working while doing full time nursing classes

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I am a second semester nursing student. This is actually my 2nd time taking med-surg. I was doing fine my 1st time thru the course, although towards the end my test grades were going down due to stress outside of school with a bf I had. I was working part time as well, I was doing about 20 hours a week. Work for me was more like relax time because I never felt that it interfered with my school, I wasnt stressed with my job. The final was my downfall so I didnt pass and I am now re-taking the course. However, I am wanting to work again b/c I have to pay my bills and I dont qualify for financial aid so that is my way of paying for school. Anyhow I dont know if working would be a good idea because I am paranoid this semester since this is a repeat and I dont want to screw this up :crying2:. Theyre asking me to work 10 hours mondays and fridays, tues thru thurs i have classes so that uses up my whole week. I feel like the weekend I can use for studying but its just not enough when you include clinicals assingments, nln practice exams, assignment, reading ahead, practicing skills. Im in a tough situation but I dont know what to do. Any suggestions?!

Specializes in LTC.

I worked full time through the majority of my program. Mon-Fri / 35 hrs a week. Thank God I didn't have any kids. I eventually had to cut back and I survived off loans and savings for the last nursing class. Now I'm a LPN !!!

I start RN school soon and plan to work 24 hours a week. I make great money as a LPN so I think I will be ok with the hours and income. Good luck to all. It can be done.

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All I can say is it can be done! I'm in school full-time, working 40 hours a week on second shift. Clinicals and class makes for some long (16-18 hours some days) but it's what I have to do. I have an 18 year old, a 2 year old and a two year old granddaughter at home with my husband and me. He also works full time. We make it work. I just finished third semester and will graduate in May.

If you need to do it, you can!

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I worked Saturday and Sunday 3:00-11:30 and also tutored 8 hours during the week, and I have a 4.0. But I'm used to working a lot more during school, I had no life, and I was constantly in a frenzy to get things done. Also my home life and relationships suffered.

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Specializes in CNA.
I have to say THANK YOU for everyone posting that they're making it working full time.

It's good to hear that other ppl are doing it regardless of what everyone at school is parroting.

The people you won't see posting in this thread are all the students who worked full time and failed. You are only listening to the "parroting" from one side.

Sometimes allnurses is the absolute worst source of information for prospective nursing students. It reminds me of the "Should I have babies during nursing school?" topic. You see story after story of "I did it!" but almost none from the other side.

There are at least 4 girls out of 72 in my class who had to drop out because of complicated pregnancies. I guarantee you they do not hang out on this forum. The 3-4 others who got pregnant barely escaped with their sanity - and I'm not real sure about that.

The thing you want to do in nursing school is position yourself best to succeed.

You hear a lot about the people who went over Niagra Falls in a barrell and lived. You tend to not hear from the ones who died.

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.
The people you won't see posting in this thread are all the students who worked full time and failed. You are only listening to the "parroting" from one side.

Sometimes allnurses is the absolute worst source of information for prospective nursing students. It reminds me of the "Should I have babies during nursing school?" topic. You see story after story of "I did it!" but almost none from the other side.

There are at least 4 girls out of 72 in my class who had to drop out because of complicated pregnancies. I guarantee you they do not hang out on this forum. The 3-4 others who got pregnant barely escaped with their sanity - and I'm not real sure about that.

The thing you want to do in nursing school is position yourself best to succeed.

You hear a lot about the people who went over Niagra Falls in a barrell and lived. You tend to not hear from the ones who died.

I see your point, I really do. But it's also good to hear from ppl who have done it. If I had my choice, I wouldn't be working and going to RN school. I DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. And the ONLY information I get from anyone at the school is that no one can do it. That the only people who manage it are only working part time at a hospital or other night shift, and then not in the first semester.

I get that it's hard, that there's lots of work, and that most people can't work and manage it. What I need is to hear from people who have done it, how they did it, and what factors made it possible. I do NOT need to hear more rounds of "you will fail".

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Specializes in I dream of ICU...one day. ;-).

If I had the option, I personally would have done the accelerated program. It's like a bandaid. You just want to rip it off and get it over with. Although, as I have no experience with the accelerated programs, take that advice with a grain of salt.

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Specializes in I dream of ICU...one day. ;-).
The people you won't see posting in this thread are all the students who worked full time and failed. You are only listening to the "parroting" from one side.

Sometimes allnurses is the absolute worst source of information for prospective nursing students. It reminds me of the "Should I have babies during nursing school?" topic. You see story after story of "I did it!" but almost none from the other side.

There are at least 4 girls out of 72 in my class who had to drop out because of complicated pregnancies. I guarantee you they do not hang out on this forum. The 3-4 others who got pregnant barely escaped with their sanity - and I'm not real sure about that.

The thing you want to do in nursing school is position yourself best to succeed.

You hear a lot about the people who went over Niagra Falls in a barrell and lived. You tend to not hear from the ones who died.

Yes, but the point is...it can be done. If I had a choice, I certainly wouldn't have worked. But there was no choice. Pregnancy is a totally different ball of wax.

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Everyone is different. Some people can handle it & some can't. I personally quit my part time job because I needed more time to study with only working saturday and sunday and going to school 3 days a week ( I hardly went out and if I did it was for a couple of hours). You want to position your self to excel. There are girls in my class who were working f/t and honestly dont know if they ended up passing, I can tell you that they were barely making it, thats not a good position to be in...

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Specializes in I dream of ICU...one day. ;-).
I see your point, I really do. But it's also good to hear from ppl who have done it. If I had my choice, I wouldn't be working and going to RN school. I DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. And the ONLY information I get from anyone at the school is that no one can do it. That the only people who manage it are only working part time at a hospital or other night shift, and then not in the first semester.

I get that it's hard, that there's lots of work, and that most people can't work and manage it. What I need is to hear from people who have done it, how they did it, and what factors made it possible. I do NOT need to hear more rounds of "you will fail".

Fear not my friend. If you want if badly enough, you WILL do it. And you CAN do it! Sending postive vibes your way!

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It all depends on the individual. You have to do what will work for you. I had prolonged going to school for the longest because I made excuses such as: I'm single or I have to work full time to pay bills. I made changes and sacrifices to accomadate school, being a parent, paying house note, car note and other living expenses. I went from a 8-5 M-F job to a 7on-7off night shift job. So far it is working ok but as time passes and things become heavy, I will then weigh my options and make decisions accordingly. If you are able to work part time or not working at all to attend school, I would recommend that. However, if u have to work and you are succeeding at school I have a lot of respect for you.

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.
Fear not my friend. If you want if badly enough, you WILL do it. And you CAN do it! Sending postive vibes your way!

Thanks! I appreciate it. :)

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if possible, dont work! its so hard to work and do nursing school. can you take loans?

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