Working and Nursing School

Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2017

Possible, yes. Easy, no. It depends on you as a person too; if you're great with time management and planning your study week, you could breeze it. For me, it'd be too much. I hope to work 15 hours a week max, and I may even drop that if it gets too much. Good luck!

S7ud3n7_Nur53 · Jun 22, 2017

Possible, yes. Easy, no. It depends on you as a person too; if you're great with time management and planning your study week, you could breeze it. For me, it'd be too much. I hope to work 15 hours a week max, and I may even drop that if it gets too much. Good luck!

All I need is "possible" lol! I have done pretty well managing my time as long as I do get a break eventually. One program I am looking at has summers off so that might give me some time to recover.

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 22, 2017

It's definitely hard. But it is doable. When's I was in nursing school, I worked every Sat/Sun as a CNA in a hospital. I also had 2 small kids at that time (there are 3 now). I really didn't have any options but to work. If you schedule study time every evening, it is doable.

S7ud3n7_Nur53 · Jun 22, 2017

It's definitely hard. But it is doable. When's I was in nursing school, I worked every Sat/Sun as a CNA in a hospital. I also had 2 small kids at that time (there are 3 now). I really didn't have any options but to work. If you schedule study time every evening, it is doable.

Wow I can't imagine going through school AND working AND taking care of your family. That's incredible! Do you think working as a CNA in a hospital gave you any benefit in regards to experience and your resume? I was considering working as a CNA as well. Right now I work weekends at a group home but was considering looking for a job in the hospital to help get me some more exposure.

Racer15, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2017

I worked fulltime my first year of nursing school. I did not have much free time, but I was able to balance it out. So I would say yes. I never worked fewer than 24 hours a week during my program.

Career Columnist / Author · Jun 23, 2017

Hi everyone,
Do you think it is possible to work part time (16-24 hours a week) while in nursing school? I would be taking 16 credit hours per semester no matter which program I end up attending.

When you are in the "have to work" club, it's just something you do. The only option becomes- do I want to become a nurse?

You can do it. From a single Mom with a job and three small children who did it- it is possible :) And so worth it.

direw0lf, BSN · Jun 23, 2017

16-24 hours is very doable. You need to sacrifice some things you might have normally done in your free time. I work as an intern now, and I was a patient observer in the school year. I will work as a PCA for my last year of school starting in the fall for 12-24 hrs a week. I worked as an intern (36 hours/wk) while in a 6 week summer gen ed class. It wasn't bad but I admit I don't hang out with my friends much! I had to change the way I studied a little bit to make it faster. For example, I liked making flash cards in my science classes but that would have taken too much time for my nursing classes. Good luck!