Should I take out a small student loan to reduce stress while in nursing school

Hey everyone — I’m about to start nursing school and could really use some advice from others who’ve been through this.

I’ll be attending a community college and paying around $1,200 per semester for my first year of pre-reqs. After that, once I get into the ASN program, I’ll qualify for in-state tuition and should also be able to get school-based grants and apply for FAFSA, so I’m hopeful most of that will be covered later on. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

The thing is — I know I won’t be able to work full-time once school gets intense. I do plan on getting a part-time job, but I’m wondering if I should take out a small student loan up front just to give myself some peace of mind and avoid being constantly stressed about money while trying to study.

My fixed bills are pretty manageable:

Rent: $700

Car payment: $440

Phone: $100

Car insurance: $100

Based on that, I’d need to bring in at least $25,000–$30,000 a year after taxes just to stay afloat — and more to be comfortable or save anything.

I’m not trying to ball out — I just want to know:

Has anyone done this and found it was worth it for their mental health and success in nursing school?

And if so, how much would you recommend taking out?

Appreciate any input or real-life experiences. I just want to be smart about this and avoid unnecessary debt, but I also want to set myself up to actually succeed in nursing school without burning out - Id also like to mention that I am not one of those people that school comes easy too - I need to study my ASS off lol.

Thanks in advance!