to work or not during school

Sara5229 · Sep 7, 2007

I'm working about 26-28 hours a week. So far its working for me but it's still early so we'll see. It also helps because all my classes and work schedule fall between 8-5 mon-fri, so I have my nights and weekends to study.

mysterious_one, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2007

It really depends on you, I myself am stressed enough with school and family demands. Also if you are in an ADN program and you want to keep up your GPA to eventually transfer into a BSN program, you may need to study more intensly, just a thought.

iballjay · Sep 7, 2007

It's very doable, but I think a lot if depends on what kind of person you are.

I am always either: working, studying at the library, in class, in lab or in lecture. give myself about an hour of me time a day, to take a walk, eat, check up on email.

for me, it's about not putting ANYTHING else in my schedule 'cept work, and school work

Luckily I don't have a family, but I do have a very understanding girlfriend...

Sometimes I can't understand how anyone with kids does it..

queenjean · Sep 7, 2007

I work full time, go to school full time, have a husband, a house, and two kids and lots of pets. I do just fine. I do as well or better in school than I did when I was single, working 20 hours a week, and living in the dorms with only my laundry, myself, and my side of the room to keep clean; ate in the cafeteria for every meal, no cooking or cleaning necessary.

It's all time management and support, for me. My husband and kids are supportive. I have much better time management skills than I did 15 years ago. I actually seem to do better when I have more on my plate; If I have too much free time, I tend to procrastinate, thinking, but I have so much time to do all this....and then I end up craming at the last minute.

So I guess know what works for you, know your successful study habits and figure out what sort of support system you have and how much you can depend upon them. How will you pay your bills if you only work in the summer? Sometimes working part time in a hospital is more helpful than not working at all, in terms of hands on experience (and tuition reimbursement). If you can get by with not working, and feel that might be a good thing for you, then there is nothing wrong with that. If you end up having to work, don't look at it as a guarantee that you will do poorly, though. Look at it as a challenge that you will successfully meet.

I think I do well with everything I have going right now because I must. I simply do not have the option of not working, or being single, or not having kids, or part time schooling. I just set my mind to it and do it.

It certainly helps that nursing school has a set ending date. Like, I can look at the calendar and know the exact date when I will be finished. That light at the end of the tunnel helps keep the insanity in check; I'm not sure I could do this indefinitely.

nurse2b_ariel · Sep 7, 2007

What you need to do is find out if any of the hospitals in your area offer extern positions. I have one in an Emergency department. Its so cool. Not only are you able to have a job but the job helps you with school. Nurses to ask advice from, hands on experience and you end up seeing things first hand that you would only read about otherwise. I have gotten to practice blood draws and have gotten halfway good at it. not going to learn that at my program.

Anyway its good experience and looks good on a resume.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2007

I work 36 hrs a week, and thank god I work nights....if I worked days, I'd be swamped! At least by 11 or 12 at night, most patients are asleep or at least comfortable enough to stay off their call lights for a while. I usually bring in some schoolwork to do, and will do it (while still doing my job) and ONLY after all my other duties (cleaning, filing, QC glucometers, picking up trash, rounding on pts every hr or so) are done, so no supervisor can say something to me about it. And most are understanding about being a student, so it works out well.

My nurses are really good about asking me to watch things or help with support during procedures that require a leg or arm be up, or rolling someone over, etc....and they usually explain rationles when they can (like no codes, or problems with patients chest pain, etc.) It really wouldn't be a bad place to work if not for the pt load...It's been good, but I've had a lot of nights where I've got 14 patients and there's only 2 of us. (I work on ortho floor, so it makes me really busy when it's time for CPMs.)

I'd say work what you can, PT works, even PRN for the exp.....sometimes the pay sucks first, until you graduate!

sum07 · Sep 8, 2007

Thanks everyone! queenjean I don't see how you do it, but congratulations! locolorenzo, do you work as a CNA/HA?

So I think I'm going to take my first quarter off, just to see how everything goes, and then find a job afterwards. Luckily I've saved enough money to not work for a few months. But hopefully I can find a part-time CNA/HA position at a hospital (which is hard because I have no experience)!

OBigdog26, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 8, 2007

I currently work 36 hours a week. I am a Respiratory Therapist looking for a career change. I have signed up to take 2 classes at one of the universities in my town. My employers are working with my schedule so that I can go to school. I work nights, 12 hour shifts. After I get my work done I usually try to squeeze some study time in between. Working full-time and attending school part-time is the most challenging thing I have done in my life, beside joing the army after high school. It takes determination on the individuals part wheter or not he or she will succeed.

After all my pre-req's have been met and I get accepted into the BSN program, I will probably work part-time. Nursing school is tough, and I want to dedicate my time to it so I will pass.

momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN · Sep 8, 2007

I only work on the weekends (Sat 7-1 and Sunday 8-1). The problem is these are the only days of the week I have off. Plus I have clinicals thursday and friday so sleeping in is rare for me. But I need the money so what are you gonna do? I would recommend not working the first semester if you absolutely don't have to and seeing how you handle the course load. You have to find a pretty understandable employeer b/c more than likely your availability will change every semester!

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2007

I'm a CNA/med tech. Do most of the hands on, but that's life, ya know?

Logos · Sep 8, 2007

I work. Although I can say that my work is suffering for school- not the other way around.

I am feeling guilty about not being as on top of things at work. (I am in managment.)