I've been a devoted membe of AN since my job searching began last year with my impending graduation from nursing school. I love nursing but have found hospital nursing hours being very unfriendly to parenting especially in my situation of being a single parent. I've researched home health but from personal talks with friends who went that route the charting at home and having to be on call for a certain amount of days per month plus 5 days a week scheduling was not the right fit I was looking for. I'd already had my mind set on going for my NP after 2 to 3 years of nursing but after looking into it more I felt I could go back now. I want more autonomy as well as better scheduling which would allow me more time with my son and being less of a burden on my mother who's my main babysitter at night and weekends. I give this background because lately I've come to AN and found more and more stories of regret and bad job hunting experiences. I guess I just want to hear the stories of success in finding jobs and liking those jobs after getting your NP. I'm not unrealistic, I'd really just like a 8-5 scheduling Mon-fri with no oncall. I live in the southeast so I am not looking for 100k to start out, 75k/year would work fine for me maybe even 65k. I only have one child and just would like to move from my hometown to the city without having to worry about any arrangements besides before/ after school daycares. I don't want to work weekends or holidays. Is this possible or should I just plan to stay in my little small town forever?ETA: I guess I should mention that I've been accepted into an FNP program from a in state university, its a part time program which will take 3 years to complete. I plan on continuing the 3 days/ week hospital scheduling because switching to a 5 day/ week would be impossible with school once clinicals begin so my.mother is definitely gonna be my help for the next three years and I hope I can stop after these three so she can have her own life separate from grandchildren

I feel like my story is one of success, but I guess that is a pretty relative term.

I was a medical assistant for many years and then finally the right time came along for me to return to school. I live in the Southeast in a pretty rural area with no NP programs (or even 4-year universities) within driving distance of my home. But I dove in and started classes at a local community college. I took classes locally and online through a university, but didn't know where I would get into an NP program.

Eventually someone mentioned an accelerated RN program where I could immediately roll into an NP program. It was very difficult but I moved away from home & husband for a year and did the RN part of the program. I then moved back home and continued the NP program with a combo of online courses, clinicals I arranged close to my home (that's where my previous medical experience was helpful to make connections), and trips back and forth to the brick & mortar school. And I did great. Start to finish - 4 years.

Graduated from the program last August, sat for certification exam in September, and started a great job in October. It may not be my perfect job, but it is a great job and I'm gaining valuable experience and making good connections. I'm working in a hospital on a diabetes management study that is scheduled to last for one year. I may or may not remain at that hospital afterward. I am well paid (in my opinion) for the work I do, I have excellent benefits, and a work schedule that allows me quite a lot of free time which I'm using to do some much-needed work on my house.

Are there things I would change about my job if I could? Sure. I feel like I'm a little too closely supervised and not given the opportunity to build up to greater autonomy. But I'm a newbie, so I can deal with that.

Best of luck to you! I believe a career as a NP is pretty much like anything else - it is what you make of it and you get as much out of it as you put in.

Thanks for the story, very encouraging. If I may ask, was this your first job offer or did you have other interviews. Was it hard to find a family friendly schedule?

Hi,

I have absolutely no regrets in going back to school as an NP. I graduated in 2009 from a direct entry program and had a job before graduation. I stayed in my first primary care job for 2 1/2 years, until I had fulfilled my obligation with the National Health Service. I worked 4 ten hour days, 1 out of 6 Saturdays, no call. I moved to a private specialty practice about 3 months ago and I couldn't be happier. I work Mon-Thurs (2-8s (9A-5P), and 2-10s (9A-7P). I don't work weekends or holidays. I am on-call 1 week out of 4, but it's telephone only. I previously worked as a medical technologist before going into nursing, and I had to do the evenings, weekend, and holiday thing. I got so sick of that. The NP "life" is much better for me. My kids are older, so child care isn't an issue anymore, but it's nice to have a consistent schedule. I don't have to go in if someone is sick, no overtime, etc. I am paid well and had no trouble finding a new job once I decided to look for one. I live in the Northeast and NP jobs are available, both in primary care and in specialty practices. There's also a fair amount of NP jobs available at college and university health services here, which give you summers off. The pay is lower, but you don't get much more family friendly than that!

I wish you the best of luck in your program.

Thanks for the story, very encouraging. If I may ask, was this your first job offer or did you have other interviews. Was it hard to find a family friendly schedule?

I was offered a job in primary care that I didn't take. And I had other interviews scheduled - but canceled them when I accepted the job I'm currently in. My schedule is 12-hour shifts because I work inpatient 7a-7p. I work one weekend/month and normally do 14-15 shifts/month. So I have a lot of time off. My kids are grown so I enjoy this schedule since it leaves me time to do some much-needed work on my house.

Many outpatient NP jobs can be found in hospital-owned practices. Lots of physicians would rather be hospital employees themselves and not have the hassle and regulations of running their own practices, managing HR, dealing with third-party billing, etc. It seems that practices of this type would be more encouraging of "work-life balance" since that is exactly what these docs were seeking. Some hospitals sponsor wonderful child-care centers which an NP employee would have access to, even if working off-site in an outpatient area.

I am so happy to have gotten some great replies, some of my fears are ebbing away. I'm glad to see that becoming an NP has worked out well for you all

I'm not a NP (or even a Nurse for that matter) but i wanted to say that the one thing I admire most about nursing is the opportunity and upward mobility it offers to so many people. What other profession allows people to enter with a certificate and bridge their education at every step with a different program (i.e. LPN programs that give credit to CNAs; LPN to ASN; LPN to BSN; ASN to BSN; ASN to MSN; BSN to MSN; not to mention all the direct entry programs and doctorate programs) I'd say the military is really the only fair comparison as far as giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to succeed.

Thanks to all you hard working nurse for all you do.

To BCGradNurse: OMG! Are you sure you are not my twin??? I, too, was a med tech before going into nursing. I don't live in Northeast though.

I don't regret it. I enjoy my job but don't always get out of the practice on-time, which can be frustrated.

It really depends on your job market, location, etc. As an RN I was working in an ICU setting doing the typical 12 hour shifts. I have had two NP jobs since graduation. They were both great, but the employer expectations of me have risen dramatically from my bedside role. I am more likely to stay late, and I am more like to get called at home. Calling off sick (either for myself or to care for my child) is allowed, but it hurts the practice, and everyone lets you know it (including yourself). If a nurse or tech calls off it is far easier to make do than if a provider calls off. Now that is just my experience, but I don't think mine is particularly unique. As an NP you really are stepping up in terms of responsibility, and that often means more time on the job and not less.

Ivan

Thank you for everyone that shared their story. I hope I can write something similar in the coming years.