Working while in Nursing school

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2004

Good luck. Anything is possible. If you don't have to work and have a child then don't. If you have to work to pay the bills, then it can be done. I worked full time but got all the coreqs out of the way and was taking only nursing school.

When I was in school we had practice labs right away and clinicals after the first month. But that was in another state and every school is different.

Good luck.

totallytheresa · Jun 22, 2004

Hi. When I started school last year, I worked full time during the day, then went straight to school 3 nights a week. It was hard, but with good planning and time management/organization- it CAN be done! I have 3 kids I am raising alone. I had heard the second semester was the hardest, when we make the transition from students to nurses- so I have left my job because excelling at this is the very important to me. We started clinical and lab after a couple weeks into it, but as someone said, each school is different. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time, and don't be afraid to ask for help! I came into nursing from hotel management, and believe me, I wasn't afraid to let my professors know that I was unfamiliar with A LOT! And they will respect you for it. Good luck!

A/A/OX3 · Jun 22, 2004

Hey guys
I was accepted for this Fall and plan to quit from my job in a few weeks (I work in retails and absolutely hate it, I was praying to get accepted so I'll have a valid reason to quit:)
But moneywise of course, I'd better keep the job. My question is - is it possible? I've heard how hard the nursing school is and I don't want to struggle through it, having my "nights and weekends" job.
Also - when do we start to have clinicals? I have to signed up my child for day care as soon as possible, while they still have available slots in after-school program. But if I won't be that busy at least during first semester, I'd prefer do not enroll her for now.
Please advice!

I was 38 when I started nursing school. That is almost 20 years ago now. I had four kids, a mortgage, piece of crap cars, and bills up the wazoo. I went to school fulltime, taught at he university part time and interned nights part time, local hospital, ICU. I slept 2-4 hours/night five days a week. I ended up hypertensive half way through. It would have been easier without kids and if I didn't have to work but that wasn't an option.

My kids were all in school when I started... kindergarten through sophomore in high school. Daycare was never an issue.

I suppose it all depends on how bad you want this and what sacrifices you are willing to make to achieve your goal. If you have income other than your own and can make it not working, that would be the best solution. If not, you gotta do whatcha gotta do.

michelle95 · Jun 22, 2004

If you can do it without working, then that would be best. But, like the rest of these folks said sometimes you don't have that option. I only worked part time when I was in LPN school...but, now that I am going back for my RN, I don't see me just working part time. I have had another kid since LPN school.

You do what you've gotta do sometimes.

ZootRN · Jun 22, 2004

Thanks for all of you, guys!!

I'm working part-time in retails now, and real problem is that they are not willing to adjust their schedule. That is a real problem - like if I have tests coming and need to study but scheduled to work, they wouldn't care. Someone here mentioned that she was lucky enough to have her boss behind her, but my boss is an opposite, she simply does not care. I don't blame her, it's just school is much more important to me. Thanks God, I blessed to have a husband who can provide for me and for our child, but I still feel bad for quitting the job. I'm not sure why. Maybe becasue I use to pay for myself and now I have to rely on somebody for that. I don't know.

BTW, how long is an ADN program?

Nikki730 · Jun 22, 2004

My ADN is two years (4 semesters), plus the semester of pre-reqs that must be finished before you can apply. It totals 70 or 72 hours, I think.

I'm also worried about the whole work/school issue. I have 9 hours this fall and want to work full time, but use 1 or 1.5 vacation day(s) per week (making it 32 hours or less of work per week). I'm planning on being totally exhausted, I just pray I can hold out until December. It's not so much the money, or the healthcare, it's mainly for the friends and the "structuring" and security of my job, if that makes any sense. Guess I'm just afraid I'll make a terrible nursing student, and worry that if I quit my job, I would end up wishing I had my job back. :uhoh3:

ZootRN · Jun 22, 2004

Hi Nikki

Thanks for your reply. I totally understand your feelings about job. I guess, I just feel insecure about leaving the job and go to school, even I was a full-time student for the last year and a half and maintain 4.0 GPA for all prereqs. I just freaked out so much to start REAL nursing classes. I don't know. I have orientation July 9th, maybe this will give me some relief. At least, I will have an idea how it will look like. Also, my daugher was with me for a last year and it breaks my heart to send her back to after-school program now. She was in daycare since she was 2,5 years old, and this last year was a blessing for me - I had an opportunity to switch to part-time job, go full-time in school, and have my child with me. I owe this to my husband, I love him to death for supporting me in everything I do.

It looks like in my school it takes 4 semesters too, but I was under impression we are going to take Summer classes, so total will be 1.5 years, not 2 years. I'm done with all gen ed classes though, like composition, micro, chemistry, all A&P, etc. Actually I was preparing to go to USF and took all their prereqs, but got accepted earlier into community college program. Fine with me, it's the same RN:)

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2004

Hi Mystic-Fish-

I feel your pain. If you're able to not work, then do it. I left my job of five years in banking for the same reason. I figured they would not accomodate me.(nor should they have. It's not like I was going back for accounting) I know you feel bad about not paying your way(I do to), so to speak, but in two to three years you will make up the difference. If you have to cut corners, have to work or lasso the moon for that matter, do whatever it takes! It's only temporary. You can get through it. This has been the hardest year of my life financially, (my hubby was laid off with no unemployment for the better part of the year, God bless my mother-in-law!) but I know there is an end in sight. Please keep us posted on how everything works out.

GGodwinRN · Jun 23, 2004

If you can make it through your 1st semester without working you can apply at hospitals to work as a nurse tech after the 1st completed semester of RN schooling. They usually pay $10-$12/hr and will work with your schedule alot. Also remember you could take weekend and night shifts and earn the shift diff. so what you are losing in hours your going to make up in pay. Hope that helps!

nursing student1988 · Jul 7, 2008

I'm in the same boat. About me: 19 year old female, work full time and part-time. I start nursing school in one month. I'm barely making it now on my income, and I know it'll get worst once I start. I pay my own rent, car, insurance, food, and gas. Don't depend on my parents for anything, and they don't have much money to help with anything, anyway. How would I manage to work 2 jobs while in nursing school ? I honestly have to say it'll be hard, but worth it all. I know God will give me the strength to do it. Some days I don't even feel like getting up, going to work and then school. I barely sleep, and have time to really enjoy life. I'm very determined to atleast get my LPN first, and then head back for RN-BSN. I know one day all of my blood,sweat, and tears will pay off. I'm so close, and can't give up now. So my advice, is to take each day at a time... don't give up.... pray... and trust God. And for those of you who have a spouse or parental support, please count your blessings.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2008

I've been working my usual 36/48 while in school and have an A average. It isn't easy, but it's definitely possible.