Working Full Time and Going to School Full Time

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Ok so I am about to get out the Navy and I am going to be attending Hampton University School of Nursing Full Time. Virginia Beach is expensive so I need a good paying job. Most of the nursing classes are during the day and some are in the early evening and end at night. I am taking advise on how to juggle a Full time job while going to Nursing School and accelerating at it. Also if anyone can recommend any specific work place in Virginia Beach I am also accepting recommendations also.

Transitioning out of the Military is hard:bluecry1:

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Transplant, Trauma, Surgical.

Working full time while attending school full time, especially nursing school, is not a good idea. I highly advise against it, as will your nursing instructors, every lecture for the first week of class. Beleive me. It sucks, but you are going to have to deal with not having alot of $$ during nursing school. I am struggling right now and am only working 12 hours a week. I don't know your background (family? kids?) but look into getting a roommate, preferably a fellow student who understands the importance and time demand that studying holds while in nursing school.

Just my opinion, but for your health, and your future don't do fulltime on both!!

Good luck in school and thank you for your service to our country!! :)

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Thanks you

Working full time while attending school full time, especially nursing school, is not a good idea. I highly advise against it, as will your nursing instructors, every lecture for the first week of class. Beleive me. It sucks, but you are going to have to deal with not having alot of $$ during nursing school. I am struggling right now and am only working 12 hours a week. I don't know your background (family? kids?) but look into getting a roommate, preferably a fellow student who understands the importance and time demand that studying holds while in nursing school.

Just my opinion, but for your health, and your future don't do fulltime on both!!

Good luck in school and thank you for your service to our country!! :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Sometimes you do what you gotta do. I worked full time and went to nursing school full time. What helped was having all the co-req courses done so I had to take was nursing school. Also I worked weekends so I had a two days off during the week for clinicals. It was a grind but I did what I had to do. I worked for Pizza Hut of all places, as there weren't many jobs where I lived, hence my desire to better myself by becoming a nurse.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I second that. I work part time with school and believe me, if there was ANY way not to, I wouldn't. My study time and other responsibilites suffer greatly. My grades have slipped some since I began working and I will be honest it bothers the heck out of me even though I am still passing.

But I understand you have to have some $$. I know classmates who work full time, they would be the first to tell you they are suffering miserably too.

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Thank you,

I have been going to school full time for the past year while serving in the Navy but I am guessing taking nursing classes are going to different from taking general study classes.

I second that. I work part time with school and believe me, if there was ANY way not to, I wouldn't. My study time and other responsibilites suffer greatly. My grades have slipped some since I began working and I will be honest it bothers the heck out of me even though I am still passing.

But I understand you have to have some $$. I know classmates who work full time, they would be the first to tell you they are suffering miserably too.

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I work full-time, and go to nursing school - so far, I'm surviving and doing well in my courses. I wish that I could work part-time, but I'm a single mom with a LOT of bills to pay. What helps is that I work 12 hour night shifts as a Unit Sec in a hospital, so I work three nights a week instead of five. Also, I get slow times at work and when that happens, I read and study. My manager is fine with that, as long as my work duties are done and/or I put the book down immediately when I have something that needs to be done. Fortunately I work in an environment that encourages higher education - many of my coworkers (ER techs) are also nursing students.

I manage my time to the nth degree - I keep a calendar where I note when assignments are due, exams will take place, etc... so I look ahead to see what needs to be done, and I do it. I finish assignments ahead of time if I can so I can get them out of the way. For example, I have two papers due a week from Monday, and I've already finished them. That frees me up for any other reading/studying I may have to do for the week.

Also, completing all of my pre-reqs before starting nursing school helped a little in that I only have to take my nursing classes.

So... it can be done, but if you don't have to work full-time, then don't!

Good luck :nuke:

~Laurie

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Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.

Even thought it is "suggested" that you don't work full-time while in nursing school, some times you don't have a choice! I didn't! I had to work full-time just to pay for nursing school and have the everyday needs of life. Yes it's hard, but it is manageable. Actually, working helped me when I got into my clincials and last yr of school. I worked as a nurse tech at the VA hospital, and the skills I gained there helped me greatly in school, as well as a RN after graduation.

PS. My grades never suffered from working full-time. I graduated Cum Laude, and a Sigma Theta Tau member. So it can be done without your grades suffering; it just takes hard work!

Good Luck in your future studies!

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I hear what you are saying but the challenge is going to be finding a job like yours. I love shift work and I hope I find some where to work that would accomidate me but I at least need to get in the door. So far I haven't found a job in Virginia beach but hopefully I find one soon.

I work full-time, and go to nursing school - so far, I'm surviving and doing well in my courses. I wish that I could work part-time, but I'm a single mom with a LOT of bills to pay. What helps is that I work 12 hour night shifts as a Unit Sec in a hospital, so I work three nights a week instead of five. Also, I get slow times at work and when that happens, I read and study. My manager is fine with that, as long as my work duties are done and/or I put the book down immediately when I have something that needs to be done. Fortunately I work in an environment that encourages higher education - many of my coworkers (ER techs) are also nursing students.

I manage my time to the nth degree - I keep a calendar where I note when assignments are due, exams will take place, etc... so I look ahead to see what needs to be done, and I do it. I finish assignments ahead of time if I can so I can get them out of the way. For example, I have two papers due a week from Monday, and I've already finished them. That frees me up for any other reading/studying I may have to do for the week.

Also, completing all of my pre-reqs before starting nursing school helped a little in that I only have to take my nursing classes.

So... it can be done, but if you don't have to work full-time, then don't!

Good luck :nuke:

~Laurie

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Thanks I am going to try the full time job for the first semester and if it works well I will keep doing it.

Even thought it is "suggested" that you don't work full-time while in nursing school, some times you don't have a choice! I didn't! I had to work full-time just to pay for nursing school and have the everyday needs of life. Yes it's hard, but it is manageable. Actually, working helped me when I got into my clincials and last yr of school. I worked as a nurse tech at the VA hospital, and the skills I gained there helped me greatly in school, as well as a RN after graduation.

PS. My grades never suffered from working full-time. I graduated Cum Laude, and a Sigma Theta Tau member. So it can be done without your grades suffering; it just takes hard work!

Good Luck in your future studies!

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It really depends on the type of student that you are. If you decide to work, whether it's part-time or full time, you have to manage your time wisely. If you are not good at managing your time, I would highly advise against it. It also depends on the type of person that you are. Some people can work full time and graduate with honors, while others students struggle with part-time jobs or no jobs at all and end up failing out of school. If I was you I would think carefully aboutthis desicion. If its at all possible I would suggest getting a roomate so that you can split the bills and then go from there.

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Thanks....I can't do the roommate thing but my little sister is going to move to VA beach to attend college so she will live with me a while. I am good with time management but right now I am a B student with out studying but I would like to become an A student which I know I can do if I study. After all I did make A's in my A&P classes and my Microbiology classes and they were hard.

It really depends on the type of student that you are. If you decide to work, whether it's part-time or full time, you have to manage your time wisely. If you are not good at managing your time, I would highly advise against it. It also depends on the type of person that you are. Some people can work full time and graduate with honors, while others students struggle with part-time jobs or no jobs at all and end up failing out of school. If I was you I would think carefully aboutthis desicion. If its at all possible I would suggest getting a roomate so that you can split the bills and then go from there.
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