Working While Attending RN Program?

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hello. i'm new here and this is my 1st post. i just discovered this board and all the nursing boards for that matter. i'm 28 yrs old married with a 2 yr old son. i alreasy have a bachelors degree that i graduated with 3 yrs ago. i was employed as a pilot for 2 years after i graduated. after 911 i became out of work. i went back to doing what put me through college and flight school originally and that is selling cars. i have always enjoyed helping people and have always been interested in healthcare. so to make a lon story short i will be going to an rn program somewhere in the metro atlanta area. there are 7 rn programs in the metro area and i will take what ever is the best offer for me. two of the programs are asn and 4 are bsns. if i only get accepted to the asn program i will do that and go for my bsn right after i graduate and get a job. at this moment i will be taking the 7 prereqs i need over thge next 3 semester starting this fall while i continue working full time at my job.

my question is how much will i be able to work when i start one of the rn programs next summer full time. 10 hours? 20 hours? 40 hours? i know i will have to change jobs. i know this will vary from program to program but i'm just trying to get a general idea.

i saw several jobs at local hospitals for nurse externs. how much to they make per hour? thanks for your time.

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Well, I haven't started clinicals yet, but I will this fall. I have worked full time while taking all my prereqs and plan to continue through my nursing classes (I'm in the ADN program). Unfortunetly, I can't afford to not work full time, I need the money and benefits. I've heard many success stories from people that worked full time, even though the school recommends not working more than 20. I don't perfer to, but if you want to be an RN bad enough, I think anyone can overcome it.

Good luck, I start in 4 weeks!!! :uhoh3:

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when i got interviewed at my nursing school, the interviewer straight out asked me whether i would be working at all during school. i told her no (however, as things are working out, i will need to continue working) and she gave me a delighted "that's good!"

so, needless to say i'm freaking out that i'm not going to be able to juggle both, but i'm going to try very hard. where there's a will (and caffeine), there's a way!

:)

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To be honest, my school doesn't recommend it either. They say if you have to work, try to keep it to part time.

:coollook:

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

It really depends on your school program. I am 27, married and work full time and go to nursing school full time. Also have a BA already in Psych. My program is a diploma RN program so eventually I will need to go back and get the BSN and MSN but for now this will work. It is a evening/weekend program so I go every other weekend and every tuesday and thursday nights. It is hard but worth it! (I keep telling myself that!)

:):) Good luck!!!!

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Specializes in Telemetry and ER.

Hi, I am in my second semester. I am 37 years old and a mother of three (12, 9 and 8) Although my husband and family is super, super supportive, I know that I could not work and be successful in nursing school. Many people will disagree, I think it all depends on your situation at home, we are all at different stages and my kids would suffer even more if I worked. I attend school with many people who do work so I am SURE it can be done. It is a very subjective decision. Im sure whatever you decide will be the best for YOU and your FAMILY. Good Luck :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I worked 32 to 40 hours, depending if I had a test on Monday or not. It all depends on your situation and your financial needs. I would work the minimum amount you need to make ends meet and to have time for school and your child. But if you have the pre-reqs and co-reqs out of the way you should be able to work more.

Good luck in whatever you do.

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hello. i'm new here and this is my 1st post. i just discovered this board and all the nursing boards for that matter. i'm 28 yrs old married with a 2 yr old son. i alreasy have a bachelors degree that i graduated with 3 yrs ago. i was employed as a pilot for 2 years after i graduated. after 911 i became out of work. i went back to doing what put me through college and flight school originally and that is selling cars. i have always enjoyed helping people and have always been interested in healthcare. so to make a lon story short i will be going to an rn program somewhere in the metro atlanta area. there are 7 rn programs in the metro area and i will take what ever is the best offer for me. two of the programs are asn and 4 are bsns. if i only get accepted to the asn program i will do that and go for my bsn right after i graduate and get a job. at this moment i will be taking the 7 prereqs i need over thge next 3 semester starting this fall while i continue working full time at my job.

my question is how much will i be able to work when i start one of the rn programs next summer full time. 10 hours? 20 hours? 40 hours? i know i will have to change jobs. i know this will vary from program to program but i'm just trying to get a general idea.

i saw several jobs at local hospitals for nurse externs. how much to they make per hour? thanks for your time.

i don't know where you are from but i think that you should look into an accelerated rn program. i have a ba in advertising and i am now going to get my bsn. these programs are becoming popular all over the nation. it is only a 15 month program and i will have it all finished. i had a few pre-requisites but i will be done next aug and i just started in june. that would save you alot of time. to answer your question, i work two 12-hour shifts per week with no problem. my school recommends that you don't work either but that is unrealistic for me. while completing my pre-requisites i was able to work full time. don't worry...you can do anything you set your mind to. good luck!!
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I'm in my 2nd semester of an ADN program. If the hospital you work at has 12hr shifts try to only work two days a week. This allows you to work, spend time with your family and study. I f you don't have to don't burn yourself out because you really want to do well.

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I worked FT during all of my pre-reqs, and for the first semester of nursing school. In addition to raising my 13, 12, 10 year old kids, alone... Whew! And it was HARD!! I was exhausted, my kids suffered, my house suffered, and I know that I didn't study as much as I needed to. I was able to leave my job at the end of 1 semester, and what a difference. If you can at least cut back on hours, it's a really good idea. We are only in school for a couple years, so for me anyway, I know I wanted to give it my all. One of my friends (who is kid-less) works PT and lives off of student loans. Whatever it takes, I guess.

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I don't know where you are from but I think that you should look into an accelerated RN program. I have a BA in Advertising and I am now going to get my BSN. These programs are becoming popular all over the nation. It is only a 15 month program and I will have it all finished. I had a few pre-requisites but I will be done next Aug and I just started in June. That would save you alot of time. To answer your question, I work two 12-hour shifts per week with no problem. My school recommends that you don't work either but that is unrealistic for me. While completing my pre-requisites I was able to work full time. Don't worry...you can do anything you set your mind to. Good Luck!!

I saw your post and, I, too, have a BA in Advertising and am returning to get my nursing degree. I'm going for my ADN but plan on going for the BSN to perhaps the MSN.

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hello. i'm new here and this is my 1st post. i just discovered this board and all the nursing boards for that matter. i'm 28 yrs old married with a 2 yr old son. i alreasy have a bachelors degree that i graduated with 3 yrs ago. i was employed as a pilot for 2 years after i graduated. after 911 i became out of work. i went back to doing what put me through college and flight school originally and that is selling cars. i have always enjoyed helping people and have always been interested in healthcare. so to make a lon story short i will be going to an rn program somewhere in the metro atlanta area. there are 7 rn programs in the metro area and i will take what ever is the best offer for me. two of the programs are asn and 4 are bsns. if i only get accepted to the asn program i will do that and go for my bsn right after i graduate and get a job. at this moment i will be taking the 7 prereqs i need over thge next 3 semester starting this fall while i continue working full time at my job.

my question is how much will i be able to work when i start one of the rn programs next summer full time. 10 hours? 20 hours? 40 hours? i know i will have to change jobs. i know this will vary from program to program but i'm just trying to get a general idea.

i saw several jobs at local hospitals for nurse externs. how much to they make per hour? thanks for your time.

i've been working full-time during my pre-reqs. i start this nursing program this fall and plan on working full-time, at least this semester. the program recommends that you not work full-time but when you are the insurance carrier and have two small kids its next to impossible not to work. fortunately the job i work is very flexible and will work around my school hours.

michelle

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