Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of nurses attending formal education while actively working. Method: The study used a qualitative method with a phenomenology approach. The participants consisted of 15 nurses attending formal education (Bachelor of Nursing, Nursing Professional designation, Master of Nursing, and Nursing Specialist) while actively working in one general hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Participants were selected using the purposive sampling technique. The data were collected with in-depth interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi's method. Results: Four main themes from this study emerged, including (1) becoming a professional nurse, (2) self-funding for school costs, (3) feeling guilty about nursing assignments, and (4) lack of rest time. Conclusions: This study concludes that nurses are attending formal education while actively working face various challenges and also have an impact on the safety of nurses and patients. © 2019 Elsevier España, S.L.U.