Working during nursing school/clinicals

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jan 13, 2005

It can be done (I did it) but something somewhere will likely suffer. Just curious: how old is your daughter? Who will watch her while you're working, going to school and studying? You may want to consider student loans if it would help take some pressure off you.

Plagueis · Jan 14, 2005

Hi. Hope you're having a good day. My daughter is 12 now, but I won't be eligible for clinicals until around 2007, since I still have to take A&P 1,2, and Microbiology before I start them. I can't take Micro until I have both A&P 1 and 2 finished, but I still haven't been able to get into A&P 1 because that class closes quickly. Based on this, if I get in A&P 1 this fall, then take A&P 2 next spring, followed by Micro the next fall (2006), I won't be able to start clinicals until the fall of 2007, so my daughter will be 14 then, so child care won't be an issue. (Also, my boyfriend works night shift.) I've heard about student loans, but I thought they only covered school expenses, not general living expenses. I know this is two years from now, but nursing school is something that I really want to do, but when nursing schools say that working is not really possible during clinicals, I am discouraged. I have heard of people working during nursing school, but I was wondering how much they had to cut back on work, and how they accomplished both at the same time.

hypnotic_nurse · Jan 14, 2005

My school said it would be impossible too. I wouldn't suggest it for someone who struggles in school, but if you are motivated and a good student, I think you would do just fine. I did, and I was not the only one in my class who managed it.

I worked full time while in nursing school, with very little family support (plus I was dealing with an ugly exhusband who tried to make it impossible). My kids were 7 and 11 when I started. I went to a community college, cut my budget to the bone, participated in a couple of gastro research studies (think NG tube) and managed to pay for almost everything out of pocket (no loans). I did get a scholarship in my 3rd semester which paid the tuition for the last semester.

Instead of As (normal for me), I made Bs, and the time I spent with my children was often study time -- they'd do homework and I would study. I was very lucky in that my employer supported me 100% in going back to school and made my hours extremely flexible.

It was very hard but I really don't see any other way I could have done it -- my ex had stuck me with a huge amount of money owed that I wasn't aware of and then hadn't paid any bills for months before our divorce so my credit was (and still is -- but recovering slowly) shot.

Since your daughter will be 14 when you really get rolling, I'd suggest some sort of after school something or other for her -- volunteer work, a job, time with a friend -- because 14 was when MY daughter went off the deep end (she's MUCH better now!).

OnMyWay · Jan 15, 2005

I think about 75% of our class worked all through school (we graduate in may). After your first semester, you are qualified to work at a hospital as a patient care technician or nurse tech and the hours are very variable. If you are fortunate to have a VA hospital near you - their policy for pct's that are in nursing school is that you have no schedule. You come in whenever you want and leave whenever you want, you don't even have to tell them in advance. I worked at the SICU at my local VA for about 4 months before I moved further away and resigned. It was great, I could come in for an hour if I felt like it. You also get shift diffs for nights and weekends (but no benes).

Good luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2005

It's a bit easier if you get all the other courses out of the way. I worked full time through nursing school, but that's I did was nursing school, no other classes.

When there's a will there's a way.

Good luck to you.

I agree, when you go to nursing school and work, something somewhere has to give, and it's usually your social life and your family life that has to give a little.

Plagueis · Jan 15, 2005

Hello. I am getting good grades in college so far, and I love reading, so I shouldn't (Ha! Ha!) have problems studying. (I made it through Intermediate Algebra somehow.) :) What I am worried about is that I've been told that clinicals are a lot tougher than "regular" college classes, so I am wondering how I will ever be able to work and attend nursing school at the same time.

At my college, students can start clinicals before they take Microbiology (I found this out yesterday), but I want to get all of the science classes out of the way first so that I can totally concentrate on nursing studies. I also want to finish getting the liberal arts classes, such as literature, philosophy, done as well. I am going to be in an associate degree program, so by taking the liberal arts classes now, I may be able to transfer them if I ever go for the bachelor's degree.

My daughter right now has a lot of after school activities that she enjoys, so hopefully this will continue for a few more years. I also told her that when she is old enough to work, she will need to get a job so that she has her own spending money. I hope this, in addition to her school activities, will prevent her from being "bored." (I hope!) Thanks, everyone, for wishing me luck! :)

hypnotic_nurse · Jan 15, 2005

:) What I am worried about is that I've been told that clinicals are a lot tougher than "regular" college classes, so I am wondering how I will ever be able to work and attend nursing school at the same time.

Clinicals took more TIME but I wouldn't say they were hard -- mostly not stressful either, except for the time I had a poor instructor. While we had to dos some writing -- care plans -- after I did one the rest came pretty easily. And researching the patients' drugs and conditions the night before was interesting and therefore not difficult.

I actually thought Chemistry was much harder in terms of studying and homework.

Plagueis · Jan 15, 2005

Clinicals took more TIME but I wouldn't say they were hard -- mostly not stressful either, except for the time I had a poor instructor. While we had to dos some writing -- care plans -- after I did one the rest came pretty easily. And researching the patients' drugs and conditions the night before was interesting and therefore not difficult.
I actually thought Chemistry was much harder in terms of studying and homework.

The college I'm at doesn't require Chemistry to get into the nursing program, just A & P 1, 2, and Microbiology. I have had some anatomy stuff from biology class from a long, long time ago, but I am nervous about Microbiology, since I've never had any class about it, even in high school.

Also, my college says that while the clinical hours, which are 12-16 per week, may seem short, a student will have to study for at least 25-30 hours per week, in addition to the clinicals. (Yikes!) This is also partly why I'm wondering how to work full-time during clinicals.

Dawn401 · Jan 15, 2005

If you enjoy reading, that'll definately come in handy. Once you hint actual Nursing courses, that'll take up a lot of your time. Clinicals really weren't that bad...just a little intimidating, but don't worry about that yet.

I worked ALL through nursing school. You can easily pick up night & weekend shifts, because most everyone who's not in Nursing school at the time will want that time off. That's where I made my good money right there. Plus if you can find a job that uses a "call" position like the OR, that'll pay really good as well. I worked in the Recovery Room during Nursiong School and was on call pretty much all weekend (Friday night, Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday morning and evening). I realize you might not want to give up so much time with your daughter. But there is a lot of 'down-time' in between patients, especailly if you are waiting for a long surgey to finish. Plus I got a lot of good studying time in while at work and I got paid to boot.

I'd suggest finishing up all of your other courses (A&P, Micro, etc) before starting Nursing courses though, so that'll just allow you to concentrate on nursing once you finally get there. And apply for loans or whatever you have to do. Use the money you would have used for school to support yourself & your daughter and let the loans take care of the school tuition. Also, there is some kind of grant that you might can get. 2 of my friends got it and as long as you work as a nurse for 5 years after you graduate, then you don't have to pay it back. I'm not sure what it's called...maybe you can ask your nursing advisor...they should know.

Good Luck

Plagueis · Jan 18, 2005

I'd suggest finishing up all of your other courses (A&P, Micro, etc) before starting Nursing courses though, so that'll just allow you to concentrate on nursing once you finally get there. And apply for loans or whatever you have to do. Use the money you would have used for school to support yourself & your daughter and let the loans take care of the school tuition. Also, there is some kind of grant that you might can get. 2 of my friends got it and as long as you work as a nurse for 5 years after you graduate, then you don't have to pay it back. I'm not sure what it's called...maybe you can ask your nursing advisor...they should know.
Good Luck

I am planning on getting the science classes out of the way before clinicals. The college here does have plenty of scholarships for nursing students, so I am planning on applying for them. I don't really want to take out any more loans, since I am already trying to pay off the loans that I currently have. I will also find out about any other grants that I don't have to pay back. Thanks for your advice. :)

Q. · Jan 18, 2005

Working and doing clinicals can be done. I worked 32 hours/week PM shift (4p -12a) as a physician answering service. Of course, I didn't have children, but I definitely needed the money to support myself.

It can be done, but I would imagine having a full time job during the day and doing clinicals that are generally during the day would be hard.