Work full time AND go to nursing school?

[katy81]

I just signed up for my pre reqs for nursing school at a university that offers an RN program during the weekend and evenings. This is a second career for me, so I figured I could work the job I have while completing the RN program. I have talked to a couple people who have told me tales of people they know who went to nursing school and were so overwhelmed with studying that they were unable to work. This isn't really possible for me to do since i'm on my own and this is a second career. Is it possible to complete an RN program and work full time? Has anyone done it?

Thanks!

[choosier2003]

I suppose it can be done, I know people that have, but not for me. I worked full-time for the first year of the program and paid for it with marginal grades, I tried to do it again the following year and ending up failing a class because of it. When I repeated the class, after being readmitted into the program the following year, I had to switch to a part time job and take out a signature loan to get me through the year. I found that even working part time really cut into my study time. Do whatever you can to minimize the time you spend at work, there are only so many study hours in a week and when you devote 40 of those hours to a job, well you do the math.

[marilynaalvarez]

OMG! I love your response. I needed that reality check myself. I just got a FT job and have no option but to keep it, I desperately need the finances, It's a good company to work for, and there are RN opportunities available. I guess PT track it is :) as much as I want to just go ft and finish ASAP.

[TinyRNgrl]

It can be done. Not easy, but I worked a full time AND a part time job while going through nursing school. My full time job was EMS so luckily I had some down time between calls to study and do homework. I would mainly work 40 straight hours from Friday -Sunday. Then school during the week and my part time Nurse externship position. I lived on coffee and barely slept. It is not healthy by any means but I made it and graduated top of my class and passed NCLEX on my first try.

Best of luck to ya.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I truly believe it varies by person. For my 1st 2 semesters in my LPN program I worked PT, and in my 2nd semester I failed patho (had to retake it) and passed Med-Surg 1 by the skim of my teeth & the grace of God! I just wrapped up my last semester last Monday..didn't work @ all during the semester b/c my course load was very heavy (Med-surg 2, maternity/peds, and patho)..fared a lot better. Got a mixture of a's,b's, &c's. I didn't sleep much d/t all the care plans, studying & projects I had to do..I couldn't imagine trying to work as well