working while in nursing school

CNMtobe2012 · Jul 5, 2005

ithink before you can make that decision you have to know the type of person you are. i am currently in a bsn program and going into the first semester of my second year. during my first year of nursing school i work part time with no problems. but it also depends on the job as well. i work as an intern at a government agency and my employment here is contingent on me being a full time student. i work with wonderful people and they are supportive in my educational endeavors. how much or how little i work depends on my class schedule each semester. some semester i am able to work 30 hrs a week and then some i can only work 15. it all depends. but i also know what type of person i am. failure is not an option and not working is not an option (single mother of one). therefore i am force to do both (work and go to school). believe me it is possible if it has to be done. i worked on an average of 55 hrs per week last school year, commuted 1 hr and 15 min to school (one way), and manage to make a 4.00 the first semester and a 3.75 the second. :uhoh3: good luck in whatever decision you make.:)

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jul 5, 2005

I worked as a patient care tech/nursing assistant during most of my BSN program. During sophomore year I worked 24 hours/week on the 3-11 shift during the school year. Junior year I decided to cut back to 16 hours a week and then to just 8 hours/week (only worked saturdays 7-3) during the school year. When I got to senior year, I realized I didn't need to work (supported by husband) so I quit the job altogether and had even more time to focus on nursing school. I felt it was a great decision because (1) I had all the time in the world to study, (2) I did not need to work for the money because my husband was working and we were fine and (3) I had enough experience as a nursing assistant in the 2.5 years I worked in the hospital. I know several of my classmates tried to work crazy hours and most of those students failed a class. If you want to work for extra money and for the experience, i would say work something like 8 hour shifts on sat and sun and see how that works out. You need to leave a lot of free time outside of classes so you can study and also rest! Good luck!

-Christine

JenNJFLCA · Jul 6, 2005

I am sure that all schools discourage their students from working while in school, but we have to eat too! :chuckle Especially those of us at private universities.......whew! I work FT, but my boss is very understanding and supportive. I could not be working if she weren't this way. Some people work FT and they manage, others don't handle it so well. It just depends on the person I suppose. I am in my final year (May 6,2006, here I come!!) and am getting pretty burned out. I am hoping to cut back on my hours at least my last semester.

Michelleroth1 · Jul 6, 2005

Im currently a CNA I love my patients ,co-workers and my Nurses I was doing it a year when I decided to start the LPN program this fall. Im listed as a 3/4 time student(1 credit shy of fulltime) I have a wife and 2 children My wife doesnt make enough money to support us. Im going to school in the mornings and I work Fulltime 3-11p shift I was warned that is tough to do both but some do make it. I am putting money away for when I reach the point of my clinicals If work and school wont mix for me I will transfer to pool work and agency. Becoming a nurse is an obession for me Im sure you will do fine. Also a note Im in Pa. One thing I have noted My Loans and Grants have increased in size as people drop out or find they dont need aid. I started at 6000 for my first two semesters its now over 12,000 classes and books for my first semester are only 2,500. So keep up on the aid. There is money there find it.

MIA-RN1, RN · Jul 6, 2005

i just want to know what you think about working while attending nursing school. i am starting nursing school in fall 2005, and i heared that nursing school is tough. so i am wandering if it is possible to still work while going to school. I have financial aid and i am thinking about taking a small amount of student loan just to help offset some little expenses if i chose not to work. Believe me it is a great deal of hardwork and perseverance to get to this point, and i don't wanna be kicked out of nursing school because of maybe a $7 or $8 paying job. i will appreciate your advice and suggestions.

Yes its possible; most everyone I know in my program works. Some do weekends only, some do full time, some do part time. I have worked 20h/week during this first year. And I worked only M-F and went to school only M-F. that was kinda hard. I switched to a per-diem position so I can- tailor the hours a bit and hopefully spread it out a bit.

I liked working because I learned a LOT from the NP's that I worked with, and also because it was a time when I really had to STOP thinking about schoolwork and it kept me from feeling overwhelmed. Sounds kind of backwards but it works for me!