“Should I work during the nursing program?” This is a question I wished I would have heard more often as a nurse educator and nursing program director. Working is necessary for most students. But, how much to work is a priority decision when considering the start of nursing education. When orienting incoming students to the program, I make a point to address this issue. In this post, read about the pros and cons of working while in nursing school.
Background
Many studies evaluated predictors of nursing student success. The factors include motivation, GPA or academic success, entrance test scores, social support, and economic factors. Few would argue that study time is also an important factor. Most schools will recommend students study 2-3 hours outside of class time. This is for optimal learning and exam success. Some of the science and nursing-specific courses are challenging. (See my blog post on pharmacology success.) Finding time to study in the weekly schedule is a must.
The reality is that most students going into nursing have to work. There are financial responsibilities such as food, rent, childcare, transportation, insurance, etc. that won’t go away during nursing school. I have only met a few students who are able to go to school without working. Should one work full-time? I don’t think so. But, a part-time job is a necessity for most students.
The Pro’s
There are some positives to working while a student. If working in healthcare, you get more used to the culture of healthcare. Working in healthcare, such as a nursing assistant, allows one to get to know other nurses. They may give you tips, help you apply your learning, and provide you with support while in school. There is often flexibility in scheduling in healthcare. Some agencies offer tuition reimbursement, another advantage of working in healthcare. You may even have a step up in finding a better nursing job at the agency after you have finished school. Even if you plan to work elsewhere, working in healthcare is a resume-builder.
What if your job is great but not in healthcare? If it is flexible and provides you with the resources you need, then you might want to keep it. The more significant decision may be the amount of time you work. Grades may suffer if you are working too much.
Financial stress is very hard on everyone involved. By working part-time in nursing school, the financial needs might not be optimally met. But it may relieve some of the financial stress. How much is part-time work? That varies but I generally recommend students not to work more than 24 hours/week. A little more might be necessary to maintain benefits. If working more is necessary, ensure there is some flexibility in your hours. If not, consider programs that are part-time or have weekend or evening classes.
Other benefits include time management. Some find they are more productive when busy and must get organized. Need help in this area? Here is a site to help you organize your time. Fitting work hours into class and clinical time can be managed. It takes planning. Develop a daily schedule on a calendar before the semester begins. Plot in class and study time, work time, and time for other responsibilities.
The Con’s
The cons of working, of course, are less time for study and more stress. Employers aren’t always supportive of educational endeavors and may not be willing to work around your classes. Requests for working more can be frequent and tempting. Study time may have to be decreased, leading to academic challenges.
Not everyone in your life may be supportive of the time you need to successfully work and go to school. Relationships may become strained. Preparing everyone ahead of time and ensuring you plan some time for family and social life is a necessity. Enlist others in helping you reach your goal rather than letting them interfere with your success.
The stress of working while in school can lead to eating less healthy with more fast and less nutritional choices. Exercise also may be decreased. Even time for adequate sleep may be less. All of these changes in lifestyle may lead to weight gain, lethargy, and health problems. Knowing these risks ahead of time will help in juggling your needs to avoid these personal complications.
It Can Be Done!
Working while in nursing school is not always easy but is a necessary part of the process for most students. Planning ahead is the key. Know your limits and let everyone in your life help and support you. Waiting to get into school? Use that time to work a bit more and build your savings. Meet with the academic and financial aid advisors at the school. Determine if financial aid is an option.
I have seen most students succeed while in part-time jobs. A few have even reached their goal while still working full-time. While I am not saying it can’t be done, I am saying it takes thought, planning, and prioritization to make it work for all involved. Before even starting the first class, one has to consider nursing priorities.