Working overnight and all day classes

RNperdiem, RN · Sep 21, 2015

How flexible is your schedule? Can a couple of shifts be moved to weekends, especially 12 hour shift weekends?

My sister worked nights full time while in school, but she was able to do 12 hour weekend shifts and 2 eight hour nights during the week. It meant living in scrubs 7 days a week and having little time for anything else, but was doable in the end.

The hardest part was getting to class/clinical on time after working during the weeknight shifts. Instructors are very strict about being on time. Sometimes the day shift staff would be late getting started, meaning she would have to rush to get to class on time.

This worked for my sister because she was young, single, without family responsibility, living in an area with a low cost of living, and determined to make it work.

dishes, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2015

I think it is unhealthy for you body and mind to work nights and attend school all day, you risk becoming seriously sleep deprived and unable to function effectively in class or at work. Also, if you drive when sleep deprived, you are at high risk for a serious accident. Is it possible to take a part time, online bridge program instead of full time classroom program?

ahs2015 · Sep 22, 2015

If you got home from school by 4:00, were asleep by 4:30 pm and slept until 9 pm that is 4.5 hours of sleep a night. That's not sustainable for five out of seven days a week. Lack of sleep effects people physically and mentally. You need to either change your work schedule or find a different nursing program.

Kevonn · Sep 22, 2015

Well my employer is pretty flexible. I just don't want to take out loans and start this entire process to end up failing in the end. I could probably switch to working on weekends, but it would mean that I'm not going to have a day off, because each day I'll either be at school or at work. I just need to know it's possible.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2015

You will eventually get sick and/or burn out. Something will give. You need adequate time to sleep and study.

If you are committed to school, either consider dropping a course and/or moving a couple of shifts to weekends.

ShantheRN, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2015

You're going to have to work weekends. It sucks, but it's temporary. It's pretty difficult to arrange a work and school schedule to include a full off day from each. I used to always look forward to the holidays because there was a 50% chance I'd be off at work, too. I work nights, and doing school during the day is totally doable. You have to commit to a sleep schedule, and make sure you don't work the night before clinical!