Nursing Student, STNA: Work is taking over my life!

[rcgraham47]

Hello, I'm Robin. I'm new to the forum. I've been working as a State Tested Nursing Assistant while attending nursing school. My company recently went through many organizational changes and a lot of people quit or were let go. So, since staffing has been especially slim, I've been working full time hours (without full time benefits) while trying to go to school. I'm in my last part of generals and it's still a pretty heavy class load. I know it's nothing compared to clinicals, so I need to learn how to manage my work schedule/stress with school before I get to clinicals!
I'm working way too many hours to keep up with my work the way that I want to (I'm usually an A student and I'm pulling low B's and high C's right now...). I know that aid experience is great for clinical matriculation, but aren't grades more important? I find it difficult to address this with my employer. I've brought it up to all 3 of my bosses on multiple occasions but due to the dire staffing situation, there isn't much they can do. And I love my patients so much that I feel guilty trading shifts, requesting time off, calling off etc. (I've only called off once in the 3 months that this has been going on).
When I'm not at work, I'm thinking about work. I'm worrying about the patients and the staffing situation instead of studying with my full attention.
Anyone who has worked as an aid or as a nurse continuing nursing education- do you have any advice for managing work stress and school work?? I don't want to quit my job because they need reliable workers and I need the money. I don't want to quit school because it's taken a lot to get there and it's too important to me to finish. Thanks!!

[scotttyna]

Welcome to the forum!!!
-Tips for you
-Be organized.
-Create a flexible schedule.
-Communicate your schedule to your employers, friends, clients and family.
Manage stress.
-Be realistic.

[amygarside]

My piece of advice to you is that you need to prioritize so that you will know which task to do first. Then if you feel that it is too much, then step back for a while and take a breather. Sometimes we need to learn how to find the time rest. If you are well rested you can have the chance to recharge and to feel refreshed.

[malenurse354]

Hi rcgraham47, I hope you are now coping/adjusting well with your work and study life!!It’s really hard to get a full time job while studying, a part time job might work well, and however, as you said it's a full time! Just try not to think work when you're at school as much as possible, put them into two different realms=) All the best to you

[michfr]

My husband and I are currently both in a similar situation - he works and is in school, I work and am pursuing further education. Right now it's really tough but what keeps me going is knowing that it's only a few years and then it will be over. Good luck!