Working during nursing school

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Hi all,

I just finished up my prerecs and will be applying to NAU for admission this coming fall. I have a BA already but I'm in Tucson so I'm planning to do the traditional BSN (5 semester) program. I am thinking of applying for PCT positions in the meantime. The catch is one of the hospitals that's hiring wants a 1 yr commitment for PCT training. This would put me having to work during nursing school if I get in this fall.

As an aside . . . I already have CNA training from Iowa but can't work on my certification in AZ because the program was different credit hours and I didn't have clocked hours in Iowa (just traning and testing). Though all the basic skill checkoffs appear to be the same as a level I PCT - no cath, IV, or meds.

Anyway, my question is for those of you who worked during nursing school - especially if there are any NAU students out there - is it doable? I don't "have" to work. I just thought getting in with a hospital on the front end might help out getting a job later on and also to help cover some of the costs of school. If I do work I'm hoping to work Fri/ Sat nights so my husband can be home with my children when I'm gone. It doesn't look like any of the clinicals are on the weekends in NAU's program is this correct?

I'm a good student and do what I need to do to get an A my classes but I know nursing school is different from prerecs. Is working a bad idea?

Thanks,

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Hi all,

I just finished up my prerecs and will be applying to NAU for admission this coming fall. I have a BA already but I'm in Tucson so I'm planning to do the traditional BSN (5 semester) program. I am thinking of applying for PCT positions in the meantime. The catch is one of the hospitals that's hiring wants a 1 yr commitment for PCT training. This would put me having to work during nursing school if I get in this fall.

As an aside . . . I already have CNA training from Iowa but can't work on my certification in AZ because the program was different credit hours and I didn't have clocked hours in Iowa (just traning and testing). Though all the basic skill checkoffs appear to be the same as a level I PCT - no cath, IV, or meds.

You may not be able to work as a CNA in AZ with your cert, but many hospitals will hire you as a PCT after you complete block 1 of Nursing school. As for "paying back" your PCT training, what's the penalty? $500, $1000 - it shouldn't really be any more than that. Is it pro-rated based on how many months you do work? I really don't see them going after a couple hundred bucks from an employee who's already worked for them for a period of time, and just needs a reduction in hours for a legit reason like nursing school. I could be wrong, this is Arizona after all..

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I'm not sure if you are in Tucson, but from what I have heard...UMC works with nursing students and Pharmacy students schedules...You may want to look into that.

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Thanks guys. UMC is the hospital that's asking for the 1 yr. I applied to carondelet too so we'll see. The listing for UMC says they will not work with school or other schedules but I'm sure it all depends. I know things change once you're in. I think they want to scare people off that won't be able to make the training scheduled for the first three weeks. Now to wait and see if I even get a call. The HR person I spoke to at UMC said they get a ton of applicants and don't really have that many positions. I have a friend at one of the carondelet hospitals and she said they're desperate for PCT's. Of course they're in desperate need of RN's too but that doesn't mean they're hiring any.

Thanks again.

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A great job to have while going to school is driving school bus.

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I'm based in Phoenix, so I can't say anything about Tucson specifically, but most new grads that I know who have gotten a job after graduation is because they were working as a CNA/PCT in school. I went to Mesa CC and the schedule varied from block to block, and it was hard for those who worked. One lady had 5 kids, and worked while in school. Its doable but is difficult. Hopefully the economy is better when you're done, but its doubtful. I would recommend it!

Also, they probably said that they won't work around schedules because of the training, and they don't want people who are applying just to get their foot in the door and leave when they are an RN in a few months.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

i start block 3 in a few weeks, and i think if i absolutely had to, i could work a little bit. a tiny, tiny, little bit.

school + kids + the 1 day a week that i volunteer leaves me with no extra time. i really don't know how people who have to work can manage it all.

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A great job to have while going to school is driving school bus.

LOL. You do NOT want me driving a school bus. I pop curbs in my minivan. I can only imagine what would happen if I was driving a bus.

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Specializes in ortho, rehab, Long term care.

From experience, the greatest nurses came from being a cna first, you see exactly how it is, even if its starting from the bottom, you really understand. Benefit by networking once you have a RN, and you get that experience.

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I am not yet a nurse but I am pursuing my PCT now. Will take me 8 months and 14k. What do you think?

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Specializes in ortho, rehab, Long term care.

I'd say no. Save that 14k for nursing school. You'll need it. After first semester at nursing school, you can get the paperwork to get your CNA. Which CNA are mainly employed at the hospitals you want to work for as a RN someday. C

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14k for PCT training seems unbelievably expensive. It would take you forever to recoup that on PCT pay.

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