Can you work full time while attending NP school?

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can you work full time and still complete your NP degree in 2 years?

Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I chose to work full-time and attend NNP school part-time (6-8 credits/sem, 2yrs+1 sem) so I can graduate debt free, with my vehicle, undergrad loans and grad tuition paid for. That being said, I don't have a mortgage. My employer is reimbursing me $10,000 a year for school, with the option of more money available if there's still some left in the education fund at the end of the year. I will need to maintain employment for 6 months after each reimbursement installment. I would lose all this by going per diem or part time. So for right now, fighting to maintain a social life while juggling studying times is worth it... I'll keep you posted once clinicals start!

Stevern21

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I am here to say yes it is possible to work full-time and complete your masters. I am 1 year and 4 months into a FNP program with less than 12 months to go. I work 40 hours (plus) and I complete classes and 16 hours of clinicals weekly. I also have a husband and son that I take care of.

It isn't easy, don't get me wrong, but it is possible. I think it helps that I attend an on-line program so I complete my work when I can and don't have to sit in class and listen to lectures or commute to school.

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i don't think the question is "if" you can work full time and complete your np degree. many have and more will. a better question is "why", i know the $$$ are important. the education is more important, working full time will clearly impact your education. i am not in favor of programs that tell you can work full time while going to school. what are they offering? one of the big criticisms of np education by pas and mds is the fact you can work full time while going to school full time.

if the academic rigor is present how could you work full time, expectations for graduate school is 2-3 hours of study outside of class for every credit . a 10 credit semester would require 20-30 hours of study outside of class.

i don't think this reply is fair. i am a very good student, good worker and good mother/wife. i work hard to juggle all of the responsibilities that go along with the choice i made, which was to become an apn. i am very lucky to have a husband at home who is supportive of my goals and helps me however he can.

i wouldn't be working toward my np if i couldn't work concurrently. i have made the choice and the sacrifice that goes along with that choice. i attend an on-line program where we concentrate on one class at a time, with no holiday or summer breaks. i get all of my assignments done and do well on all my exams-i also learn a lot.

i have found that the physician's i work with are very supportive and encouraged by my work and dedication. many of the physician's i work with worked during school as well.

we are all individuals and our dreams and desires will guide us to fulfill our goals. if your goal is to become an np, but have to work while attending school, do it. you might not be able to finish in 2 years (it will take me 2.5), but you will persevere and gain self-esteem and valuable knowledge during the journey.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

Yes, it is possible. There are students in my acute/critical care NP program who work full time, have kids, go to school full time. But honestly, I don't know how they do it! I give them a lot of credit, because I can't live/work like that. Right now, I'm at the end of my 3rd of 4 semesters in my NP program, and I go to school full time with classes for 10 hours on Tuesdays, and then 12 hour clinical shifts twice a week, plus TONS of homework-papers, group papers/projects, exams, presentations, SOAP notes, detailed complete H & Ps, you name it! I used to work 24 hrs per week last year in the non-clinical year of my program, but now I switched to per diem and do 1 day/week when it's nutty and bump it up to 2 days/week when it's slower at school (which is like never!!). So that is just me. I'm married with no kids yet...but this is all I can handle right now. Like I said, for anyone who does more, God bless you! :) lol

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It think from the variety of comments here you can see what works for one doesn't work for everyone. Everyone has their line in the sand as to what they are willing to give up....for some, a little debt is better than sacrificed time with family. For others, the sacrificed time with friends and family is worth not having debt. I personally have found that when I am working a lot, I tend to learn the school material just to pass the test and write the paper vs. REALLY learning it so I know it for good.

So find your line in the sand, but prepared for it to move around a bit. Your school load will change (i.e. what works at the beginning when you are taking only lecture based classes will dramatically change as you add more clinical hours) and your family obligations and longings will change as well. Be *ok* with shifting things around a bit.

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Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

Depends on the person. I tried working, going to school part time, and having family responsibilities. I was fine at first but felt stressed and exhausted once we started clinicals. (class one day a week, clinicals two days a week, then there were papers to write and tests to study for). So my schedule was:

work Mondays and Fridays and every other weekend,

Tuesdays class,

Wednesday and Thursday clinicals with a physician preceptor

With this schedule I felt like I was sinking fast. So I ended up going PRN on my job (which means I was so busy I only went a few times). I'm about to graduate this month (Dec. 2007) with my Masters as an Adult Nurse Practitioner.

I know someone with a small child who tells me she managed to continue to work and go to school and she is graduating with me. So I know it is possible.

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Specializes in ICU.

Sure, it's possible, but everyone has different responsibilities and needs.

I started my FNP program f/t while working f/t and even overtime (12 hour shifts). The first year was very doable because the first semester consisted of 3 didactic courses, the second had 2 didactic and one with clinical hours (total of 90). It was challenging, but it kept me focused and on my toes 24/7. Writing papers, weekly assignments, and constant exams were actually enjoyable! I believe it made me a better bedside nurse, to boot.

The second year turned into a stressful nightmare. I won't go into all the details, but I wound up dropping one course, then another, then I had to completely drop out until this Fall. That semester snowballed into such an enormous burden what with driving 1.5 hour one way to my clinical site, keeping up with charting all my patients for class, fulfilling group projects, the list goes on. And I was working 16 hour shifts on the weekend just to pay the bills. But it still wasn't enough.

In any case, if the situation were somewhat different (again, there are details that would explain it better, but are too lengthy) I might have been able to skim through. But that's not me. I want to learn, I want to be competent, I want to feel like I'm being the best student I can be. And I want to earn a decent paycheck at the same time.

My 2 year program has turned into a 3 year and I couldn't be happier now that the last year is about to begin. It doesn't hurt that I finally have a job I absolutely love.

Examine your motives for wanting to rush through while working. Don't put so much pressure on yourself unless you are positive you can do it. If nothing else, you can probably complete it in 2.5 - 3 years. Would that be acceptable?

Best of luck to you! Keep us posted on your progress.

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Specializes in Neuro/Trauma ICU.

Hey everyone, I am fairly new to this board. I am currently a full time FNP student at The University of Virginia. I actually live though, in far Southwest Virginia about 350 miles from the university. I drove up once a week on Thursdays and came back on Fridays this semester. Also, I work 60 miles from my home in TN working in Neuro/Trauma ICU 36 hrs per week. The semester is finally over and I can breathe a great sigh of relief. In my opinion, it is very possible to do this, but I have no children; I am sure this facilitates my situation greatly lol. I believe that the hardest part of this is the financial aspect though. Going to school puts a financial stress on you that is difficult at times. I put back 10% of my salary currently to retirement, so that also makes things more difficult. I believe that if you are going to pursue a degree of this nature, you should take into account many different factors that you may experience such as time, financial standards, past education experience, etc.

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Specializes in Psych, ER, OB, M/S, teaching, FNP.

You can do whatever you must do. I worked full time as an RN, went to school full time, had 4 children still at home. I ended up getting pregnant (very unexpectedly) in my second to the last semester, me and the kids moved out (from my husband of 24 years due to alcoholism) to a house I bought. I finished up all of my course work for school and 2 days later delivered my 6th child by emergency c-section. I was very pregnant during my last semester doing clinicals. Oh ya...my GPA 3.6.

I did miss spending lots of time with friends and family, I did not do much socializiing, and when I was with the kids watching rented movies I was also reading my text books. I did this because I HAD to. I did not want to wait forever to complete my degree. The sooner I graduated the sooner I could provide better for my kids, my husband does not work or supply us with any financial help.

The bottom line is you can do what ever you must do.

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You can do whatever you must do. I worked full time as an RN, went to school full time, had 4 children still at home. I ended up getting pregnant (very unexpectedly) in my second to the last semester, me and the kids moved out (from my husband of 24 years due to alcoholism) to a house I bought. I finished up all of my course work for school and 2 days later delivered my 6th child by emergency c-section. I was very pregnant during my last semester doing clinicals. Oh ya...my GPA 3.6.

I did miss spending lots of time with friends and family, I did not do much socializiing, and when I was with the kids watching rented movies I was also reading my text books. I did this because I HAD to. I did not want to wait forever to complete my degree. The sooner I graduated the sooner I could provide better for my kids, my husband does not work or supply us with any financial help.

The bottom line is you can do what ever you must do.

Wow, such an inspiration! Thanks for sharing!

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Specializes in FNP.

When I went to school, I did the 2 year MSN program in 3 years (part-time) plus I worked 16 hours (or less)/week. That was definitely as much as I wanted to manage at one time!

At my particular program, the faculty recommended against anyone (working or not) trying to complete the program in 2 years, it was quite rigorous.

Dana

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When I went to school, I did the 2 year MSN program in 3 years (part-time) plus I worked 16 hours (or less)/week. That was definitely as much as I wanted to manage at one time!

At my particular program, the faculty recommended against anyone (working or not) trying to complete the program in 2 years, it was quite rigorous.

Dana

32 hour weekends (64 per pay period).... It was rough but I did it for the most part. Since I was working that many hours I did collect time off so I did use some time off at times. Last semester of school they changed one class into two meaning two different clinicals... I had to quit work and I was soo close to burnout anyway... Doable yes... If I would have had a family with kids I don't think it would have been doable...

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