Working full-time while going to school

anime5an4lyfe · Jun 22, 2017

I feel I shouldn't have gone to university straight out of high school because I was imature, unfocused, lazy, and didn't really know what I want. Now that I'm older and have some life experiences as an adult I can confidently say that becoming a nurse is what I want to do. I would go the lpn route since it's free and quicker, but I want to get into Peds and not sure if lpns are hired for that.

xxstarrynitesxx · Jun 22, 2017

I think that if you are able to work hard and show improvement with your grades then you'll get to where you want to go. To be honest, I don't know if LPNs/LVNs work in the pediatric unit, but it is worth finding out! If you do go the LPN/LVN route, then you can work for a certain amount of time before going back for your RN or BSN. You may or may not be able to start off in the pediatric unit right away, but you'll be able to once you get the higher credentials :) All good things come with time.

SunshineNRainbows, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2017

I worked full-time and carried a full courseload for the last year and a half while I finished some pre-req to apply. I have a previous Bachelor's and still had to take out loans for next year, because I cannot afford to pay for school and live on my own. (I have no other choice). I intend on working through school, but made sure to take enough loans out for this first year as a buffer in case I need to drop my hours at work, but I intend to keep working 32 hours. With the right job (one that is flexible), commitment to study time, and sacrificing some personal time... I think it can be done. I'll let you know how it went in December! LOL

tbutler5 · Jun 24, 2017

I am in the same boat. My state passed the same bill allowing adults to return to school to finish their degree if they don't already have one. I am in Tennessee. I'll be taking some pre-reqs this fall/spring and hope to start the nursing program in the fall of 2018. I have a family (husband and four kids) that depend on my income to make ends meet so I'll need to continue working as many hours as possible. I am a medical coder currently and work from home so I do have some flexibility but I know it is going to be extremely tough getting all the hours in. But I feel that if my family can weather the next few years it will be worth it on the backside. I'm a nervous but I'm also determined to succeed.

nurselili30 · Jun 24, 2017

Yes just went to my orientation and all the classmates were freaking out about jobs, money and health insurance. I myself will be working only 16/h per week just for my car payment and health insurance (out of pocket). I decided to buy a brand new car just so I won't have to worry about repairs and I know in nursing school you are pulled left and right so Uber and bus isn't an option. I took bus all throughout prerequisites. As for my other bills such as rent I am taking out subsidies loans but plan to pay it back or part of it right away after I receive Christmas bonus at work, file my taxes and work during summer. I will also look into community help with food, clothing, and other necessities. I don't want to take out loans but at this point if I don't hear back from scholarships soon, there's nothing I can do but take out just what I need. I think take out loans but don't be excessive with it. Plan your expenses out so that you are taking out just enough to survive on and finish school. I worked out my repayment for my potential loans and it is $100/month if I defer all my payments after school....hopefully won't be the case.

anime5an4lyfe · Jun 25, 2017

I am in the same boat. My state passed the same bill allowing adults to return to school to finish their degree if they don't already have one. I am in Tennessee. I'll be taking some pre-reqs this fall/spring and hope to start the nursing program in the fall of 2018. I have a family (husband and four kids) that depend on my income to make ends meet so I'll need to continue working as many hours as possible. I am a medical coder currently and work from home so I do have some flexibility but I know it is going to be extremely tough getting all the hours in. But I feel that if my family can weather the next few years it will be worth it on the backside. I'm a nervous but I'm also determined to succeed.

Awesome! I'm in Tennessee too. I'm really leaning towards getting my ADN since it'll be free. I'm single (boyfriend lives an hour away) with no children and split bills with my brother. I know I'll have to work extra hard because of my past in school.

anime5an4lyfe · Jun 25, 2017

I really can't afford to take out anymore loans so my best bet may be to go the CC or technical school route. I just hope I can balance working and going to school full time. I get my health insurance through my job and the credit union will deduct my car payments from my checks weekly.

saltyninja · Jun 25, 2017

I worked 60+ hours per week while taking my prerequisite classes this past year in order to save up for the start of NS, since I know I'll be cutting back on hours. I took 15 credits last fall and ended with a 4.0 GPA, and 15 credits this spring and ended with a 3.96 GPA. It's definitely doable with prereqs, but I've met with several of our nursing admissions counselors who have all cautioned against working during NS due to changing clinical dates. I will continue to work two overnights per week unless it begins to conflict with my clinical schedule or impacts my grades. (I work in a residential facility where the overnights are essentially a cake walk, so I'm allowed to study and do homework.)

I'm pursuing a BSN, as well, but going the AAS route first since the Excelsior Scholarship offers me free tuition (I still pay for books, fees, etc, plus my bills outside of school, so I take out a student loan to cover those.) My current employer will (so long as I'm in good standing academically and otherwise) take me on as an RN once I pass my boards and I can do a year through University to my BSN while working as an RN. It will still take 4 years total, (same as if I had gone straight through to BSN), except that I'll be able to work as an RN during that last year while I'm obtaining my BSN.

The working/not working thing definitely comes down to you, specifically. Some people can handle the work plus school, (I could if I HAD to, but would rather not test that theory), and some can't. It's always an option to take out loans along the way to help subsidize whatever hours you lose, but I know it's a slippery slope should you not graduate or graduate but not find a job quickly. I would definitely say talking with an advisor would be a good place to start. Best of luck!!

anime5an4lyfe · Jun 25, 2017

I worked 60+ hours per week while taking my prerequisite classes this past year in order to save up for the start of NS, since I know I'll be cutting back on hours. I took 15 credits last fall and ended with a 4.0 GPA, and 15 credits this spring and ended with a 3.96 GPA. It's definitely doable with prereqs, but I've met with several of our nursing admissions counselors who have all cautioned against working during NS due to changing clinical dates. I will continue to work two overnights per week unless it begins to conflict with my clinical schedule or impacts my grades. (I work in a residential facility where the overnights are essentially a cake walk, so I'm allowed to study and do homework.)
I'm pursuing a BSN, as well, but going the AAS route first since the Excelsior Scholarship offers me free tuition (I still pay for books, fees, etc, plus my bills outside of school, so I take out a student loan to cover those.) My current employer will (so long as I'm in good standing academically and otherwise) take me on as an RN once I pass my boards and I can do a year through University to my BSN while working as an RN. It will still take 4 years total, (same as if I had gone straight through to BSN), except that I'll be able to work as an RN during that last year while I'm obtaining my BSN.
The working/not working thing definitely comes down to you, specifically. Some people can handle the work plus school, (I could if I HAD to, but would rather not test that theory), and some can't. It's always an option to take out loans along the way to help subsidize whatever hours you lose, but I know it's a slippery slope should you not graduate or graduate but not find a job quickly. I would definitely say talking with an advisor would be a good place to start. Best of luck!!

Thank you. I definitely plan to speak with an advisor about this and go from there.

**emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN** · Jun 27, 2017

Hi all, just wondering if anyone is in nursing school or just taking their pre reqs with full-time jobs. The reason I'm asking is because I plan to start school soon to work towards an RN degree (BSN) but can't quit my full-time job because I have to take care of myself.

I do not recommend it. I just graduated ASN a few weeks ago and I did just that and regret it. It was very difficult from 3rd semester on... some tests were nail biters. If I could do it all over again, I would have gone to school full time and worked part time.

MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN · Jun 30, 2017

I worked full time & went to school full time during my first (non-nursing) degree program, breezed through it as a matter of fact. Same with my nursing pre-req courses. I start nursing school in August & thought I'd try working full time again, however as August nears I have to admit I've become a little more apprehensive about doing it.

Nursing school is much more stringent than my other courses were & now with a family & very small children added on to my work/school load, I'm beginning to have second thoughts.

I absolutely think it can be done, but I'd also like to be able to see my children over the next 2 years. It's a hard choice to make.

Wishing you the best!

PrnAdnST · Jul 1, 2017

I am in an exelerated ADN program. I work part-time (I am PRN) and go to school full time. I have done it for the last year. I am fortunate that my boss understands me being in school, she's a nurse.

I couldn't have done it in my first year because I carried 12-15 credit hours.

I am entering Advanced Med/Surg in July and will cut my work hours to 15-20 per week.

I work in an outpatient surgery center as a Surgical Technologist. I only work M-F and I take afternoon classes and don't work on my 1 clinical day (10 hrs) & I have class & lab 3 days a week. Most days I work 4 hrs and one day I work 8-10 or whenever we are done.

I need to have another outlet to make my brain rest from all the studying & reading. I think it helps me to work because my brain will get rest.