Can one work a Mon-Fri RN Job while in NP Grad School?

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Specializes in Research, Neurology.

Hello all,

I need some advice/feedback from RNs who have (or know someone who has) persevered through NP Grad School (online) while working 5-8's. I am interested in pursing my FNP through an online program that one can complete full time or part time. However, I'm a research RN and work 40 hrs/week in a Mon-fri 8-4 type schedule, plus some on-call duties. I am salaried so there is some flexibility to adjust my work hours (and sometimes I can work 4 10s). I'm not so concerned about the classes/coursework portions of the program, but I am worried about when the clinical/practicum hours need to be completed- will I be able to get my clinical hours in working mon-fri? I am the bread-winner in our house so the thought of dropping to part-time or quitting all together (and taking out more loans for basic needs) for the practicum portion seems impossible and not ideal. The program I'm looking at said the heavy-practicum part is in the last 1.5 years of the program. And I'm assuming since I want FNP, most clinical sites will only offer practicum hours during Mon-fri and may not be open weekends. Most people I know or read online about have worked 3 12s in the inpatient setting while completing their programs, but I know "5-8s" people exist (although not as common). So I'm curious to hear from those individuals how you planned everything out? Is it possible to do this?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

It is very difficult to find FNP preceptors who have alternative hours other than Mon-Fri 9 to 5. You'll rarely find a clinic open on a Sunday, especially Peds & OB/Gyn. It's not realistic to work a Mon-Fri dayshift job and try to do clinicals.

I work weekend/night shift (Fri, Sat & Sun, 12.5 hour shifts) and I'm already considering cutting down to part-time or per diem, due to the sheer volume of reading/assignments plus clinical hours. It just isn't working trying to maintain a full time job on top of that.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I know several individuals who've managed to work full-time during the didactic portions of their programs, but every one of them has dropped to part-time or per-diem once clinical started - even those who were working non-traditional hours. I think it will be extremely challenging to find clinical placements, and have space for the hours, if working full-time M-F normal business hours.

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I did my MSN while working M-Fri. It just took a long time.

I had a paid internship that counted toward some of my clinicals.

Then I used vacation time and such. Finally at the end, when there was still 300 clinical hours, I resigned. I did my clinicals back to back for the 2 months it took. So, no income for 2 months, but we were living like a church mice, and my husband was working. We survived, and did not have to take out extra loans.

I had no intention of keeping that job once I got my MSN.

It's possible (in theory) to do one's clinical hours one day a week over the course of a year or longer. If your program requires 600 hours, it would take about a year and a half.

If you can get a 4 10's type schedule, it can be done. It is just going to take more time. It will be a sacrifice no matter how you manage to do it.

It isn't supposed to be easy

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Specializes in Research, Neurology.

Hi Oldmahubbard, thanks for your feedback. I knew there were a few M-F people out there that succeeded and I'm glad to have heard your story. With the one program I'm looking at, its about 1-2 days of clinicals/week per each clinical rotation. And a former colleague of mine who went through the program had a few classmates who were working M-F simultaneously. They did things like work 4-10s, worked on weekends so save weekdays for clinical days, and saved PTO. I agree it will be very challenging, but I'm trying to avoid changing jobs just for the sake of the program. I also have no intention staying in my department after graduation.

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Thousands of people work full-time and get through np school every year. 8 am to 5pm Monday through Friday weekends off is the worse schedule for clinicals though. Other than Urgent Care, which some programs don't let you use, clinics are closed on the days you are off. Now is the time to consider working non day shift schedule including weekends.

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I worked full time during the didactic portion and than worked Thursday - Sunday every week and did clinical hours M-W. So essentially I was working a 4 day week instead of 5 day week but I had no break ever for an entire year while I was in school. If I wasn't working I was completing clinical hours and vice versa- it was not easy but it is doable. Just have to get in that mindset and warn your family that they won't see you until you are done with school...

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Specializes in Research, Neurology.
50 minutes ago, thinbluelineRN said:

I worked full time during the didactic portion and than worked Thursday - Sunday every week and did clinical hours M-W. So essentially I was working a 4 day week instead of 5 day week but I had no break ever for an entire year while I was in school. If I wasn't working I was completing clinical hours and vice versa- it was not easy but it is doable. Just have to get in that mindset and warn your family that they won't see you until you are done with school...

Thanks for the input thinbluelineRN. Working the weekends sounds like a smart idea. Just spoke with my manager and there is flexibility with my schedule and she ultimately said "We'll make things work", so I'm feeling more hopeful and supported!

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