BSN to DNP Advice Needed! (Senior Nursing Student)

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Hello!

I am A senior nursing student (graduate in May) and have applied to a BSN to DNP program. I have already interviewed for the program and I feel good about my chances of being accepted. However, my dilemma lies in my working/school time commitments. The nursing program wants me to work full-time for the first year due to my obvious lack of experience. I spoke with two faculty and both had varying suggestions: one suggested that I could handle both full-time, as the first year is only didactic courses. The latter suggested that I do part-time for the first year, but also informed me that there is no guarantee that I could switch to full-time status due to difficulty in finding clinical sites. I should note that I plan to drop to part-time or PRN after my first year in either scenario.

My living condition: My wife has a stable income, so financially we will be okay once I drop to part/PRN. We have no kids.

I fell strongly that I can handle full-time school and work for the first year. I feel that continuing to work some after the first year is important to develop my clinical and critical thinking skills. Also, I have done two summer externships (Nursing) for a total of ~500 hours similar to a preceptorship. This and the fact that I have not struggled in my undergad is why the first instructor feels I will be able to transition into nursing and be successful in graduate school.

So my questions are: should I change my application to part-time? If I do both full time, is it likely that I will sacrifice my knowledge base as NP? I am also open to any more advice on the situation. Thanks for reading!

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This is a good example of counting chicks before eggs are hatched-- or even laid. If you are going to do the program anyway, might as well get started if they'll take you right out of your undergrad program. If you get any kind of job for extra experience in the meantime, gravy (although the person who told you it's perfectly easy to work full time and take "just" didactics is full of beans).

You don't have a job yet, full time or part time, so don't base your timing on whether you get one-- lord knows lots of new grads don't.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Moving to Pre-Nurse Practitioner forum.

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Thanks for the reply! I should clarify, I have a job (full time) lined up after graduation.

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