Working Full Time in Nursing School
Can you work while in nursing school? Yes. Working full-time can be difficult while going to nursing school, but it is possible. Finding a balance between when to sleep, study, and go to clinicals, will be the main challenge. Colleges will say that nursing school should be the top priority and that it is not possible to hold a job at the same time. Some people do not have the option to stop working if they still need to put food on their table and a roof over their heads. Some nursing students receive loans, grants, and scholarships to pay for their education while some do not. If you are someone who does not have an option of stopping work or reducing hours, here is a guide on how to work full-time and still go to nursing school.
Working During Nursing School
If you are working near a college or in a college town, chances are those jobs understand many of their employees are students and they will work with your schedule. There are many forms of working hours that can work around a full-time nursing student. Working as a CNA while in nursing school is a great way to get experience and money. Nursing school is typically full time. This means over 40 nursing school hours per week in going to classes, studying and homework.
Nursing School Schedule
One example of a schedule is two 12 hours shifts on the weekends from 7 am to 7 pm Saturday and Sunday. The other 12 to 16 hours can be broken up into 4-hour shifts during the week to be after school on nonclinical days. This will be for a day shift schedule.
Day School Schedule:
Monday: 8am to 3pm
Tuesday: 6am to 6pm Clinical
Wednesday: 8am to 3pm
Thursday: 6am to 2pm Clinical
Friday: 8am to 12pm
Best Work Schedule for Nursing School
Here are great working hour schedules you can use while working in nursing school.
Fulltime Day Shift Work Schedule: 36 hours
Monday: 4pm to 8pm
Wednesday: 4pm to 8pm
Friday: 2pm to 6pm
Saturday: 7am to 7pm
Sunday: 7am to 7pm
Part-time Day Shift Weekend Work Schedule: 24 hours
Saturday: 7am to 7pm
Sunday: 7am to 7pm
12-Hour Night Shift Sleep Schedule Example
If the 4-hour increments do not work with your job, then I suggest a mix of night shift and day shift if you can handle the sleep changes. This is the schedule I chose for nursing school and that worked well for me. I was able to handle the lack of sleep and the drastic sleep schedule shifts. I worked two different schedules for two different years. One was the night shift, 7 pm to 7 am, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The other schedule was the night shift, 7 pm to 7 am, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. (This schedule was my favorite). One of the best shifts to working while in nursing school is night shift.
Nursing School Day School Schedule:
Monday: 8am to 3pm
Tuesday: 6am to 6pm Clinical
Wednesday: 8am to 3pm
Thursday: 6am to 2pm Clinical
Friday: 8am to 12pm
Fulltime Night Shift in Nursing School:
Friday: 7pm to 7am
Saturday: 7pm to 7am
Sunday: 7pm to 7am
Or
Thursday: 7pm to 7am
Friday: 7pm to 7am
Saturday: 7pm to 7am
Night Shift Sleep Schedule
This is where sacrifices have to be made for some of us. Sleep is recommended for 8 hours a night and that is what should be done. This is simply a schedule of how I personally slept and worked to balance my life. If you decide on the night shift schedule because you get more freedom during the week to study there are sleep sacrifices. This means that for a few days you might be sleeping for about 4 hours before you go to work for 12 hours, or you sleep before work and do not get to go to bed immediately after work. Instead, you have to continue going to class while exhausted.
This is not healthy to do, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do in order to feed your kids, pay your bills, and further yourself in life.
I suggest getting blackout curtains to sleep during the day and coffee to stay up and alert for classes while heavily exhausted.
The sleep schedule:
Friday: Class is 8am to 12pm, Sleep 1pm to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Saturday: Sleep 8am to 2pm, Study 2pm to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Sunday: Sleep 8am to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am, Sleep after class Monday
Monday: Class 8am to 3pm, Sleep whenever you need to this day
or
Thursday: Class is 6am to 2pm, Sleep 2pm to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Friday: Class is 8am to 12pm, Sleep 1pm to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Saturday: Sleep 8am to 2pm, Study 2pm to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Sunday is the sleep recovery and free study day.
Nursing School Study Schedule
This question usually comes after the sleep question. The answer is anywhere and everywhere in between sleeping and working.
If you decide on the day shift schedule with working increments, you need to study after work and before bed. You can also study after clinicals during the day. there will really be no free time for a great social life, but you can and will pass nursing school if you choose your time wisely and study after work and after clinicals. This schedule is harder for studying but easier for sleep.
If you decide on the night shift schedule, you can study when you wake up, on the free Sundays, and after school during the week. The night shift is easier to study in my opinion, but harder to sleep.
I personally had a planner, and a detailed schedule of when to work, sleep and study. This worked well for years. remember that this grind is difficult but temporary. I had to keep reminding myself of that when I was exhausted and wanted to give up. It is worth the grind so you can give yourself a better life.
Best Shift to Work While in Nursing School
Full time nursing school is usually during the day. So a full time job schedule needs to work around that. The best shifts to work are usually evenings or night shifts. Listed below are full schedules on working full time and going to nursing school.
Full Day Schedule:
Monday: School 8am to 3pm, Work 4pm - 8pm, Study 8pm to 10pm, Sleep 10pm to 6am
Tuesday: Clinical 6am to 6pm, Study 6pm to 12am, Sleep 12am to 8am
Wednesday: School 8am to 3pm, Work 4pm - 8pm, Study 8pm to 10pm, Sleep 10pm to 6am
Thursday: 6am to 2pm Clinical, Study 6pm to 12am, Sleep 12am to 8am
Friday: 8am to 12pm, Work 2pm - 6pm, Study 6pm to 11pm, Sleep 11pm to 7am
Saturday: 7am to 7pm, Study 7pm to 11pm, Sleep 11pm to 7am
Sunday: 7am to 7pm, Study 7pm to 11pm, Sleep 11pm to 7am
or
Full Night Shift Schedule:
Monday: School 8am to 3pm, Study 3pm to 10pm, Sleep 10pm - 6am
Tuesday: Clinical 6am to 6pm, Study 6pm to 12am, Sleep 12am - 8am
Wednesday: School 8am to 3pm, Study 3pm to 10pm, Sleep 10pm - 6am
Thursday: Clinical 6am to 2pm, Sleep 2pm to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Friday: School 8am to 12pm, Sleep 12pm to 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Saturday: Sleep 8am - 6pm, Work 7pm to 7am
Sunday: Sleep 8am - 2pm, Study 2pm to 10pm, Sleep 10pm - 8am
The Challenges of Working a Full Time Job While in Nursing School:
Time Management:
Working full-time while attending nursing school requires meticulous time management. Balancing clinical rotations, lectures, assignments, and work commitments can be overwhelming. Successful students often create detailed schedules, allocating specific time blocks for each responsibility. You can do this by having a planner to balance homework, deadlines, and classes.Physical and Emotional Fatigue:
The demanding nature of both work and nursing school can lead to physical and emotional stress. Burnout is a real concern, and students must prioritize self-care to maintain their well-being. Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and mindfulness practices are essential. It is important to care about your health.Academic Pressure:
Nursing programs are rigorous, and the academic workload can be intense. Juggling work responsibilities adds an extra layer of pressure. It's crucial for students to stay organized, communicate effectively with professors, and seek support when needed.Clinical Rotations and Shift Work:
Many nursing programs require students to complete clinical rotations, often involving irregular hours and shift work. Coordinating these rotations with a full-time job can be challenging. Flexibility in the workplace and open communication with supervisors are key.Maintaining a Social Life:
The demanding schedule of a nursing student working full-time can make it challenging to maintain a social life. It's important for students to strike a balance, recognizing the importance of social connections for mental health and to have a support system.
How to be Successful at Working Full-Time in Nursing School:
Effective Time Management:
Utilize tools such as planners, calendars, and apps to stay organized. Prioritize tasks and set realistic goals for each day. Break down larger assignments into manageable chunks and tackle them systematically.Open Communication:
Communicate openly with both employers and professors. Inform your employer about your academic commitments, and discuss any potential adjustments to your work schedule. Professors are often understanding and may provide guidance or accommodations when needed.Self-Care:
Prioritize self-care to prevent burnout. Ensure you get enough sleep, engage in regular exercise, and practice stress-relief techniques. Taking breaks and disconnecting from work and study responsibilities periodically is crucial for mental well-being.Utilize Support Systems:
Seek support from friends, family, and fellow students. Join study groups, connect with classmates, and share experiences. Knowing that others are facing similar challenges can provide a sense of camaraderie and encouragement.Set Realistic Expectations:
Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given timeframe. Understand that there may be moments when you need to prioritize certain responsibilities over others. Setting realistic expectations helps manage stress and avoids feelings of inadequacy.
Working Fulltime in Nursing School
I hope you found this detailed schedule on how to work full-time while in nursing school to be helpful. Finding a balance of sleep and studying will be a challenge but once you figure it out, it will be easy. Find helpful nursing school study guides to streamline your studying! If you are curious what the actual NCLEX test date will look like, go read my other article, “What The NCLEX Test Day Looks Like”. Yes, you can work full-time and still go to nursing school.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can you work and go to nursing school?
Absolutely. It is simple to work even a small part time job. A fulltime job is possible but you have to have great dedication and discipline.
How many days a week is nursing school?
A full time nursing school program is usually 5 days a week and over 20 hours of class time. Online classes are at your own pace and can reduce the amount of days that’s nursing school can be but still wont reduce the hours.
How to make money while in nursing school?
I recommend getting a CNA job, phlebotomy job, or any kind of tech job within the healthcare field at hospitals or clinics to get experience and earn money. These jobs are usually anywhere from $14 to $20 an hour.
Is nursing school full time?
Usually in person program are full time nursing programs. You can choose to do part time online classes if a full time nursing school schedule doesn’t work with you.
Should you be a CNA before becoming a Registered Nurse?
It is not a requirement usually, but it helps significantly with patient care, organization, customer service, time management and exposure to healthcare in general. It looks great on a resume too.
Should I become an LVN before becoming a Registered Nurse?
Some programs give you the option to sit for the NCLEX to earn your LVN. There are LVN part time jobs or full time jobs you could do while trying to complete nursing school for your RN license.
