working while in nursing school?

betsyMT2003 · Oct 2, 2005

I'm still in the process of getting IN to nursing school but I doubt very much I'd be able to bypass working for school. I have a 1-year-old to support. That said, I do work at home and work nights but I don't even think I could swing only a part-time schedule.
Any advice?

I am currently in my 1st semester of nursing school and I work part-time at home. It's working out really well for me so far. I have a lot of flexibility in my work hours, so I can schedule them as needed for each week around what is going on at school. I also have 4 school-age kids whose schedules I have to work around also. It can be done! I know that everyone is different, but for me this situation is ideal. Best of luck to you. Keep us posted!

sjb2005 · Oct 2, 2005

I went to nursing school when my kids were 5, 2 and 1 year old. It was extremely difficult. I worked part-time. I had a husband though. Without him I couldn't have done it. Get a support person if you don't have one.

Ayvah, RN · Oct 2, 2005

First semester I was able to work about full time (35hr/week) but this second semester is absolute hell, even though I work less (25hr/week). The majority of maternal-child class has failed the last two quizzes; i got a 76% last quiz(passed by 1%) and was told "Good job!" by the teacher! Didn't hear of anyone else who got a higher grade, and that was with 15 hours of studying! I am dropping from part-time to PRN status at work (10 hr/week). I will be losing my health and dental insurance =( . I have heard lots of people very frustrated, even those that just work 12 hr/week or none at all, saying that they feel like they take turns between being a good student & bad mom and a bad student & good mom.

Only advice I could give is to be prepared to take classes slowly (i.e. instead of 2 years of nursing school, stretch it into 4 years) there are a lot of people going that way because they aren't in a position where they can focus only on school, and must work/take care of kids. I will absolutely agree with the previous poster. Get a support person, if possible, because I couldn't be doing this either without my husband.

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2005

I worked full time with a 2 year old, 2 month old and nursing school. For my BS/MS I worked full time with 5 kids. Was it fun no, but it was necessary. I held a B and was happy with that.

renerian

AuntieRN · Oct 2, 2005

I am in my third semester of 5. I work fulltime and go to school almost fulltime. It can be done, but it is not easy. My house is a mess, my partner only gets to see me when it is time for sleep and I have to remember to take a shower every day...I just keep telling myself this is a small price to pay and it will all be worth it in the end. Oh yeah almost forgot...my sister is on her way here with 3 of her children and an elderly woman she takes care of...guess where they are going to live for the next 5-6 months until her house is built..YUP here with us....but again it will all be worth it in the end. You can do it...just have some faith in yourself. Good luck!! :)

Eilana · Oct 3, 2005

I know that many of my colleagues are doing that: school full time, parent full time and in between they pull off hours to support the home. It is not easy because some of these parents have young children. It helps to have a good support system. At the same time, remember to know your own limits and to prioritize. Good luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2005

I worked full time during nursing school. It's tough but the old phrase "when there's a will, there's a way". I was very driving with a do or die attitude. Good luck to you.

kimtab · Oct 3, 2005

I was able to drop from fulltime to part time hours at work because I sold my house, in which I had a pretty large amount of equity. I wound up working 20-25 hours per week. I'm glad it's over, but hey- I got through it. It can be done. I'm a single parent, my son was 3 years old when I graduated. It helped that I had an understanding employer, and local family support.

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Oct 3, 2005

I am in my 3rd semester of a 2 year (4 semester) ADN program. I have worked fulltime all the way through so far. I did finish all of my pre-reqs prior to getting into the actual program, so I am only taking nursing classes. I have to agree with the others who have done the same, that it is not easy, but it is doable if you have the motivation. I do not have much extra time on my hands, but as someone else stated, it will be worth it once I am done! You can do it too!

SoulShine75 · Oct 4, 2005

I am in my third semester of 5. I work fulltime and go to school almost fulltime. It can be done, but it is not easy. My house is a mess, my partner only gets to see me when it is time for sleep and I have to remember to take a shower every day...I just keep telling myself this is a small price to pay and it will all be worth it in the end. Oh yeah almost forgot...my sister is on her way here with 3 of her children and an elderly woman she takes care of...guess where they are going to live for the next 5-6 months until her house is built..YUP here with us....but again it will all be worth it in the end. You can do it...just have some faith in yourself. Good luck!! :)

Bles your heart! :kiss You deserve a metal for that! Good luck to you.

moonbeamsmom · Oct 4, 2005

Thank you all for your honesty and words of wisdom! I am married and my husband is a tremendous help. I guess it was a dumb question in ways because I am working FT and going to school FT right now but it's online and not in nursing, so it's a little less difficult to hack. I'm hoping to put my daughter in preschool by the time I start nursing school as well so that will be a nice break. :rotfl: