Working While in Nursing School: Should You Do It?

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woman sitting at desk using digital tablet

As you plan for nursing school, you may be wondering, “Is working while in nursing school possible?” We generally don’t recommend working while in an accelerated nursing program because you need to devote most of your time to your studies.

When you choose an accelerated nursing program like the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio, Texas, expect it to be a full-time commitment.

We’ll walk through why it’s best to avoid working during nursing school and how to pay for your education.

Is It Possible to Work in Nursing School?

While completing nursing school and working part-time is technically possible, it is not ideal. You should definitely avoid working full-time, and if you do need to work a part-time job, find one with flexible hours. The reason why working while in nursing school is such a challenge is because your schedule will already be filled with school.

Nursing School Is a Full-Time Job

The ABSN curriculum at UIW compresses the content from a four-year nursing program into as few as 16 months. Expect nursing school to be your full-time job. Spending enough time studying will help you succeed in this rigorous nursing track.

Online Classes

Online courses teach you the foundational nursing concepts that will inform your clinical decision-making.

Nursing Labs

In-person nursing labs are divided into skills and simulation labs. Labs provide a supportive environment where you can make mistakes and learn from them without putting patients at risk.

Clinical Rotations

When learning how to become an effective nurse, you’ll need to gain experience in a real clinical environment. That’s where clinical rotations come in.

How to Pay for Nursing School Without Working

As you can see, the life of a nursing student is far from easy, which is why working in addition to studying is less than ideal. You may be wondering, how will you pay for tuition if you’re not working?

Remember that nursing school is an investment in your future career, and you’ll reap the rewards for many years. So, what are the options for paying for tuition without adding a job to an already busy schedule?

UIW nursing student in red scrubs and backpack

Here are a few of the primary ways students pay for tuition:

  • Personal savings or money lent from family.
  • Federal student loans.
  • Personal student loans.
  • External scholarships.

If you have any questions about paying for nursing school, reach out to our financial aid office at 1-210-829-6008 or [email protected].

Is Earning a BSN Worth it?

Nursing school is an investment, but the payoff is well worth it if you have a passion for helping people and making a difference to people’s health. Earning a BSN can provide a career where you’ll not only enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and job security, but you’ll also get to build relationships with patients and positively influence their health journeys.

Start Your Nursing Journey at UIW

If you have at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible for the accelerated track.

If you’re ready to begin your journey of becoming a nurse in San Antonio, the first step is to contact an admissions counselor.