PRN during FNP School?

[MexicanFNP]

I am on my first semester of an FNP program and in my program, we start clinical hours/rotations our first semester. Working 3 days a week and being at the clinic 2 days a week leaves me only 2 days for studying and family/me time which can be somewhat stressful at times.

I thought about dropping to PT which would give me that extra day or two per week, but my salary would decrease as well.

What do you guys think about someone going PRN and working still 2 days a week and when needed only work once per week and when possible even do 3 per week. Doing it this way I will have the flexibility needed and since I would be PRN I would be making more money per hour which would benefit me since I would be working less hours some weeks.

The only issue here would be the medical insurance and the vacation/pto benefits as well as life insurance.

I am a single man with my girlfriend which we live together. I am in a pretty normal healthy state of health which if something was to happen, I could always go back to PT to get my medical insurance.

What do you guys think? Good or bad idea?

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

What about your benefits?

[MexicanFNP]

"only issue here would be the medical insurance and the vacation/pto benefits as well as life insurance.

I am a single man with my girlfriend which we live together. I am in a pretty normal healthy state of health which if something was to happen, I could always go back to PT to get my medical insurance."

thoughts?

[Dranger]

I went per diem for school (1 to maybe 2 shifts a week) but I already had a sizable amount of savings and I have health insurance through the Army Reserves. Granted I don't use my health insurance much but it's nice to have. I don't care about paid vacation or PTO as I get a per-diem premium which is $5 extra an hour.

It has worked out fantastically and I able to focus on school. Insurance is important to have though...

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Don't you get fined if you don't have insurance? I think the biggest issue or concern are the unplanned situations. What if you have to have your appendix taken out? What if you are in a car accident and the other driver disappears? There are a lot of what if's and I personally don't want to chance that. Plus I think the government fines you if you don't have health insurance.

[runsalot]

As a nurse. Don't you see enough people that roll through the doors with out insurance? Go pto. But look into your own insurance. In you are a single male with no medical issues, it should be rather cheap. Cheaper than not having it when you need it.

Love a cancer survivor at 29.

[Alicia777, MSN, NP]

Keep working. You need a find a way to compartmentalize your work and school life.

You don't want to be left high and dry without medical insurance if you should (God forbid) need it.

I worked 28 hours a week and took 2 hours of earned time as 30 hours was considered full time. Though I was occasionally able to work on papers or perform lit searches at work and I know this isn't a option others do not have. I had clinical 3 days a week and worked 3 days a week. It sucked!! But I knew it was a means to an end.

I would literally write down what I would need to be doing each hour of my day to get it done i.e;

10-12p: finish case study

12p-2p: write next page of research paper

2-4p: review patho notes

If you truly are doing poorly trying to manage then obviously reassess!

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

I worked PRN during CNM school and it worked very well. I would have died if I had to stay part time. I really really needed the flexibility of per diem. However, I qualified for Medicaid so I was not uninsured. I would be very very wary of going without insurance. Can you check out your states insurance marketplace and see if you qualify for subsidies to help you afford a private plan?

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Another thought. If you need to keep a job with benefits, maybe look into another position that might have better hours or flexibility, or one that has enough "down time" on the job for studying? Another benefit of my job during CNM school is that I worked on a teensy LDRP unit that did about 250 births a year, so on most of my shifts I had tons of down time. I think I did the vast majority of my studying and school work when I was at work. I also completed my BSN online when I was a full time NOC home health nurse. There was like 2 hours of work each shift, and I spent the rest of the time sitting by my sleeping patient doing class work.

[BirkieGirl]

i would love the option of per diem or even part time, but i actually provide the benefits for my family so it's not an option...

i know that FNP school is quite do-able even working full time. it's all about finding your balance and schedule. i suggest talking FIRST with your boss and seeing if you can work say, only weekends F,s,sun while in school. Next, seek out classmates also working and form a group to study and share concerns.

if you are financially able to work only full time AND it still supplies your benefits, then go for it. don't give up your benefits. you can't plan for catastrophic illness. you can't plan for tripping down the steps and breaking your leg. you can't plan for some guy to t-bone your car and put you into traction. Illness can't be planned based on whether you have benefits, and being in a good state of health is no guarantee of continued health a year from now...

it can be done, hang in there and good luck!

[B_rac777]

I haven't actually started but I work a weird schedule 2 8 hour shifts and 2 12 hour shifts, 40 hours 3-11 Fri 3-11 Sat 7p-7a Sat and Sun. I plan to continue working that schedule when I start school.

[MallysMama]

Doesn't your school require its students to have medical insurance?? I have to show proof of insurance every year or I have to pay for student health insurance (which is highway robbery)!

If you can find a way to have insurance and still work PRN- I definitely recommend that!