working during a nursing program?

[Nursetobe25]

I'm sorry if I sound irritated, but all of these nursing programs state that you cannot work more than 20 hours a week while you are in the program. How the heck do they expect grown adults and families with kids and bills to work that little?! why don't they have part time programs for this purpose?

In know some people say they worked fulltime through the program and passed and so could you but the truth be told I CANT. I am not one of those people where school comes easy and need to devote all of my time to school. and unfortunately unlike some other I am a single person who lives alone and does not have a spouse to rely on.

So my question is how did some of you manage?

[PurpleLover]

My program has no such stipulation thankfully. I work part time as a nurse extern and it has had no impact on my school performance.

[ThatBigGuy]

Why are you irritated with the schools for limiting work hours when you can't work full time in the first place?

You have several options to help you get through school.

#1. Scholarships. There are plenty of websites and apps and programs out there that will put you in touch with hundreds of scholarships. Spend a few weeks sorting through them and apply to as many as possible. That's free money, so start there first.

#2. Loans. This is the easiest option at first, because all it requires is a signature. A good rule of thumb is to only take out as much loans as you can reasonably expect to earn in your first year of work. However, you must remember that those loans will become a permanent part of your life for decades, so choose them very wisely.

#3. Work part time. Every dollar you earn is a dollar you don't have to borrow. Even if you only work 15 hrs a week at minimum wage, you'll save $3000 over the lifetime of the loans you didn't have to take out during your two years of nursing school. The more hours you can work or the higher your pay is, the more you will save long term.

#4. Reduce your expenses. Get a roommate, move to a less fancy part of town, get a smaller apartment, move in with your parents, cut the cable bill, etc. The less you have to spend is more you save long term.

There's a scenario in which you can take a little bit from each group listed and end up with a manageable amount of loans and still have eaten better than ramen noodles every night. Perhaps your part time job is as a tech in the local hospital, which would help your job prospects after graduation. Maybe you make a best friend in your newly added roommate.

The key is to consider all the options, and try keep your loans as low as possible. Sacrificing a bit in the short term will keep you from sacrificing a bit in the long term.

[crossfitnurse]

Or just work and don't tell anyone?

But if you fail or have a hard time, that's on you. Don't say they didn't warn you.

[Nursetobe25]

Or just work and don't tell anyone?

But if you fail or have a hard time, that's on you. Don't say they didn't warn you.

The question was not if I should do it or not, it was how do they expect people to pay for expenses

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Our only restriction was that we could not work the night before a clinical day. They advised us to not work if we could help it but they didn't say we COULDN'T. I worked home health while I was in school.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I moved in with my parents, went to school and worked a part-time job that covered all my bills and school expenses. I had a flexible CNA job that could be worked around my nursing school schedule, I still had time to contribute household chores and upkeep, maintain some sort of social life and study.

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

My school was the same way but I worked full time. Luckily, my job was flexible that I could schedule my time around school. It can be done but it's not easy. BTW, I just told them I was working part-time.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I worked 32 hours weekly as an LVN while attending an LPN-to-ASN transition program. And yes, the program directors advised students not to work while in school.

However, as a nontraditional adult student with a mortgage and financial obligations, the advice to not work wasn't rooted in the reality in which I lived and breathed.

[Vwpenn]

I worked two part time jobs and raised a toddler through lpn school and then worked full time (while still raising the youngin, alone) while going through the RN program. It can be done, don't expect much sleep tho in the next year or so.

[Girlafraid13]

I worked 60 hours a week for about 4 months during nursing school. I had to quit. I was too miserable and I would fall asleep while driving! I said screw it and took out a loan. Don't regret it.