Working while in LPN school full time?? who did it.

lpntap08 · Apr 12, 2007

Im in LPN school right now. Its very hard to work and go to school. Theres lots of info you need to learn in a short period. I work Saturdays only. I saved up money before i started the program so im thankful i dont have to work much. But most of the people in my class are not working at all or working very little. Depends on how lucky you are in retaing info. If you can look over the stuff once and know it all then maybe you can work. But for most of us studying at lease 4 hours a night is a thing you have to get use to. And having kids is another thing that is going to make it hard. I thankfully am still young and have no children so the only thing im worring about is school and school only. If you think you can do it go for it. Just make sure if you start to get behind drop the hours. This is a career that you can go anywhere with. Good luck in anything you do. Feel free to ask any questions. Im glad to help. Thats why i wanna be a nurse :)

Jazzyjell · Apr 12, 2007

Wow, my LVN classes start in June. I work full time, have three young children and a husband (who is my support). I guess I'm in for a run for my money? But, I am SO ready for this. I can't wait to start my classes so I can begin helping people.

SashaO · Apr 13, 2007

I'm doing it right now. I work from 11-20 hrs. I don't have healthcare experience so I can't be a CNA. I work in dreaded retail. I suggest trying to work weekends and Friday if you can. I work on the weekdays and I'm EXHAUSTED! We have two tests almost every day and get packets everyday. If I didn't take Anatomy, Physiology, or Micro. as prereqs for cc I would've had a harder time.

I'm not going to lie; there are good days where I'm so proud of myself, and there are terrible days when I hate everyone and everything. But I don't take it home, to school, or work. I know we'll have to do that as nurses too...I'll have to do it while being an LVN at RN school, RN at BSN/MSN school, so in a way I'm kind of training for that.

Just remember, sometimes a year seems far away, sometimes it seems close. It just depends how you take it on. Do it with dignity and grace and you'll be fine. =)

BigB · Apr 13, 2007

I had about 3 classmates that worked FULLTIME durring the entire program..40 hrs a week. The rest of us worked at least 20 hours a week. It can be done, you will have to sacrafice some sleep though.

Deac Jn · Apr 13, 2007

Yes, it can be done. Having a supportive family and making a determined schedule for study was an absolute must for me. I did work 40hrs+ while in school. Honestly, there were times when I felt terrible, exhusted and dispirited (and those were the good days!)

Most of my class mates changed to work weekends doing doubles etc. Some did drop out of the program to be honest with you. My school was very demanding. I used the weekends for massive study & projects cause I worked M - F.

Looking back don't know how I survived, but I did (thanks be to God), I had to accept that things will pile up but after graduation I'm attacking that pile.

Keep plugging away. Nursing school was really a day by day experience for me. Never thought the last day would come, but it did. It will for you too.

Best to you

John

rnlately · Apr 14, 2007

I'm married with one child and I worked a full 40 hr week and attended class/clinicals 4 nights a week. It was hard but worth every bit.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Apr 22, 2007

I'm a single Mom. I worked full time for the first 6 months while going to school. It was killer, the last 4 months I worked about 24 hours a week. My 2 girls were a big support, even helping out with my homework. Would I do it again!! You bet I would. It was tough but worth every moment both then and now!

Jules A, MSN · Apr 22, 2007

I worked aprox. 30 hours a week through LPN school. It wasn't bad. I studied about 2 hours every night and graduated in the top of my class. Most of my classmates worked at least 20 hours. It doesn't make sense to expect adults not to work for a whole year unless you are willing to go in debt or use savings for school and that would have stressed me out far more than working, lol.

prostreetrig · Apr 23, 2007

Hello there. Yes, I did work full time while in school. Was it a wise decision? No. The only thing I can tell you is to endulge yourself in the reading. Work is work and school is school. Just keep in the back of your mind the end result. Yes you will be tired and cranky but just think, when it's done it's done. Good luck.

nurse2bmom · Apr 25, 2007

I held a full time job M-F in the Military. I went to school at night...first half was 4 nights a week. After I picked my kids up at day care, it took me at least an hour to get to school in traffic. My husband and I would meet somewhere so he could take the kids home and I continued on to school. The second half was 2 nights a week and clinicals every weekend. We had tests almost every night over the previous nights lecture throughout the entire course. I also became pregnant, had my baby and dealt with the death of my mother and grandmother (within 3 mos. of each other). In the end, I ended up graduating as the Valedictorian of our class. Don't ask me how. All of this, just shy of a nervous breakdown (at least that is my self diagnosis). My motivation of having training as a nurse for when I got out of the military was my motivation. I left for my kids. So, it can be done. However, I DO NOT want to put myself through that again for RN school, (although I may end up coming close)..I really wished I had more time to REALLY study and let things sink in. I feel I would have a better understanding of certain things. I guess it's just what are you willing to sacrafice now for the end result..

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2007

I worked through nursing school (4 kids/single mom). I worked an average of 30 hours/ week and held a 3.5 GPA. My last semester I dropped work to about 10 hours/week and finally made the dean's list!