working while going to rn school, schedule?

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for those that are working in healthcare environment and going to rn school also,, what is your work schedule? weekends? 3 days a week after school? are you able to make a living?

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

I went thru LPN school while working as a ward clerk FT Mon-Fri 3p to 11p

Went to RN school working FT as an LPN. Made for some VERY long nights between school/work/preparing for clinicals!

Anne, RNC

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I plan on it. I worked full time during my time in school for my PN and since I am the sole breadwinner of my house I will have to work during my time in school for my RN as well. Sure it makes things tough, but I'm use to working like crazy. Working while in school is not for everyone. Your school will scare you into quitting, and for some they really can only manage school and life. You just focus on surviving during school.

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I worked 9-5 as an accountant full time while in nursing school nights and weekends. It's doable with discipline

Of course I don't have a significant other and my son is grown so I only had to focus on me

But my classmate was a single mother of 2 working a 50 hr work week and graduated magna cum laude.

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I've worked every Friday and Saturday 12hr shifts through nursing school. I don't have children but I own my own apartment and car and am able to pay all of my bills just fine.

It's hard because then I only have SUNDAY to study, but it is doable if you have to do it.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I earned my RN license in 2010. I worked two 16-hour weekend double shifts every Saturday and Sunday as an LVN at a local nursing school while attending an LPN-to-ASN transition program full time.

The work schedule enabled me to have Monday through Friday off to study, and the 32 hours per week resulted in more than enough pay on which I could live.

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.

They used to have a wonderful program called the Weekend Option, where you worked two twelve hour shifts every weekend and were paid for full time with full time benefits. That is what I did when working on my BSN. They discontinued the program shortly after I decided to go into semi retirement instead of finishing my degree.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
They used to have a wonderful program called the Weekend Option, where you worked two twelve hour shifts every weekend and were paid for full time with full time benefits.
Back in '08 and early '09 I worked a modified weekend option schedule at a local nursing home. Locally it was known as the 'Baylor Plan' because that schedule originated in the Baylor hospital system, apparently. I worked two 12 hour night shifts every Saturday and Sunday, was paid for 32 hours, received full benefits, and had Monday through Friday off.
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Each nursing school is different as well. Some you will only have a few hours of class M-F so you can work before or after class. It's those darn clinicals that make things tricky sometimes.

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.

I worked full time throughout LPN school and through LPN-RN. LPN was the toughest. Some days, I was gone between work and school, from 7am-1130 pm. Luckily, I don't have kids. My husband was in school also, so he understood. For my LPN-RN it was easier, we only had class 1 day per week. The clinicals were mostly day shift on the weekend. Otherwise, I have always worked M-F fulltime. There were times I would have to take a vacation day from work to do clinicals. We had a few Monday and Tuesday clinicals for the 3-11pm shift, so I would go to work from 830-1pm, then clinicals from 3-11pm. My job was very flexible as long as we had the coverage and I had the PTO. The class was Thursday nights, so I would work 830-5pm then go to class from 6-10pm. It was hell for a long time, but I made it through. Now I will be going back for BSN. I will still work full time at my clinic and use vacation if I have to. Class will be one night a week and we only have to do about 60hrs of clinical this time. I'm hoping it will be easier this go round'.

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I currently work as a LPN in my facility for weekends only. I was hired for every other weekend, but pretty much work every weekend since they always needs nurses for the weekends. I am also in my last semester of nursing school for my ADN (RN program). My school is private so the schedule sucks making me unable to working either morning or evening shift. Classes can start around 1 and go on till 4. Other days I have 2 classes or clinical which makes working during the week near impossible unless I worked nights. During breaks like winter break, summer break etc, I always work a bit more sometimes like 4 days/week or more cause I'm available. I'm glad my work place is helpful and understands and makes my schedule accordingly. I'm not really able to make a living off of the money I make. Its good enough for my to pay for my school (I pay half loans, half out of pocket - so $6000 out of pocket each semester), my car payments, and like I guess pocket money? I'm 20 and live with my mom so I don't really have to worry about rent or something or grocery shopping and stuff. So if you do have to manage a family, I think it would be difficult to manage on only 2 days/week.

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Specializes in Emergency Room Nursing.

I'm working part time and in BSN full time... Has been that way since I graduated the LPN in 2012. I went straight back to school. Its been rough. Depends on your placement hours and class time. Right now I'm in the final semester and have a sweet gig- 730-330 monday to friday. Off weekends. So I typically pick up shifts at work. I am considered casual and at my work place means I pick up when I can and am available. Fortunately they're always short so I usually always work weekends. I make enough to live and have fun, go on trips, pay the bills, etc. However I do still live at home with my parents so that helps. Last semester I was able to work through random week days and weekends whenever I wasn't in placement. I had barely any hours. And classes were sporadic. When I was monday-friday classes and including clinical, I was only working weekends. I just worked every day of the holidays so I would have a huge head start. I'm also single, no kids.

Its tough but do-able. Depends on how flexible your workplace is and how organized you are at getting your work done for school.

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