Working while in school

Nursing Students General Students

Published

i'm currently employed at an auto insurance firm full time as a claims processor. i need to stay working to keep my truck and the bill collectors at bay. how do you all handle working full-time day time and attending clinicals. i'm a little confused about that. i know my lecture classes can be taken evening, but how do the clinicals work. i'll be starting my first semester of the nursing program in the fall, and i don't want to have major conflicts. can anyone offer advise?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Our college has just instituted an evening program. They take lecture and skills lab at night, and they do a 15 hour clinical on Saturday. Our regular program also makes an evening clinical available, however they can only take a limited number of students because there are only two instructors who teach the evening clinical.

Check with your school on this one. Many only offer clinical during the day, Monday through Friday. Our clinical is two days a week from 7:30a to 2:00p.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I suggest to check with your school.... because, there is no evening clinicals for my school. There is no way for us to work full time being in school for us. Also, make sure that you'll have time for your study.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, I suggest to check with your school.... because, there is no evening clinicals for my school. There is no way for us to work full time being in school for us.

I just quoted Aya because my school is exactly the same - no night/weekend option here. The clinical days/times/hours are definately something you need to look into! Good luck! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care / Psychiatry.
Our college has just instituted an evening program. They take lecture and skills lab at night, and they do a 15 hour clinical on Saturday. Our regular program also makes an evening clinical available, however they can only take a limited number of students because there are only two instructors who teach the evening clinical.

Check with your school on this one. Many only offer clinical during the day, Monday through Friday. Our clinical is two days a week from 7:30a to 2:00p.

A 15 hour clinical!? Oh dear...

I can't imagine!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, Oncology, Progressive Care.

I know you don't want to hear this but you're probably going to have to cut down on your work schedule unless you can do the nursing program part time.

There are many people in my class who were working part-time who have either gone down to one day a week or just quit their job altogether. Perhaps you can look into some sort of grant, scholarship, loan thing to help you out. Some have been able to keep their fulltime job but that is really the minority. It just really depends on how you're able to manage and get everything done.

I couldn't imagine working and doing the nursing program. Maybe after your first semester you can do an externship and stay on 1 or 2 days a week at the hospital. At least by me they pay you more than an aide and it is an invaluable learning experience.

Kelly

Up Vote Up Vote ×

well, i know that my school has evening classes, and that the school itself (the entire institution) is geared towards full time students as well as working students. I just took on a car payment about a month back so I'm a little worried about that. My first semested coming up in the fall is only 1 class and 1 clinical, so I think I'll be fine. I've been doing conventional college courses for the past 2 semesters while working full time. I'm contacting the program director today about it, and thank you all for your insight, i really appreciate it!

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Just remember that the nursing courses are different than other courses. I've always been an A student and it was quite a wake up call when I started the nursing classes and realized that I couldn't just study for an exam the day before the exam! Not even 2 days before. Studying for these exams is a continuous process. Then you have to take into consideration the papers, projects, careplans (first semester, plan on spending at least 5-10 hours per careplan, if not more!), etc.

I don't mean to sound discouraging and I know it can be done, but it won't be easy.

Good luck with everything!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Call the nursing school and ask the secretary how it works. Or ask to talk to someone who can give you REAL information. My school had classes at night and clinicals on Saturday, so I could work M-F, which I did. Schools cannot be too flexible because they do not have enough staff to spread around 7 days a week and nights too. It is possible to do both, but you really have to plan your time and learn to prioritize. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just a thought, but I also only have one class this semester Fundementals, we are in lecture/sim lab MTW 9-4 and Clinical ThF 6:30-4:30. so just because it is one class doesn't mean short times. also keep in mind most nursing programs have different pass rates. in mine anything below an 80% is failing. unfortunetly, the 4 students in my class working full time are failing. if you need cash try a private student loan. can usually take up to 30,000 per year .

Kris

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rural Health.

I would contact the school and see how the schedule works and get an idea of what you will have to do while in school.

For me, I have to quit my job - it's not an option anymore with the times I have to take classes and the hours involved, for example, on Wed I have classes from 11a-10p with a 2 hour break in between and that is just 2 classes. I found out that you may only take 1 nursing class but that class is 4 hours long :) There is no way to work around it here.

Have you thought about looking into another field that might be more nursing school friendly? I took my EMT-B class this semester (I start nursing school in Jan) so that I can work PRN for an ambulance while I'm in school. Around here they are so short handed you can have your pick of shifts and pick of days....... Plus, if you got a lot going on - you just don't work. I won't come close to the money I'm making right now working full time but between that and student loans, it will be close.

Good luck to you!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The local RN course agenda here states that the student must be able to make a "full time" committment to the program. Some of the classes are during the day and some of the clinicals are done in the evening. That's why I decided to become an LPN first. I will be able to work part-time while I'm in school. I can't afford to completely quit my job. I also can't be without good health insurance for an entire year! Fortunately my current employer is willing to work with me on getting at least 20 hours a week. I also work for an Insurance company as a Processor. :) Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment