working while in nursing school

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi, I was just recently accepted to a bsn program that starts this winter. I have a very flexible job right now that will allow me to work one day a week if i need to. I actually do not have to work while in nursing school, because my plan this whole time was to quit when i started the program. My question is do most students that you go to school with work part time, or does the majority just focus on school. Do you think i am better off quitting and getting a job in the hospital maybe as a SNAP nurse this summer so i can have some kind of experience on my resume when i graduate, or should i continue to work one day a week through school at my current job?

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I am in my first semester of nursing school and I needed to keep my job. I'm an A&P/math/bio tutor about 15 hours a week, plus I kept my home health aide job so if they're ever in a bind on the weekends they can call me in and I can get in a little extra income. I would say maybe 50% of the students in my program are employeed somewhere, a few of them in medical type jobs. I think it's beneficial to work so if something happens, you have the funds to cover it (need new supplies, new book, things like that).

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Hi, I was just recently accepted to a bsn program that starts this winter. I have a very flexible job right now that will allow me to work one day a week if i need to. I actually do not have to work while in nursing school, because my plan this whole time was to quit when i started the program. My question is do most students that you go to school with work part time, or does the majority just focus on school. Do you think i am better off quitting and getting a job in the hospital maybe as a SNAP nurse this summer so i can have some kind of experience on my resume when i graduate, or should i continue to work one day a week through school at my current job?

Unless you want to go back to full time at your old non-nursing job when you graduate, get experience in direct patient care.

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Get a contingent job as a patient care assistant at a local hospital. That's what I am doing. I can work as little as 2 shifts a month or as much as 40 hours a week. I also get to float to tons of different areas, get tons of experience, and make great connections with nurse managers for jobs when I graduate.

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being a nursing student is a very tough job.

i could say that if u can handle and have excellent time management skills, then yes keep your job. it will give you money to support your needs during school especially when purchasing books and stuff.

but if your job is affecting your grades(like below the passing grades) then obviously you have to quit your job. :)

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I work now from between 72 and 84 hours every two weeks. I like it. I do well in school. My logic is that, as someone who previously hired others in life, if a student came to me who did not work and made good grades or less versus one who worked all the dang time and made good to great grades than that person would be the shoe in for the job. I'm going to keep working and working and working. I like money, and I like the fact that I work. I love feeling like a real, contributing person rather than some of the kids in class that get to sit on the couch with their face in a book all night. I also love the fact that if I can't find the nursing job I want where I want it then I don't have to change. I like the job I've got.

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I work 30 hours a week running an office and I still go to Nursing School Full time during the day. You gotta do what you gotta do.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Most do not work.. however we are finishing 3rd year now and here in Canada, BC you can be an ESN (employed student nurse)... so most of us are working as nurses in the hospital paid.

I quit my other job going into nursing school though.. i am glad i did. but i enjoy making almost as much as the RNs do when i am working as an ESN.... but if you need to work to pay bills/family etc... try and do so to a minimum :)

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I work 16 - 24 hours a week. You just need good time management.

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Specializes in NICU.

@ foreverLaur , that sounds like an awesome job to have? how did you find out about that? and thanks everyone else for the replies. As for now i will not be able to work very much, I will be at school and the hospital at least 30 hours a week. I am a hairstylist and so i think i am only going to work 2-3 saturdays a month and just fit as many people in then. My clients will be FURIOUS but i am going for a new career, and nursing is my dream, so i just have to let go of that. And that way i can be free enough for school, and still have extra money for books, supplies and family, and still feel like i am contributing to the finances. Thankfully I have a very supportive husband and no children to care for so I can afford to do this. thanks guys!

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i worked 1-2 days a week during the first semester. the load was so heavy (4 classes + clinicals) that some weeks 1 day of work was too much. second semester i got a job at a hospital and worked basically full time all of 2nd & 3rd semester. now i'm in my last semester and scaling back on my hours again because the workload is heavy once again.

i wouldn't quit your job, just try to balance it out based on your work load throughout the program. good luck !

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I don't have an option to quit my job (non-healthcare), and work 40+ hrs/week. Some weeks I just want to curl up in a corner and cry, but I pull myself up and work through it. It's do-able in some circumstances (my employer is VERY flexible with hours/work from home), but I wouldn't suggest it to anyone who has a choice.

If I wasn't a single parent with a mortgage and car payment, I'd quit my job and get a PT job in a hospital if I could.

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