Working while in nursing school

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i have wanted to become a nurse for as long as i can remember. i could hardly wait to graduate high school and start nursing school. i graduated high school recently, and i was completely blown away at the cost for nursing school. i now know that nursing school will not be possible without a job. i was planning on applying for a job at a fast food restaurant or a department store, until i saw an advertisement for a 12 week patient care tech course. not only is the course not very time consuming but i imagine that i would gain experience. so my question is would a patient care tech course be a waste of time? would i gain experience i could use in nursing? should i become a pct if nursing is my long-term goal? i would love to hear other opinions. :D

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Specializes in NA- LTC, Home Health, Clinic.

congrats on graduating high school and having your whole life ahead of you!! don't let your dream go by the wayside!!

as far as the pct, depending on where you live, i recommend gateway's cna program that has a follow up 6wk pct program that allows you to then work as a pct. i plan on working as a pct on-call around my home health care job schedule until i am able to start the next step of lpn school & clinicals.

after that, depending on your goals as far as lpn, asn, bsn - all can be started with classes at a community college which will save you money. if you get your cna/pct it is ~possible~ to work with an agency/network that will help with rn school tuition, but those funds-if you can find them are usually only $1500 max a year for full-time employees.

seeing right now (unemployed, lol) if you are eligible for financial aid grants, subsidized loans, etc, could be a good step and a great place to start is at the financial aid office of a community college close to you. there are also tons of scholarships they can help point you in the direction of finding.

these are 2 sites they will want you to fill out.

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

http://www.pin.ed.gov/pinwebapp/pinindex.jsp

hope this helps, feel free to ask away if i/we can help any more :)

i have wanted to become a nurse for as long as i can remember. i could hardly wait to graduate high school and start nursing school. i graduated high school recently, and i was completely blown away at the cost for nursing school. i now know that nursing school will not be possible without a job. i was planning on applying for a job at a fast food restaurant or a department store, until i saw an advertisement for a 12 week patient care tech course. not only is the course not very time consuming but i imagine that i would gain experience. so my question is would a patient care tech course be a waste of time? would i gain experience i could use in nursing? should i become a pct if nursing is my long-term goal? i would love to hear other opinions. :D
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thank you so much. i took your advice and looked into financial aid, and found that i am eligible. :D i am now planning on completing the pct course prior to starting my pre-nursing courses. thank you again for your advice!

congrats on graduating high school and having your whole life ahead of you!! don't let your dream go by the wayside!!

as far as the pct, depending on where you live, i recommend gateway's cna program that has a follow up 6wk pct program that allows you to then work as a pct. i plan on working as a pct on-call around my home health care job schedule until i am able to start the next step of lpn school & clinicals.

after that, depending on your goals as far as lpn, asn, bsn - all can be started with classes at a community college which will save you money. if you get your cna/pct it is ~possible~ to work with an agency/network that will help with rn school tuition, but those funds-if you can find them are usually only $1500 max a year for full-time employees.

seeing right now (unemployed, lol) if you are eligible for financial aid grants, subsidized loans, etc, could be a good step and a great place to start is at the financial aid office of a community college close to you. there are also tons of scholarships they can help point you in the direction of finding.

these are 2 sites they will want you to fill out.

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

http://www.pin.ed.gov/pinwebapp/pinindex.jsp

hope this helps, feel free to ask away if i/we can help any more :)

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Specializes in Pediatric, ED.

Depending on where you live, PVCC is now offering a PCT program. I believe you have to be a CNA (or have a certification) to be accepted into the program but it is a 2-3 week course and from what I have been told, you will really get a hands on experience in a hospital setting. I received my CNA training at PVCC, worked as a CNA at a long term care for 6 months then was offered a position as a PCT at a hospital. I am now in a nursing program at GCU and I can tell you that the CNA training and my job experience have been invaluable!

Most of us work either full or part time in our cohort and we are determined to make it by helping each other get through the next 20 months. :)

Good luck!

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