Work PT during nursing school

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Do you think this is doable? Work 17 hrs per week:

Semester 1: 16 credits

Semester 2: 14 credits

Semester 3: 14 credits

Semester 4: 8 credits

Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

welll i worked 31.5 hrs a week last semester and this semester i'm gonna be attempting to work 30h with my clinicals and everything. Having less free time actually helps me to push and do work on time and get better grades. when i was in school and not working i had way to much free time tht i did a whole bunch of nothing.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

I work 32 a week (nights), and have for my entire time in clinicals (days). I got rather sick of instructors and other students blabbing on about how you should work no more than 20 hours a week or you'll fail. I need health insurance, and I need to pay bills. I didn't have a choice in the matter. I've kept an A average and graduate this winter. Am I tired? Yup. I still manage one night a week where I get a few hours of me time. On the days where I want to quit I remind myself it's only for a few more months. That gets me through.

Anything is possible if you're willing to sacrifice and make it work.

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I work 32 a week (nights), and have for my entire time in clinicals (days). I got rather sick of instructors and other students blabbing on about how you should work no more than 20 hours a week or you'll fail. I need health insurance, and I need to pay bills. I didn't have a choice in the matter. I've kept an A average and graduate this winter. Am I tired? Yup. I still manage one night a week where I get a few hours of me time. On the days where I want to quit I remind myself it's only for a few more months. That gets me through.

Anything is possible if you're willing to sacrifice and make it work.

I hear that a lot AND see it on allnurses ALL THE TIME. Yes, I guess it would be nice to not have to worry about anything but school but that just isn't the reality for some people.

I work 72 hour shifts every other weekend but it is an environment where I can read, study, whatever. The other day my dad was all critical, saying "Isn't that going to be hard?" Maybe, maybe not. But the bottom line is, I have no choice. I didn't see my dad pitching in to help pay for anything.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

There's one student in particular that drove me NUTS with all her sympathetic, oh-that's-too-bad, you'll-never-make-it-out-alive comments. Finally one day I snapped, "Okay, fine....how about I move in with you and have your hubby add me on your insurance. I won't be paying rent or contributing anything because.....gasp....I'm a nursing student!"

She stopped feeling sorry for me after that LOL

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Thousands upon thousands do it at schools all over the country so I'm sure you can do it too.

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Yes there is absolutely no way I cannot work ... so what's there to do?

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It really does depend on the person. Last semester there was no way I could work. It was my first semester and I studied all the time. I am going to attempt to work this semester as an SPN, but only once a week or once every other week. I would say that if you do not have to work it would be better not to until you have a grasp of how much work is required for nursing school.

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My school advised us to NOT work at all unless we have to. They then said if you HAVE to, only do a max. of 10 hours a week. Well obv, 10 hours a week won't cut it....but lucky for me, I do not have to work to support myself so I chose to take the first semester off to see how much "free time" i'll actually have.

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Personally - I cannot work and go to school at the same time. It just doesn't work out for me. I've been a stay at home wife for years now so just the adjustment to an actual strict routine is going to be a shock to my system. Luckily my husband's income covers our expenses - but we will be budgeting and cutting back a lot while I'm in school.

I think that if you're dedicated though, you can work too! Some people do better on less time and are more efficient and focused.

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