Working in Nursing School
I got another question via email.
“I’m getting ready to start nursing school and wonder if I should work while I’m there. I don’t have to work technically, but I don’t like relying on my parents to pay for everything even though they said it is fine. What do you think? I know you work on the weekends…”
Well, to be perfectly honest- if I didn’t have to work, I wouldn’t. First semester I worked 36 hours a week plus school and clinicals….and nearly burnt out.
Last semester and this semester, I go to school Monday through Thursday and then work 8am-8pm Fridays and Saturdays. Last semester wasn’t so bad, but I’m already burning out this semester and its only midterms!
They always told us in the first week of school, “Don’t work in nursing school!”, but when you’ve got a mortgage, that really isn’t an option. If you don’t HAVE to work, but maybe want a little extra cash to help out or for spending, I’d suggest getting a perdiem NA position at the hospital you’re interested in working at once you get your RN. Per-diem only requires something like 24 hours a month which is very doable. If you haven’t got your NA yet, there’s always the HUC position.
I’ve come to find that the topic of working while in this level of schooling is a very personal question and sometimes real touchy. I’ve seen divides in first semester from those who had to work and those who didn’t have to work. It was like those who had to work scoffed at those who didn’t have to work complaining about how they didn’t have any time to study. I know I thought that in like the first month, but you know, everyone’s got their own issues- working and otherwise.
Anyhoo, that was kind of rambling at the end. Sorry about that. Best of luck to you!
How about you guys? Any thoughts on this? Do any of you have to work or do you do it because you want to?
Love,
Laney
PS- Keep the questions/emails coming! You can see other questions answered including those about how many hours to study in nursing school and the worst [and best] parts of nursing school.
I worked at the hospital I went to school at. The first couple of semesters I worked 1 day a week and every other weekend. The last semester I did every weekend. It was exhausting, but I think the experience was very helpful and it sure didn’t hurt when I applied for a job on that floor.
That should read “when I applied for a nursing job on that floor.”
I worked as a CNA while I was in school, and the experience and connections were irreplaceable to me. I learned to manage my time, prioritize, and in general experience the rhythm of a hospital far more than in my clinicals—not to mention that you just learn tricks of the trade for transferring and so on from CNAs who have been doing the job for a long time. It’s hard on your system, but if you can make it work I really recommend it. Now as an RN when I work with nurses who have never been aides, it’s often scary. They don’t know how to do much.
Great advice! I agree, if s/he does get a job it would be good to get it at a hospital s/he’s interested in. When I started nursing school, they told us it was recommended we didn’t work more than 20 hours a week since the courseload is tough and so demanding.
Pros: $ (always nice), experience (!!!), it’s a great way to get your foot in the door (some of my friends are expected to be hired after they graduate)
Cons: work may cut into study time
I’m not working while I’m in nursing school (but I did when I was doing my prerequisites). I have kids I have to be home for and the nursing courseload was already taking too much time away from them. Lucky for me, my financial aid package is adequate.
I also think it’s a personal issue and depends on your situation, your expenses, your family obligations, etc.
However, one thing to think about, especially in the current job market, is that if you can get a job in a large hospital system where you’d like to work as an RN once you graduate, you’ll be able to apply as an internal applicant and therefore will have your first pick of some really primo jobs. And many hospitals will always hire their internal applicants first.
One of my classmates just got a job on a unit I’d kill to work on because she’s worked in transport for the hospital on a very part-time basis for the past three years. The job was never even posted externally because they got so many internal applications.
Just something to keep in mind… Plus working in a hospital environment helps you get acquainted with how everything flows and operates, which can be comforting to you as a student.
Thank you for this post and to all the other commentors. I am debating whether to get my CNA before NS and be able to work during NS or say forget the CNA and just focus on NS. We could really use any extra income I can manage during school (once I quit my full time job) but I’m just not sure if I can manage working plus school plus the kids.
It really sounds like it might be in my best interest to go ahead with the CNA route.