Working While in Nursing School: How to Become a Nurse While Working Full-Time & Finding Nursing Programs for Working Adults

Many learners who are working while in nursing school will testify to how unfocused they are when studying and how unmotivated they become to understand the concepts and rush through studying. 

Working while in nursing school takes some additional effort, but it is not impossible. If you need tips for working and attending school simultaneously or are looking for the right nursing programs for working adults, you have come to the right place.

Discover how to get a nursing degree while working full time from our complete guide for employed learners.

Can You Work While in Nursing School?

The short answer is yes, working while in nursing school is feasible but it will require more implication and effort on your part. Studying to become a nurse while being employed depends on your goals and your readiness to put in the work for both your professional and academic activities, while also sparing some time for personal life.

First of all, you will need to establish your goals and expectations for going into nursing school. In other words, you should establish what type of nurse you wish to become and how soon you want to start a new career in healthcare. 

Nursing Programs for Working Adults

Now that you have the certainty that you can work and go to nursing school at the same time, all you need to do is find the right nursing school and program for working adults. This will depend on your requirements, location and accessibility, as well as on the nursing role you aspire to work as.

If you want to become a registered nurse, you will have two main educational options: getting an ADN or earning a BSN degree. While program length is a difference (an ADN program takes from 1 to 2 years, while a BSN program takes 3 to 4 years to complete), the main contrast is the leverage they allow you when also being employed. Although both programs prepare you for RN licensure, BSN programs can be more taxing on your time and your budget, while also requiring more dedication, due to a broader curriculum.

Read more about the differences between these two educational paths to becoming an RN from our ADN vs. BSN comparative article.

However, you have easier options for becoming an entry-level nurse, the most popular being studying to fulfill the role of a licensed practical nurse. The program necessary for becoming an LPN takes only 12 to 16 months to complete and its curriculum is comparatively easier. Once you graduate and pass the necessary NCLEX-PN exam, you can start working in the nursing field, with the possibility of advancing to an RN role by enrolling in an LPN to RN bridge program later on.

Find out more about the process of becoming a licensed practical nurse from our complete guide.

Once you choose your program of study, you need to also find a school that can accommodate your needs as a full-time working student and help you in your journey. At Nightingale College, we aim to improve the nursing field and reduce the ongoing national nursing shortage, by increasing academic equity and facilitating high-quality nursing education especially to underserved and underrepresented student populations.

Our programs will provide you the flexibility and accessibility needed to accommodate working while in nursing school:

• Our PN Diploma Program will prepare you to become an LPN in as few as 12 months by combining fully online instruction with on-ground supervised field experience.
• If you want to become an LPN first or already are one, you can enroll in our 16-month hybrid LPN-to-ASN Bridge Program and advance your education with a learning path that accommodates your working life.
• You can also enroll into the BSN Program and receive your Bachelor’s degree from the get-go. Our hybrid educational path prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN and graduate with the highest credentials as a registered nurse, in as few as 3 years.
• If you want to first earn ADN-level certification, you can advance to a BSN nurse by enrolling in our RN-to-BSN Fast Track Program. Thus, you will advance your education and qualification within just 1 year of fully online learning.

Enroll in the right educational nursing program at Nightingale College!

Tips on How to Get a Nursing Degree While Working Full Time

When working while in nursing school, studying often gets put on the back burner. However, nursing school requires a significant amount of study time to stay on top of class material.

Here are the main tips for staying on top of the curriculum of your current nursing program:

1. Create a support network – Discuss your desire to become a nurse with immediate family members, such as your spouse or life partner,  children and parents, as well as your close group of friends. Ask for their commitment to your future endeavor in nursing education. You will have less time to spend with these important individuals but will rely, like never before, on their emotional, domestic, and, at times, financial support.
2. Look for a workplace with flexible working hours – Having a flexible work schedule is important during your nursing studies, as your availability might change from one semester to another. For instance, you may have to work fewer hours during exam periods or clinical rotations, therefore, it’s essential you maintain an ongoing conversation with your employer so you can adjust your work and school schedules accordingly. Generally, you should research in advance the requirements of the program, so you’ll be prepared to make adjustments to your professional as well as personal life.
3. Explain your situation to your nursing school – Speak to the nursing department and ask whether there are limitations to the number of hours per week that you would be able to work and the expectations of the weekly time commitment for school work. Some schools may have rules preventing you from working while attending school. Clearly understand the requirements for lectures, labs, simulations, field experience, and personal study. A good rule to follow: for every semester credit hour, approximately 30 minutes of outside preparation are required per week.
4. Explore funding opportunities for your nursing degree – Schedule an appointment with a financial aid adviser at the school you wish to attend and explore all available financial aid options for paying for your nursing education, which might include federal and state grants, federal loans, personal loans, scholarships, and other programs. If you are employed in a health care setting, ask about tuition reimbursement, balancing work and school schedules, working hours reduction programs, loan forgiveness, and references to others in the organization who have successfully managed simultaneous work and school responsibilities. Read our blog post on how to manage your finances as a nursing student.
5. Develop a financial plan for studying – Make a financial plan that includes any additional school expenses, including tuition payments, living expenses, transportation and, possibly, overnight costs of commuting to field experience classes that may be far away. Adjust this financial plan based on working full-time, part-time, or not working and evaluate the possibilities. Another strategy to this end is to make a list of all your personal and living expenses and think about which ones you could temporarily eliminate. It is important to categorize your spending into must have and nice to have and plan accordingly.
6. Create a routine study schedule – Even if your work schedule changes, it is important to stick to a routine that you designed. A study schedule that works well for one person may not benefit another. Studying a little every day is recommended as it helps cement concepts in your mind. Take an hour or two in the morning, over lunch, or before bed to review recent class material and to reread sections in the assigned textbook. Every day you are giving yourself a refresher.
7. Join a study group – First off, study groups are not for everyone. If you find no value in study groups, then do waste time joining one (and see the next point). Focus on studying techniques that work. For those that benefit from study groups, find a few members in your cohort and schedule a time to meet. Again, it is about creating a set study schedule. Be each other’s support and use the time to ask questions, clarify concepts for another group member, or to be around like minded individuals. Sometimes knowing that you are not alone is the motivation needed.
8. Discover your studying niche – Time is wasted on useless studying techniques that are of no benefit. We focus a good portion on steering learners towards more useful studying techniques that fit their learning style. Explore the various studying techniques such as using colors to differentiate concepts, recording yourself “teaching” the subject, and using mind maps.  As one of the more important recommendations, if time is an issue, stop and consider if your current study methods are on point.
9. Be open with your employer and ask for support – Have an open conversation with your supervisor and/or HR department about advancing your education. While you may feel uneasy with letting your employer know, being open about your goal of finishing nursing school will give you peace of mind. Invested employers will cheer you along and may even end up as a helpful resource. Another benefit to sharing your goal with your boss is that as job positions become available, you may be lucky enough to secure the position upon graduation with the recommendation from your boss, which may not have been possible if you did not share your future aspirations.
10. Hold yourself accountable – Holding yourself accountable for your progress is the key to success. Only you are responsible for passing the class, acing the skills, and even showing up on time. Be accountable for sticking to your set study schedule, and do not place fault with others. Finding the time to study while working requires dedication that only you are responsible for. Always be accountable for your success, and in nursing school, that requires continuous studying.

The most important piece of advice when working while in nursing school is that you are not alone in this process. Although many institutions may ignore your specific conditions, some will take an active role in supporting your educational journey, having a vested interest in your development and in the betterment of the nursing industry at large.

That is why Nightingale College aims to increase the level of accessibility and the success rate of students from all walks of life. The nursing programs we provide combine online instruction with necessary on-field supervised field experience, in order to offer high-quality and trusted educational paths, but with the maximum of accessibility and flexibility in learning. 

Since we prioritize student success, we also provide various types of support, from financial assistance to free of charge coaching sessions for sitting and passing the NCLEX exam necessary for certification. Thus, we aim to accommodate you, no matter what your day-to-day requirements and obligations are. 

Enroll in your nursing program of choice and start your nursing journey with Nightingale College!

How to Become a Nurse While Working Full-Time

Now you know how to proceed when working while in nursing school, what nursing programs for working adults you may opt for and the main tips to getting your degree.

If you are wondering how to reorient towards a nursing career while still maintaining your current job, we will provide a step-by-step guide to the process. Here is what you will need to do:

1. Establish the nursing role you aspire to become and research the educational and experience requirements.
2. Based on your aims, select the nursing program you wish to pursue. Remember that you will need to start with an entry-level nursing degree or learning path, even though you wish to eventually earn your MSN degree or your Doctorate in nursing.
3. It is worth developing a long-term educational plan that includes both your initial nursing program as well as the options for continuing your nursing education. 
4. Once you have selected your program of study, research the available schools and their requirements. Given your shorter time available for learning and your limitations on relocating, prioritize online nursing schools among your options.
5. It may be worth exploring your financial aid options, in case you also aim to reduce your working hours to accommodate your educational journey. 
6. Enroll in your program and attend the courses as any other student. Make sure to dedicate the necessary time for studying and to do so constantly, as opposed to letting materials pile up.
7. Once you complete your program or degree, enroll and sit the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN as soon as you can.
8. Once you pass the exam, you can look for employment in the nursing field. You should start working as a nurse sooner, rather than later, since the experience you gather will help you advance your career.
9. Once you have accommodated to your new environment, enroll in bridge or advanced degree programs and advance your career and education, according to your educational plan.

While entering an entirely new industry can seem daunting, it may be easier than you think, as long as you plan ahead and use all supporting instruments available. The first step, however, will be to enroll in an entry-level educational path: a PN Diploma Program, if you wish to become an LPN or an ADN or BSN Degree Program, if you aim to start as an RN as soon as you graduate. You will also have to include intermediate programs in your educational plan, such as an LPN-to-ASN Bridge or an RN-to-BSN Track. Once you become familiar with the field and discover the area of expertise that interests you the most, you can pursue an MSN in that direction. Popular options include the MSN Ed for becoming a nurse educator, the MSN FNP for becoming a family nurse practitioner, and the MSN PMHNP that allows you to become a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner.

Nightingale College is by your side at each step of the way. We are ready to provide the instructional assistance you need, as well as the necessary resources, materials and peer-to-peer support.

Choose your nursing program and enroll now at Nightingale College!