Work and Go To School?? Help!

SLILMISSYF · Aug 18, 2005

Ok so I posted this in response down below but thought it might get more attention here on its own. I currently work 4 12hr. shifts at our local hospital. They Only do 12 hour shifts..so Im wondering how I will do my clinical year and work. I carry the benefits for my family, and I need my paycheck to pay bills...so I dont have the option of just not working and going to clinicals.
Has anyone worked this one out? I assume I will have to leave the hospital setting and go to a nursing home while I do my clinicals....but I hate leaving my job. Thanks for your input!!

Hi,I am with you on this one.My husband and I are both in school together and we are 27 and 34 we have a 6yr,old a 4yr old and a 14mon.old kids.I was a stay at home mom and he worked.So he stoped working and we took out a loan to pay the bills for a year and a half.They told us when we started it would not work with us working and trying to go full time to school.so we did what ever it took to make it work.It will be hard at times but,it's not forever.It can be done. :roll

FAIRYTALES · Aug 18, 2005

Well the meeting this am with our DON was well worth it! She's a person who believes in continuing education Strongly..and is behind us fully. Me and another LPN went into the meeting this not knowing what she would say.
Basically she wanted to know what she could do to help us. She said the hospital system (CHS) has scholorships and we would be given that. They would pay entirely for our education and would work with us so we could keep our working up and our benefits. She would include us in the weekend program (that only RNs can do at the time)...and that means you work 2 12hr shifts and get paid for about 3 12hr shifts. We could then pick up a day during the week when we could OR wanted to .. to supliment our income. By giving us all our tuition I will have to give the hospital 3 yrs. of working for them as an RN. I think its a pretty good deal..how about you?

THAT IS GREAT!!!! SOUNDS LIKE YOUR PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. MANY EMPLOYERS COULD TAKE A LESSON.GOOD-LUCK TO YOU!!

crrez4 · Aug 18, 2005

i don't know what position you are working in currently, but, see if there are any other positions within the hospital you can ransfer to teporarily in order to finish clinical. i had a problem with clinical hours and with the help of my family was able to get through it.

ok so i posted this in response down below but thought it might get more attention here on its own. i currently work 4 12hr. shifts at our local hospital. they only do 12 hour shifts..so im wondering how i will do my clinical year and work. i carry the benefits for my family, and i need my paycheck to pay bills...so i dont have the option of just not working and going to clinicals.
has anyone worked this one out? i assume i will have to leave the hospital setting and go to a nursing home while i do my clinicals....but i hate leaving my job. thanks for your input!!

Twinkie1 · Aug 18, 2005

Congratulations :balloons: Wonderful news!

Twinkie

PeepnBiscuitsRN · Aug 19, 2005

I live at home with my dad, actually. But he's not paying my way unfortunatly! I have been working and going to school since 1998, and about 98% of the time it's been part time at one day care or another; afternoon hours. Obviously they don't pay as much as hospitals do for CNA stuff...but it's conveninet because I don't have to work weekends or nights. (

jodyangel, RN · Aug 19, 2005

Wow that many hours? Well when I tried last night to figure out how to apply for my classes, it just conflicts with work sooo much! Since I work 7a-7p even night classes conflict with work...

And I tried putting all classes in 2 days, and it just didnt work. So Im calling my CNO today and ask her if she will let us go to the weekend program This year instead of next year. Then it would free us up during to week to just schedule the classes without worry. And I intend to pick up at some time during the week....but most of my salary would come from the weekend deal.

Heres hoping!!!

I did work 45+ hours a week and go to school full time. I have a husband a 2 kids. The majority of my class did the same thing. It was hard but we all needed the money and our benefits. The time does fly so when you think you are going to drop from exhaustion suddenly the program is done. Of course it is best if you don't work but I did not have that option. Talk to your manager and ask if there are flexible hours while you attend school. Most places are thrilled when an employee wants to become a nurse and will work around the school schedule. Then you can adjust your study time accordingly. Good luck it will all be worth it in the end.

no er holds · Aug 21, 2005

The facility I work at gives you the option of going part-time and keeping benefits while going to school and you contract with them for 1 year as an RN OR you can work two 12s per week and use 12 hrs pto and keep your benefits and you contract for one year OR you work 2 12s, keep your benefits, get paid for 3 12s and contract for 2 years as an RN.

Good Luck...maybe this is an option for you.

crrez4 · Aug 23, 2005

My moto is "No Nursing Student Should Pay For School!" I know you like working in the daycare but my advise to you is to work in that hospital as a CNA, they will pay. You may say you wan't to work in Peds, but until you do your clinical in Peds, don't be to sure. Lots of my fellow student wanted to work in particular department but changed their minds. Don't let something like you desires before the experience set you up for more hard work than is neccesary. Pediatrics is not going anywhere. :wink2:

I live at home with my dad, actually. But he's not paying my way unfortunatly! I have been working and going to school since 1998, and about 98% of the time it's been part time at one day care or another; afternoon hours. Obviously they don't pay as much as hospitals do for CNA stuff...but it's conveninet because I don't have to work weekends or nights. (

AtlantaRN, RN · Aug 23, 2005

Ok so I posted this in response down below but thought it might get more attention here on its own. I currently work 4 12hr. shifts at our local hospital. They Only do 12 hour shifts..so Im wondering how I will do my clinical year and work. I carry the benefits for my family, and I need my paycheck to pay bills...so I dont have the option of just not working and going to clinicals.
Has anyone worked this one out? I assume I will have to leave the hospital setting and go to a nursing home while I do my clinicals....but I hate leaving my job. Thanks for your input!!

one of the girls I work with is doing 2 12 hour shifts on the weekend, and picking up 8 hours during the week, this still keeps her as full time status, and it is understood if census drops, she is the first one to be called off...

don't leave your job, a good employer will work with you...

also this girl has been a tech (cna) for several years and she has topped out at a rate higher than starting LPN's, she already had a talk with them and she is getting a higher starting rate as a result...

atlantarn

CrazyPremed, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 27, 2005

To the OP,

I commend what you are doing and wish you the best of luck. But, remember this: many people have made it through nursing school in worse situations than yours. Be certain to exhaust ALL options (it sounds as though you have found one). Can the hubby work full time? Are there other jobs that will be more flexible? Unless you already have a degree, default, or drug charges, chances are that you can get financial aid (grants and loans). I don't remember you saying that you've checked into these options. With a supportive spouse, it may not be as difficult as it seems (some of us are flying solo in this whole process :crying2: ). Anyway, good luck, and keep us posted.

CrazyPremed

KrysyRN, BSN · Sep 1, 2005

Well the meeting this am with our DON was well worth it! She's a person who believes in continuing education Strongly..and is behind us fully. Me and another LPN went into the meeting this not knowing what she would say.
Basically she wanted to know what she could do to help us. She said the hospital system (CHS) has scholorships and we would be given that. They would pay entirely for our education and would work with us so we could keep our working up and our benefits. She would include us in the weekend program (that only RNs can do at the time)...and that means you work 2 12hr shifts and get paid for about 3 12hr shifts. We could then pick up a day during the week when we could OR wanted to .. to supliment our income. By giving us all our tuition I will have to give the hospital 3 yrs. of working for them as an RN. I think its a pretty good deal..how about you?

I think this is a good deal... The hospitals where I live don't hire LPNs, so there are no employers in town that fund this type of education. You are very fortunate to have this option.

Make sure you read the terms of any kind of contract they offer if you decide to do this. For instance, in those 3 years, will you be allowed to switch units if you want? Would you be able to work for affiliates? (such as outpatient surgicenters, etc.)

jodyangel, RN · Sep 2, 2005

Thank you so much! I finally received the *draft* that the CNO is presenting to the board. I think I will post the details here in a bit....have to go find it lol.

Anyway, bottom line is they will pay me $28.00/hr on the weekends. We currently have a bonus in place for any time worked over required time, so I will pick up some time during the week at $35.00. I'll be fine finacially! If I do take their money (which they called scholorship before.....) I will owe them 3 years as an RN in the hospital. School will cost approx. $6-7,000. If I leave the position I will owe the rest of the amount still owed and will have to repay it within 90 days. My thoughts..since this is Not where we are settling for good, would be to graduate, work at least a year while picking up a shift a week with agency and saving it.....then leave the hospital. If I save money working the agency, I should easily be able to save enough to pay off the balance. I talked with a few of the travel nurses (aghh) that work with me, and they all said they had similiar situations where the employer paid for their education and they left before thier contract was finished......and just paid off the balance. So with my dread of having to work in this facility for basically 5 years (2 yrs of school and 3 promised years as an RN)......this sounds like a viable option.

Anyone here have thoughts?

O and btw, the assitant CNO found me standing in the administration office yesterday and said..."Ooo you're going to the Rn bridge school? Greattttt!! Anything I can do to help I will! I have loads of research books and I would be willing to read over your big papers before you hand them in.....I have a disk to format your papers with all the proper headings and indentations ect...let me know!!" She was apparently an LPN, went to school thru her work for her RN, then progressed thru whatever nursing degree she has now. Sorta an inspiration really! So I will def. let her critique my work!!

To the OP,
I commend what you are doing and wish you the best of luck. But, remember this: many people have made it through nursing school in worse situations than yours. Be certain to exhaust ALL options (it sounds as though you have found one). Can the hubby work full time? Are there other jobs that will be more flexible? Unless you already have a degree, default, or drug charges, chances are that you can get financial aid (grants and loans). I don't remember you saying that you've checked into these options. With a supportive spouse, it may not be as difficult as it seems (some of us are flying solo in this whole process ). Anyway, good luck, and keep us posted.
CrazyPremed