Work full time AND go to nursing school?

WalkieTalkie, RN · Feb 23, 2009

I worked full time and went to school full-time until my senior year. I had to drop down to working almost full-time at work since there weren't enough days in the week to work full-time... LOL. In any case, I graduated summa cum laude, so it can be done, and done well!

It's not easy, you will be tired a lot, but you can do it if you set your mind to it.

iheartangelinajolie · Feb 23, 2009

DO NOT DO IT!!!! I worked full time while I was in the RN program and I couldn't handle it. I know for a fact that if I worked part time I would have done so much better.

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2009

Uh, yes it's definitely possible. I had to support myself and I did it. You have to be good at self-discipline and have a really great calendar to keep track of everything but it's possible. Don't let anyone fool you.

sunray12 · Feb 24, 2009

I work ft and do prereqs full time. It's not easy. I've had to take on math and science courses - all stuff that was not my strong suite so the challenge factor is definitely there. I do have to support myself but I won't be working during nursing school - at least not to start. After a semester or two if I feel comfortable about balancing a job with my school work then I'll look for a job. But if I get a job during nursing school it will probably be more for the foot in the door experience than for the money because I doubt that I'll make very much as a part time CNA/PCT. I look at it as two years sacrifice for long term gain.

1RNTutor · Feb 24, 2009

In rare (and I do mean rare) circumstances it is possible to work full-time and to attend nursing school full-time successfully. I add "successfully" because I've met hundreds of students who failed one or more courses, or who had to extend an additional semester, with the consent of the School of Nursing, in order to graduate with a "C" or GPA of 2.00 because they chose to work more hours weekly than they could endure and still succeed.

In fact the only 3 people I know of who did it, all needed 5 semesters to complete the 4 semesters of an upper division BSN program because, in each case, by semester #3 the individual's health and ability to learn had tanked. Each had no option to stop working. Each made the choice to reduce the number of credits to a part-time level for a semester in order to keep working and to continue progress toward the BSN.

Let's do some math: the expectation of any college instructor is that you will do a minimum of 2 hours preparation time for every hour of classroom time/4 hours of lab time. In nursing prerequistes and nursing school courses the faculty's expectation is higher: 3-4 hours of preparation for 1 hr class/4 hrs lab and a minimum of 4 hrs intensive prep for each clinical day. If you are carrying 12 credit hours the prep time committment adds another 36-48 hours easily, or about 60 hours each week.

If you are working full-time as well, it's not just a 40 hr work week but also the time it takes you to prepare for work, the time to travel to and from work, and some decompression or transition time between your 'work' time and your 'school' time. Say we add another 2 hours per day x 5 days per week to cover that extra time; that's now a 50-hr work week. Total so far is in the range of 86 hrs/wk to just get by and 110 hrs/wk to meet the objectives of work and school. There are only 168 hrs/week, so now you have less than 60 - 82 hrs/wk to do everything else.

Time for everything else includes time for all the essentials: to sleep (6hrs/night?); to prepare and eat 3 meals/day (microwave everything or eat it cold and don't chew = 1 hr/day); do laundry including your work clothes and clinical uniforms ( 2 hrs/wk); for personal hygiene (0.5-1 hr/day); to exercise 0.5 hr x3 days (if you don't take care of the stress, the stress will take care of you). That's at least another 52 hours a week, leaving a remainder of 8-30 hrs/wk to for all the other timekillers. Think about the time it takes to get to and from school, the time between classes, etc. and you'll see that even if you are clever about multi-tasking you end up exhausted with no recovery time.

Is it impossible? No, but you need to be prepared for the eventuality that you may need to attend part-time during the most difficult semester or two at your chosen school if you choose to continue working full-time. There are certain basic conditions you must acknowledge about employment as well.

Your employer and coworkers have the right to expect that you will be awake, productive and responsive every hour you're at work. Creating special conditions for yourself, such as reading text chapters on the job, while others carry your share of the work load will create bad feelings and anger in a hurry. Carrying the load for a coworker whose actions benefit no one else quickly gets 'old' no matter how much you thought they supported your goals. Show some integrity: if your employer agrees and your position permits, see if you can schedule your work on a flexible schedule. If you arrange to work from home, maintain the same productivity rate or better; resist the temptation to claim hours as worked when you spend them studying.

So, yes. it can be done. Is it worth it? Only you can tell. A point to remember: nursing school prepares you for a career where what you do affects others' lives. Learning well all of the concepts taught in nursing school will aid you in becoming the type of nurse you would want to have care for the most important person in your life. Finally, " 'C' may equal degree" but it does not invariably equal a NCLEX pass or the title "nurse".

It's a tough choice to make, so be honest, be committed, but also be kind to yourself - whatever you decide.

'Best of luck in school -

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

In rare (and I do mean rare) circumstances it is possible to work full-time and to attend nursing school full-time successfully. I add "successfully" because I've met hundreds of students who failed one or more courses, or who had to extend an additional semester, with the consent of the School of Nursing, in order to graduate with a "C" or GPA of 2.00 because they chose to work more hours weekly than they could endure and still succeed.
In fact the only 3 people I know of who did it, all needed 5 semesters to complete the 4 semesters of an upper division BSN program because, in each case, by semester #3 the individual's health and ability to learn had tanked. Each had no option to stop working. Each made the choice to reduce the number of credits to a part-time level for a semester in order to keep working and to continue progress toward the BSN.
Let's do some math: the expectation of any college instructor is that you will do a minimum of 2 hours preparation time for every hour of classroom time/4 hours of lab time. In nursing prerequistes and nursing school courses the faculty's expectation is higher: 3-4 hours of preparation for 1 hr class/4 hrs lab and a minimum of 4 hrs intensive prep for each clinical day. If you are carrying 12 credit hours the prep time committment adds another 36-48 hours easily, or about 60 hours each week.
If you are working full-time as well, it's not just a 40 hr work week but also the time it takes you to prepare for work, the time to travel to and from work, and some decompression or transition time between your 'work' time and your 'school' time. Say we add another 2 hours per day x 5 days per week to cover that extra time; that's now a 50-hr work week. Total so far is in the range of 86 hrs/wk to just get by and 110 hrs/wk to meet the objectives of work and school. There are only 168 hrs/week, so now you have less than 60 - 82 hrs/wk to do everything else.
Time for everything else includes time for all the essentials: to sleep (6hrs/night?); to prepare and eat 3 meals/day (microwave everything or eat it cold and don't chew = 1 hr/day); do laundry including your work clothes and clinical uniforms ( 2 hrs/wk); for personal hygiene (0.5-1 hr/day); to exercise 0.5 hr x3 days (if you don't take care of the stress, the stress will take care of you). That's at least another 52 hours a week, leaving a remainder of 8-30 hrs/wk to for all the other timekillers. Think about the time it takes to get to and from school, the time between classes, etc. and you'll see that even if you are clever about multi-tasking you end up exhausted with no recovery time.
Is it impossible? No, but you need to be prepared for the eventuality that you may need to attend part-time during the most difficult semester or two at your chosen school if you choose to continue working full-time. There are certain basic conditions you must acknowledge about employment as well.
Your employer and coworkers have the right to expect that you will be awake, productive and responsive every hour you're at work. Creating special conditions for yourself, such as reading text chapters on the job, while others carry your share of the work load will create bad feelings and anger in a hurry. Carrying the load for a coworker whose actions benefit no one else quickly gets 'old' no matter how much you thought they supported your goals. Show some integrity: if your employer agrees and your position permits, see if you can schedule your work on a flexible schedule. If you arrange to work from home, maintain the same productivity rate or better; resist the temptation to claim hours as worked when you spend them studying.
So, yes. it can be done. Is it worth it? Only you can tell. A point to remember: nursing school prepares you for a career where what you do affects others' lives. Learning well all of the concepts taught in nursing school will aid you in becoming the type of nurse you would want to have care for the most important person in your life. Finally, " 'C' may equal degree" but it does not invariably equal a NCLEX pass or the title "nurse".
It's a tough choice to make, so be honest, be committed, but also be kind to yourself - whatever you decide.
'Best of luck in school -

It may be RARE for it to happen but it does happen. Yes, it takes a lot to go through..and it's not for the squeamish at heart. However, with proper time management and realizing it's not necessary to get a 4.0 to pass nursing school, it CAN BE DONE! I am proud of what I accomplished. I made it through with a B-/C+ GPA, got great clinical recommendations and managed to work full-time which allowed me such luxuries as having a place to live, an old beat-up pick-up truck to drive to work and school in and occasionally have money for things like food. Was it easy? Nope, not at all. Did I have to make sacrifices? Sure did. Did I pass the NCLEX on the first try? YES. Am I grateful for all I went through to become a nurse? I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. I can hold my head up high and say I EARNED my cap through honest blood, sweat and tears.

You said: "A point to remember: nursing school prepares you for a career where what you do affects others' lives. Learning well all of the concepts taught in nursing school will aid you in becoming the type of nurse you would want to have care for the most important person in your life." That statement really bothered me for some reason....nursing school had too many hoops to jump through that didn't make me a great nurse. (Can anyone say endless care plans???) What has made me great has been my own personal attitude of willing to sacrifice for success....I know what's important and I"m willing to work towards that goal. What I've learned SINCE nursing school, well that has been the real preparation for my career. And I'm still learning.

We are going to disagree I believe and that's ok. I just think it's a shame that so many try to dissuade people from the profession because they have to work. Many of my instructors were so against students working, they would openly ridicule you if you did. Only one instructor was willing to stand up and realize that if you didn't have someone else to support you, working was the only way you had to go. She was a wonderful instructor because she actually was willing to help you in any way she could to succeed. So many of the other instructors were too wrapped up in their outdated ideas regarding nursing education to make that kind of impact. And that was a real shame.

So, is it possible? Yes, it is possible. I had to work anywhere from 45-60 hours a week to pay my bills and try to come up with money for things like food and gas. I remember some weeks being so exhausted I didn't know if I could make it. I spent every spare minute on school work and somehow got it all done. Was I at the top of my class? Nope. Am I ashamed of that? Nope. When we took NLN's I did great. And I did great on my NCLEX as well. I applaud you for trying to give the OP what you feel to be an honest breakdown of a time allotment. But don't forget the most important factor of all: determination!

angel337, MSN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

there are always going to be people that tell you that they worked and went to school with no problem, but its really something you are going to have to experience for yourself. i worked full time as long as i could but then i eventually had to drop some hours because nursing school became very time consuming. all i can say is just do the best you can for as long as you can and you will eventually see if you can handle working full time the entire duration of the program. i personally don't know anyone that worked full time the entire time. they used alot of PTO, vacarion time.. you name it. nurisng school is not easy and you will do better and feel better if you don't have to do it with a 40/hr a week job. good luck in your endeavors.

RedRobin8 · Feb 24, 2009

You didn't mention if you have your own family to care for, so I am assuming you do not - that's a whole 'nother chunk of life...:redbeathe I am married with two kids, work 20 hours per week and attend school full time. The factor that I did not take into account is the pre-assessment hours required prior to clinical days. This takes much flexibility on your part. Don't want to discourage you, just keep you aware. What was shown on my schedule as "1 hour pre-assessment" on the day prior to my clinicals actually involves: 1 hour travel/gas to&from hospital, $2.90 in tolls, 1 hour documentation, 2-3 hours research/preparation at home...and this is only my 2nd of 8 semesters. Talk with your advisor about your school's realistic expectations regarding pre-clinical preparation so you can incorporate this into your work/personal schedule. Clinical instructors have the right to send you home if your paperwork is not ready ahead of time, and I love school too much to try to skimp on it. :yeah:

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

I once had a manager/director tell me they would hire a C graduate than an A graduate. YES its possible to work full time and go to school full time. I did it. and a full time mom. Yes your superbusy and extra tired. But it goes fast and its your accomplishment. Don't let anyone tell you not to, see if it works for you. If it doesn't then cut back on whichever one you choose to. RN school is a lot of work but so is life. Make the best decision for yourself.

mybelle3221 · Feb 24, 2009

It's a personal choice, put a lot of thought into it. But it can be done.

sunshines66, BSN · Feb 24, 2009

I worked at a variety of jobs during nursing school. I had a work study job, and two part time positions. It is not easy. I had to keep my eye on the ball. I knew I needed to finish school in 4 years and not fail or drop any classes. I worked between 10-15 hours a week as a freshman and sophomore. In my program I went to a local university for the first two years then a private college for the last two. The last two cost double the university rate, and I was paying for more things myself so I worked between 40-60 hours every week during the 2 years of my BSN nursing program. It was very hard, but I was extremely motivated and knew no one was going to do anything for me. Just know the instructors do not give any slack for those who work too. Sometimes I think they were harder on those of us that did it "all". It can be done but you need to make sacrafices in other areas....ie eating the same thing frequently leftovers...laundry only when necessary. Very little sleep... Good luck! Only you know if you have that kind of stamina. I did at 20, now I am not so sure.