Working as an LPN while in RN school

[seericap]

Hello I'm a recently licensed LPN, I just accepted a part time 30 hours a week job and am interested in going back to school for my RN (LPN to RN/Bridge program) and I was wondering how were you guys work schedule during your bridge program and like how did you make it all work?

[CyanideWhispers]

Hi there!

I went the LVN/LPN-RN route. I graduated from my LVN-RN program in May 2020. That being said. I worked a good amount of the time. Luckily, I have been working as an LVN at my hospital for several years and was able to save up paid time off. It was still not enough to cover the entire program, despite being in the "Earn to Learn Program" granted to me by my hospital. 

 

That all being said, and I am grateful for every part of it. I wish I did not have to work during the program. I managed to get by, but when the final semester came about, I was all out of PTO so I had to pick up shifts at the hospital to get the bills paid. And, well, it sucked.  My biggest saving grace was making a friend and carpooling. 1. It makes clinicals a littler easier to get to. 2. if you are the type of people to bounce study questions off each other during your commute, great! 3. You have someone you can safely decompress with. 

 

Other advice. Dedicate a study space for your school. Some place where you won't be bothered. Make a study schedule and stick to it. And most importantly, have a great support system. Nursing school on its own is tough, working during school is going to be a bit harder. (In my opinion.) I brought my study materials to work, and on the off chance there was a moment of down time, I studied. Usually with flash cards. 

 

How did I make it work? Well I struggled. I was working as minimally as possible during, but immediately after graduation (pandemic hit hard), I was working so, so, much. Short staffed, over crowded hospital, travel limitations (I live in a very rural area). That being said, despite the pride I have in graduating my RN program with Honors, I'm still not an RN yet. I am really struggling with the NCLEX, and working full time + is taking it's toll on my studies for the boards. 

I believe one of the biggest struggle currently is since I am still actively working as an LVN/LPN, it makes it harder for me to get into the NCLEX mindset. 

[londonflo]

On 5/8/2021 at 12:38 AM, CyanideWhispers said:

Make a study schedule and stick to it. And most importantly, have a great support system.

I have always told students to put their clinical schedule and test dates on the refrigerator. Everyone will see it then. When studying for NCLEX type up an official schedule and they may understand why you are at your desk.