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.