working full-time while attending nursing school

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My goal is to come an RN. I am not even able to register for school until Dec 2 but I am wondering if it is even possible for me to attend school (or if any online classes are available) while working fulltime (Monday thru Friday) ....anyone know?

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

moved to our pre-nursing student forum.

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Specializes in Wound Care / Foot Care / Case Management.

Had a best friend and a cousin who did it. I will also be doing the same thing, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE if that's what you want/need to do. And please dont listen to anyone tell you that you can't do it or that your grades will suffer; only you know your strengths and weaknesses.......as the saying goes..."Rather you think you CAN or that you CANT, YOU'RE RIGHT! Good luck and God bless your decision

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I worked full time through all pre-reqs. I'm in my last semester and have three A's out of three classes. My job is suffering more than my school work, because I care more about school right now since I am quitting my job when I go FT into the actual BSN program - it is during the day, so I can't have a FT day job. I plan to work 10 or less hours a week as a CNA once FT BSN program starts. I have three kids, so being a mom is also my job.

At the RN info session at my community college (when I was thinking about going into it) they said you cannot work during the program because the program is intense, but I knew people who were working and were in the program. Can't say it was easy for them, but it isn't possible for every person to not work.

You can do it! And if you can't, well you'll figure it out!

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It would be pretty hard to work full time. I worked part time (about 20-25 hrs/wk) during nursing school and was ok with that, but the last semester I had to quit my job during the preceptorship because that took all of my time.

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I would be scared to death to work full-time and I commend anyone who has to work full-time thru nursing schooL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

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I have heard of plenty of people who have done it but I was not one of those people. I tried to work full-time (40+ hours) while taking pre-reqs and my grades were suffering tremendously. I was stressed all the time because I felt like I never had time to do anything. Keep in mind my work was not very understanding of me being in school and even tried to discourage me from going. I quite my job and got a part-time job (19 hours) and even working that seems to be stressful at times with the hours I am taking for school (18 hours this semester and one of those is online). Working less, at least for me, has made all the difference. I feel like I have more time for school work and family and even though I wish I did not have to work at all while trying to finish up, I know that financially I have to. I honestly feel that you know what your strengths and weaknesses are and some people may be in a position where they can while others may not. Try it for a semester and if you feel like it is too much then cut back on the number of hours you work. School should be your priority right now because grades can make or break you in nursing school. Good luck!!

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I think you can do it but it takes a lot of dedication and using good time management. I got through all my prereqs while working full time with 3 sons. I will say for me, with micro and physiology, it was a bit tricky with all the studying I had to do, but it CAN be done!! I took online classes and classes on campus. Either way, I was able to finish up my classes and now waiting to see if I got accepted into the nursing program. You can do it!!

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I think its really possible to work full-time and go to NS, but I am sure it is not easy. I have been working full-time through my prereqs and now I'm in my last stretch and it has been tough at times. If I have downtime at work I try to study, or I study on lunch breaks or whenever I can and that seems to help. I know people have gone through NS and worked...you do what you have to do to make your dreams happen!! ;)

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Well I tried making my dreams happen, but I realized I am not superwoman and I need to do NORMAL things. I recently got out of the accelerated BSN program thru Goldfarb in St. Louis. It literally overwhelmed me. You will have no life. I loved it.. but after a while I began to really lose it.

I am not a R.N. Does anyone know of BSN programs in the IL/St. Louis area that are NOT ACCELERATED??? I am 42 with a family and just can't do the accelerated. Seems like for me (I have a masters degree in psych) the BSN seems the way to go. Anyone know of a BSN online that is not accelerated? Or a school in this area that offers BSN but not accelerated?

Thanks for any help.

T

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I work full-time and take 4 classes a semester. Not easy, but I'm doing great and making all A's.

I work at night and since I'm already used to no sleep, I can work at night and study during the day. It works great for me, though I know not everyone wants to do that.

For me, I knew I HAD to work while going to school. So knowing from the start that I have no option but to deal with it and do my best, helps me stay focused and get it done.

It's only temporary. One day, I'll be able to sleep again. And clean my house. :)

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I worked full-time days and took 6 credit hours a semester to complete my pre-requisites. Which wasn't so bad, I mean I didn't have much of life but it was only for two semesters. However, my problem now is finding a BSN program that is suitable for my work schedule, because I have to work full-time to pay my bills and eat. Add a full-time class schedule plus clinicals to that...I know I wouldn't be able to survive it.

I would think long and hard before you jumped into that scenario.

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