Anyone NOT work during NP program?

[MarBug7]

Hi All,

I am looking to hear from anyone who did NOT work during their NP program. Currently, I attend my FNP program full time and work part time. In my program, there is not one student just going to school. All students work full or part time (well, if there is anyone not working I am unaware of it). This is not a requirement of the program, just the way it is. I mentioned to some classmates and a professor about taking time off to just concentrate on my program and was surprised at the response. "You can't! You will lose your skills!" or "You will never get a NP job with that on your resume!" Many of them said they would not feel like a nurse if all they did was go to school. Financially, I do not have to work and my Husband is always telling me to leave my job so I can focus on school 100%. He feels like FNP is such a big responsibility I should devote all my time to becoming one.

Did anyone not work through their program? Am I committing some kind of horrible nurse crime if I just go to grad school? I am just looking for any thoughts...

Thanks!

PS I guess I should mention that while I am a great student, I have to work VERY hard at it, and my program requires a B or higher for passing grades. This makes juggling both at times difficulty and very stressful as well, obviously... we all know how that is, right?!

[teelatice15]

I'm in my last year of my FNP program and left my last job the August before the program started a couple years ago. I find it's so much easier to focus on school this way. Sure, I'm living off loans and that can be very stressful, but I was working a night shift with no chance of switching to days and I knowing what I know now of the program and its demands I can't imagine doing it with a job. I have friends who are having minor nervous breakdowns because they juggle families and full time jobs. One friend failed patho and nearly failed pharm because she had THREE part time jobs at one point. I know some people can't afford to not work and I completely understand and respect that. But I think that if you have the option, you should seriously consider it.

Our head of the NP program, told us that during our clinical year we should plan to work no more than 24 hours a week at our jobs. And as far as losing skills is concerned, I imagine you would lose a little bit, but the essentials are just like riding a bike. And another poster said that working as a RN is very different than working as a NP. I found that when I took a camp job this past summer (the only time I've worked as all since my program started) I was already starting to think more like an NP as far as doing more thorough exams, histories, trying to decide when and why kids should be sent to the MD or ER, and what OTC meds they would best benefit from - stuff like that. Nothing out of my scope, but definitely different from what I was used to working inpatient cardiac for so many years. Good luck! (:

I currently work days 13hr with on call in the Cath lab but plan on working going to part time nights when I start my FNP program next year. Did you find it impossible to study when you worked nights.

[SnowShoeRN]

I wasn't in school yet when I worked night. I had a tough time focusing on other tasks though during the day and -as an undergrad- knew a friend who quit the associate's program because he couldn't stay awake for class. I think it really depends on the individual and the amount of hours you work. If you work Monday night, but have classes Tuesday at 1pm, you might have a tough time. But if you can mix things up so that you can juggle classes and work 1 or 2 shifts a week I don't think it would be too too bad.

If I hadn't left my job (I was let go due to an injury that rendered me unable to my job), I was planning on going to per diem while I did my master's. I think it really depends on you. Good luck. :)

[OfficerRNBSN]

Next fall, I'll have rotations three days per week and in the following spring two per week. I'm really thinking of stopping work in the fall, but I really don't want to spend my savings so I'm not sure how we could survive. I work a four day week now, have a one day rotation weekly, and then have the weekend off. I feel now like I have a backlog of things to do. I'm really in a quandary about it. I don't want a random, nursing part-time job mostly because I absolutely despise inpatient settings, where most part-time RN employment is, so that leaves me stuck. I'm so sick of school and want to speed this mess up.

[VTach2013]

I worked full time the first year of my FNP schooling but on very rarely did a per diem or two during my second year. If you can afford to go to school fulltime do that! Its a lot less stressfull for sure and you can dedicate all your energy to studying. Besides working as an RN and as an NP are like night and day so you wont loose anything by not working as an RN.