working as cna while in lpn school?

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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Hi! I am wondering if anyone works as a cna while in lpn school? Is it doable, even with 2 kids?

Thanks guys!

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I believe that it can be helpful, and of course, most adults need to earn money because life does go on...bills need to be paid and eating is a nice thing to do (smile). If you find a place that is accomodating to your schedule, then, great! Advantages may be that they may hire you as a nurse upon graduation, which of course, is a serious plus.

I can say, however, that being a CNA is physically demanding and time management of studies, work and family has to be mastered.

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Specializes in Hospice and LTC.

Hello! I have one 2 year old a puppy and 2 cats and a boyfriend haha! I currently work fri - mon 10 hours as a hospice cna and school tues wed thur 2 - 9.... it sucks! buuut it is definatly do-able... when you hang out with your kids make sure its good quality time.. I am in the 18 month program... 5 more months to go.. it goes fast. and just keep telling yourself its only so much time out of your life and you are bettering yourself for your family! :-) GOOD LUCK!:D

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I work part-time, two days a week and thats a lot. my friend has two kids and works 7p-7a friday, sat, sun, mon. she is so overtired and is just worn out. it's too much. if you can do not work at all. you'll thank yourself in the end. if you dont have a choice like me, try to cut back hours.

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I couldn't do it, but I'm a 53 year old coming back to school after many years. I carry 17 hours. One of my 4 hour classes requires 24 outside hours a week in study. I'm making good grades, but that's only because I work it like a full time job.

We have people in my class that work, do school, and raise kids. I admire them deeply, but their studies seem to suffer. The folks that are doing well in grades had most of their sciences done before being accepted in the program. They carry a lighter class load than I do.

Remember, you only have 168 hours a week. Subtract your optimum sleep time x 7. Don't skimp there. You'll need it!

Find out who your program director is and go directly to her/him for advice. Don't go to an admissions counselor. Nursing students are different. She/he knows what it takes. They've taught hundreds of people.

Good luck. Don't quit on your dream.

You can't fail until you quit!

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Specializes in geriatric, dialysis.

I'm in the last three months of a one year LPN program. I have two children and my husband is currently deployed to Iraq. I work one day a week in dialysis to cover gas and water bill. He is currently covering all the bills and it's still a lot of work to keep up in class with homework and exam prep. It depends on the person. I know a girl that currently works 16 hours Saturday and Sunday and has 4 children. She is still a straight A student. For her and the others that work it's about organization. They pull out the syllabus and look at when quizzes and exams are coming and just organize their time. Know what topics are going to require the most work and plan the time for it. Try to plan a day when you can rest and recharge your batteries. Try to find positive hard working people that will support you and vice versa. You can get it done. Best of luck!

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I work full time as a CNA and attend an LPN program full time days - M-F. It can be done, but it is exhausting. My best advice is to try to work in a position where you can study sometimes. For example nights at my hospital can include periods where it is quiet and you can study. Always travel with your books - so you can read on break etc. Take lots of vitamins as I find myself always running a cold from the schedule that I keep. You need to be really disciplined and forget about having a life for the next 12 months or so. I am in a 15 month program - which seems really long. I am also a single mom, but luckily my daughter is a teenager who can microwave - that in itself is a major hurdle overcome!

Good luck and monitor yourself - If you see your grades dropping, cut back at work. I've had to do that a few times. Best wishes!

Oh one last tip - if you work per diem or thru an agency you can have more control over your schedule if you need to take a lesser work load during exam times for example.

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CAN DO...Many succeed in CNA work while going to LPN SCHOOL. I worked 32 hrs a week, school 20-22 hrs a week. Had small other income and low bills. Also helped that I was on an 18 mo part time program. 1st 9 months I was on unemployment, until I found the CNA job. Still had something going 7 days a week most of my school time. WIA helped with gas and I have great family support. Scored highest in my class on the HESI, 905, I think. Looking to complete my NECLEX-PN test 21JAN2010-Any advice on acing the boards gratefully accepted. 52 year old, male, with wife, grown daughter and four grandchildren living at home with me. Most employers who use CNA's often work your hours around your school schedule.

Have my diploma and a promise of a job, only thing left is to pass boards.

Go for broke and tie a knot and hang on, it will be a long, hard ride.

Easy?. No. Can you do this? Yes. CAN DO!:yeah::lol2::up::twocents::bowingpur:monkeydance::clpty::stdnrsrck:

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Hey!

I'm a mother of two, and thankfully my husband works so I don't have to. I was told by one of the instructors of my PN program, that for the first level (which is mostly all theory, and the hardest) it's good not to work if you don't have to. After that, I would be eligible to take the exam for CNA so I plan to do it and find a job through an employment agency to work only on Saturdays, and MAYBE Sundays. Many people have recommended that I do this, because it would make me more marketable when I am ready to find a job as a LPN. I'd have some kind of experience in the health care field, which is way better than none!

Hope that helps a bit... :)

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Specializes in 1 day correctional and military nursing.

maybe you can work as a cna for a home health agency

you can study while your clients are busy or sleeping

thats is what i plan on doing

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Hi! Just to add my two cents, I am in the second semester of LVN school and I do not work. I also do not have little children at home though I do have two older children here and a husband who works and cooks a few nights per week. I have a low stress tolerance level and do not think I could make it in this program if I had small children and was working at all. I spend most of my time studying and have very good grades, but still feel borderline almost overwhelmed by the quantity of work. That said, I have a number of people in my class who work full-time, have children, and are doing very well, too! How they do it, I do not know. But I think they must have better inner stress coping skills than I do. I will say that we have a few people every day who fall asleep in class. These are also the ones who work. How they get passing grades without taking notes while I am sitting there riveted and writing down almost everything the instructor says, again, I do not know. But for you, I think you need to make an honest assessment of how much you know you can really handle, stress-wise. How much support do you have and how much time can you not spend with your children without it hurting them? I put this schooling off because the answer to the last question was that I was not willing to take that much mommy time away from my children while they were little, but some people have grandparents, sisters, aunts, etc. who gladly step in, which I did not have. If you have good time management skills, cope well with stress, and have a reliable loving support system, you can do it!

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, geriatrics.

I will be finished LPN school in March 2010 I have been working as a CNA since DAy One. It is very stressful but doable I have a husband whose hours have been reduced and two kids which means I have to work.. But Good Luck and realize when you need to take a break

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Hello,

I am entering my second term of a LPN program, and I work part-time as a Home Health Aide. I also have two young children at home (5 & 4 years old) and a husband. Right now my husband is unemployed, but he is also a college student, just like I am. I have no choice but to work until he can find something. Up to this point, I haven't really found it all that overwhelming to keep up with my schoolwork while working about 15 hours a week and still spending quality time with my children. However, I had an interview last week for a Nurse's Aide position in a nursing home, and it looks like I got the job. It's 24 hours a week (8-hour shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), which means that I will be in class Monday - Thursday from 5:00 PM until 10:00 PM and then working all weekend long. My program is a part-time 16 month program. There are a few people in my class that work full-time, and nearly all of us work at least part-time. Also, I think all of us except for three have children. We are all making it. Once you get into the groove, you learn how to juggle and balance your time. Just don't put too much pressure on yourself. It will all work out.

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