Can a School Nurse become an FNP?

[uthscsa2011]

Hello all,

The reason I am asking is because I am a school nurse and I want to become an FNP before 2015 when they change the degree requirement from MSN to Doctorate. But with a school nurse's schedule, is it possible to go back to school? There is an online program I am interested in but I would still have to do clinicals during the week? I have never worked in a hospital, so I would not be able to work on the weekends bedside bc I have already tried and they have all told me "you need to drop the school nurse job because we need to train you and training is 12-18 weeks following a mentor's schedule"...not something they could do if I'm working 7-5 M-F. So getting a hospital job on the weekends is out of the question. Havve any of you school nurse did this before? And if so how? Any other suggestions?

[schooldistrictnurse]

Maybe you can do some of the classes while working and then you might have to quit or take a leave to do the clinical parts. You might try posting the question in the NP board for their input.

[manusko]

Hello all,

The reason I am asking is because I am a school nurse and I want to become an FNP before 2015 when they change the degree requirement from MSN to Doctorate. But with a school nurse's schedule, is it possible to go back to school? There is an online program I am interested in but I would still have to do clinicals during the week? I have never worked in a hospital, so I would not be able to work on the weekends bedside bc I have already tried and they have all told me "you need to drop the school nurse job because we need to train you and training is 12-18 weeks following a mentor's schedule"...not something they could do if I'm working 7-5 M-F. So getting a hospital job on the weekends is out of the question. Havve any of you school nurse did this before? And if so how? Any other suggestions?

I do not believe that 2015 has been mandated. CRNA made this change mandatory in 2025.

[uthscsa2011]

Oh really? That would be great if it hasn't yet. This is just what I've been hearing from my fellow school nurse colleagues and supervisor.

[Nurse ABC]

A school nurse can be anything she wants to be! Maybe you would be able to get a lot of your clinical rotations out of the way in the summer then quit and sub if need be to get the rest in. Or, maybe you could get a part-time job at the hospital and do your orientation during the summer. Most orientations for med-surg positions are 6-8 weeks. You might want to check with the school you're wanting to attend. Maybe you could do some of your clinical rotations on the weekends/evenings at an urgent care. I really have no idea. I don't know of any school nurses that wanted to become a FNP. I do know of several nurses, myself included, that got a hospital job and did orientation in the summer. Good luck!