NP clinical hours too much to hold a full time 9-5 job!

[justkeepswimming2]

I'm in a direct entry NP program right now, about to sit for my NCLEX in May. I have a bachelors degrees in business administration. This program will not give me a BSN, but rather a MS once I'm done with the masters courses.

I'm starting to wonder if the NP program is worth it, but without it I won't have a degree in nursing.

The big issue with a NP program is the clinical requirements. I just found out that I will have three semesters of clinical that will each require between 14 and 25 hours per week. I work in clinical research, and I could see myself working long term as a research RN. I love the field and the work. The only issue is that I doubt I will find a research position that will allow me to take 2 or even 3 days off each week. I know that I could potentially make this work with a floor job, but that really isn't the sort of nursing I'm interested in doing.

Anyone have any experience with working in research or another non-floor nursing job while in NP school?

I'm starting to wonder if I should just go apply to an RN-MSN program.

I'd really appreciate any advice or opinions!

[Crux1024]

If your long term goal is to work in research why do you feel you need to go for NP now? You could always get a post masters certificate for NP should you decide that is what you want to do.

Good Luck with your decisions.

[justkeepswimming2]

Crux-Thanks so much for the comment. One issue I didn't raise is that most of the NP programs in Chicago (where I live) are moving to DNP. This is the last change to do a masters based NP at UIC, Rush has eliminated them, and many of the other programs won't take transfers without BSNs.

If I can really find a research nursing position that I like next year, I think I'll take that as a sign to move to an easier program and just get it all done with.