Working while on course ?

suzanne4, RN · Jul 18, 2005

In the US, there are usually no problems with a student working part-time. Some are actually known to have carried a full-time work load, especially working weekends, etc. Not sure what the rulings are on your side of the pond. :)

Good luck with your studies............ :Melody:

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

Here is the scenario, I am a 18 year old male who has left school safe in the knowledge that I have a un-conditional offer to do the diploma course in Nursing, with children being my eventual speciality.

I though by doing the Diploma I would be better off money wise because of the Bursary instead of the Degree which I would get a loan instead, which I think still is the obvious choice since I can top-up to degree with an extra year if I want to anyway.

But the bursary I should be receiving is about £5800 , which at my age I consider I large amount of money but to just live in the dorms will cost £3000 a year, so I have £2800 to last me an academic year, 40 weeks-ish which makes it £70 a week.

I doubt I can travel to the hospital on placements, eat and have a social life on that...not to mention buying books and travelling home...So my question is this.

Is there any chance that I will have time to get a part-time job, I know this is a heavy time course and I can't wait are there any employers who will understand what a nursing student goes though and give me a VERY flexible schedule ?

Hi,

A lot of student nurses will get jobs as HCSW which means simply health care support worker. They either join an agency, the hospital bank or work at a nursing home. On my ward we are flexible with student nurses in so far as the ones who have weekend jobs we will give them weekends off but there is a lot of feeling that students need to understand the 24 hour shift pattern and some wards may object to you not working weekends, the best thing to do once you have an established job is explain prior to commencing placement that you have a weekend job to make ends meet.

Good luck with your future career-enjoy

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 19, 2005

I agree with Kay :)

I know of lots of students that joined and agency and was very able to manage shifts round their placements and holidays

Alkarzar · Jul 19, 2005

That makes me feel alot better.

UK2BCnurse · Jul 19, 2005

Hi

I'm a Modern Matron (yeah, even us male nurses still get called Matron.....) and qualified 12 yrs ago, but during my training I worked shifts in nursing homes and on wards as a care assistant to earn extra cash. Certainly during the first 18 months of your training it is easy enough to pull a few shifts a month to get some extra cash under your belt, working weekends etc. I did plenty of that and survived my training.

Good luck!

Scott :chuckle

oreo75 · Jul 21, 2005

Which Uni are going to? I'm at Canterbury Christchurch.

I manage to fit in working, most of the uni's don't like to know that you are working as they seem to think it effects your study.

Alkarzar · Jul 21, 2005

I am going to University of Central England, in Birmingham.

oreo75 · Jul 21, 2005

Have you seen some of the UK nursing boards? They might be able to tell you how many days a week you are in uni. When I've got uni weeks I'm only in 2 days a week, due to numbers.

When do you start?