Hi. I'm a pre-nursing student who wants to become a RN. However, one college here says that during clinicals it will be pratically impossible for a student to work. In other words, the nursing program should be the only thing that a student is concentrating on. However, I need to work. I have a daughter to support and bills to pay. I know some students have suggested moving in with, or borrowing money from family in order to support myself, but that isn't an option for me. Both of my parents have passed away, and my brother lives in another state and has plenty of bills to pay himself. My questions are: is it possible to work during clinicals? Also, if you were able to do so, how did it affect your nursing training? I am planning on taking all of the science classes before clinicals so that I only have clinicals to work on. The college here also has clinicals two days per week, plus a one to three hour lecture on another day. I really want to be a nurse, but I do have to support myself and my daugher while I'm at nursing school. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.
I had a lot of flexibility in my CNA type job when I was in school. Basically I was told I had to at least work 1 day a week, but at the end of my nursing program when we were precepting (working 3x a week w/an RN for the full 12 hours) it was impossible for me to work ANOTHER day (well not impossible but it would have been overwhelming). My manager basically told me to "work whenever i could". thats pretty much the most flexible you can get!
The experience is great, you will be much more ahead of your classmates who do not work in a hospital setting.
I absolutely feel your pain. I'm dying to go to nursing school. There are 2 schools near me with part time evening/weekend programs that I'm trying to get into. I'm worried cause I got myself a C in my English 101 class way back in 1999 (it's a req pre req for entry up here in NY and I can't retake it).
I will have to work FT to support myself and my 3 year old son. Can't really move in with anyone and have very limited help with child care. I'll have to wait until my son is in public school so that I'll have money for a babysitter in the evenings (right now that babysitting money goes towards day care during the day).
So, I'm forging forward and praying it will all work out for me.
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.
hi tommybabe,
great about the cna. in regards to student loans, they would include covering living expenses (if you were living on campus, you'd need tuition and board). most financial aid offices in school put together a figure that covers tuition, fees, board, books, transportation, etc. you may be eligible for a pell grant that can cover your tuition and a student loan can help you with paying some of your living expenses. you should also check into whatever scholarships that you can.
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!).
There were many times when I gave up studying to play with my baby and spend time with my new husband. You know, and I don't regret a minute of it. What is the difference between A's and B's if it all gets you to RN?
you can work and still pass, but just be prepared to be at a disadvantage to those who do not have to. also, be prepared to be pretty stressed out. i worked as a nurse tech 20 hours a week which was really hard to keep up, but i still made good grades. i just had no life at all outside of school and work and no money . be prepared for family life to suffer and to eat ramen noodles for awhile. just remember that it isn't forever!
I'm entering an Accelerated BSN program this summer and they say there is no time for working during school. At least it's only a year, but I have never not worked in school. I'm applying for scholarships and such, I've also looked into work repayment programs that people are mentioning. I've heard that these programs can be very bad, just be sure you know exactly what you are getting into before you sign anything. I heard that the majority of hospitals that have these programs have trouble keeping nurses and experience a lot of turnover, so you can probably guess how much the job might suck.
I also think that counselors and professors try to scare nursing students. I was told in A&P I and II that I shouldn't take other hard classes at the same time or work less hours. I worked 20 hours a week, took A&P I and chemisty, and finished my last semester of my M.P.H. (taking a graduate course and writing my thesis) in one semester and made As in everything.
I don't have a family though and I got loans to help. I don't know how parents do it, I admire your strenght so much!! Good luck to you all!
Hi, I am in the same boat. I am in my first semester of prereq's an work FT. However, when it comes time to take my clinicals, I am hoping to have all my debt paid off so that my husband can be the primary provider and I can concentrate on clinicals....we are set up on monthly payment plans for our debt.....and my prereq's will end about the same time the debt is paid off. If I have to, I could work pt...waitressing or something. The main thing for me is checks and balances. If I p/up in one area, something else has to lessen. So, I'm setting it up financially so that in the future, school increases while work decreases....better work than my family suffering!
*PICURN*
254 Posts
I am glad you got the help you needed!
I had a lot of flexibility in my CNA type job when I was in school. Basically I was told I had to at least work 1 day a week, but at the end of my nursing program when we were precepting (working 3x a week w/an RN for the full 12 hours) it was impossible for me to work ANOTHER day (well not impossible but it would have been overwhelming). My manager basically told me to "work whenever i could". thats pretty much the most flexible you can get!
The experience is great, you will be much more ahead of your classmates who do not work in a hospital setting.