working while being a student

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Hi! I start nursing at Langara College in January 2010 and I was just wondering if it is a good idea to work at the same time. I don't want to get any student loans, and my work is fairly flexible as my manager is allowing me to have 4 hour shifts such as a 4pm-8pm one. Do you guys think it would be manageable to get like 12-16 hours a week?

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Specializes in Rural Nursing.

Hello,

I am in a semi-distance ADN program and just finishing up our 5th term. I work night shift at a hospital and started out my first term while working full-time and quickly had to drop to part time work. I have been able to work 24 hours a week give or take during nursing school. I don't have to go to class but I do travel for lab and clinical. I would say it depends on your program, but most people that I have talked to say that working part-time during nursing school can be done, especially if you have a flexible employer. Hope this helps! Good Luck!!

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I have a flexible employer and I work full time and go to school. I also have a family. It can certainly be done. It's really what you feel that you can personally handle.

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I am starting 2nd year this Fall and I just got a job on a CPU that is PRN to PT, and I plan to work a couple of 8hour shifts a week. It is a floor with self-scheduling, so I can pick my shifts/days. I need the money, and the experience of just observing on that floor will enhance my clinical experience tremendously! Also, if you are a second year student sometimes the nurses will let you help with a procedure. It will also give me that "foot in the door" to move up next Spring. I can't wait!

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It's possible. As long as you are able to get time off before tests I think you should be fine

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Like the people said before me, it definitely is possible. It's great that your manager is flexible, I would take advantage of that since your schedule is going to be a bit crazy! Just try and not get overwhelmed!

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Hello!

The Nursing Program is physically and emotionally rigorous. Students must demonstrate that they can meet the competencies and standards outlined in the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia's (CRNBC) document entitled "Becoming a Registered Nurse in British Columbia: Requisite Skills and Abilities." This document can be viewed at http://www.crnbc.ca/downloads/464.pdf. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that students do not work while in the program.

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i had a job while in school. it was fun! it was a nice distractor. thinking/doing nursing 24/7 will drive anyone crazy. :)

oh, i recommend getting a "low key" job that has minimal supervision so that you can study at work. don't work retail whatever you do. no time/place to study.

i worked every weekend (except once i had the flu) for 3 years. i used my time wisely. i would do what i needed to do and then get my book out and read. if i heard someone coming i'd hide my book and jump back to work. it worked out well!

best of luck to you. i graduated almost 2 years ago. everyone reading this will get to this point before you know it, too!

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bump for spikey74.

See? A couple of minutes with a search for "working and nursing school" yielded 200 results; the ones I bumped were probably the most helpful and had the most responses.

The only time the search function is not helpful, I've found, is when your search is either very broad, very narrow, or your connection is slow. Otherwise the search function on these forums is pretty good.

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