having to rely on others for that much more support is a bit daunting. I guess you have to really want it bad to make the sacrifices and I want it...BAD!! lol I've wanted to be a nurse since as long as I can remember so, again, thanks for the advice!! I'm def gunna cut down and take it from there. :heartbeat