Do New grad NP's have to work full time?

[abalou]

Hey- since everyone here is such a great fountain of knowledge, I wanted to get some feedback. I'm an RN looking into doing FNP school. I don't really want/need to be working full time when I graduate, as I have small children and a DH who will be an orthodontist when I finish:D . I'm just wondering how possible it would be to get an FNP job for one day a week as a new grad? Also, is it imperative that I work when done to keep my license, or can that just be done with enough CE credit? I'm sure that depends on the state, and I'm looking somewhere in the ID/MT/UT area.

It probably seems a little odd to be wondering about how hard it is to not use an FNP, and you may be asking why I'm looking at school when I don't want to work. Well, my hubby is currently attending a school that offers one of the few RN-MSN programs, and doing it now would save me having to finish my BSN and retaking other prerequisite classes later. When my kids are grown, I'd like to be able to just start working and not have to worry about school then. I also love the opportunities that an FNP gives me for humanitatian work.

Anyway, sorry for rambling. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[carachel2]

I don't have my sights set on working full -time either ! I regularly check job listings and career websites and see part-time positions available all the time. An NP friend of mine has a wonderfully flexible job seeing nursing home patients. She goes when her shcedule allows and she works as little or as much as she wants. Granted, nursing home work is not exactly my dream job.......but I could care less if it is well paying and flexible enough so I can be home with my family. I think the jobs are out there, we just have to look.

I do, however, plan on working almost full-time at first. I know when I've worked RN jobs just one day a week it is very difficult to get in your groove (so to speak) and find your comfort job. I would rather work full-time at a job and become very comfortable there and then drop down to part-time.

[chase4myheart]

Here in Virginia, a FNP told me that she was required to work 1500 hours per year to maintain her license. Hope this helps.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hi there and welcome. Like with new grad RNs it's hard to put new skills to work unless you use them consistently. So...maybe a 3-4 day work week would be doable in the beginning just to get a year's experience. I will tell you too that the job market in some places (central IL for one) is saturated with mid-level providers and the only way to get a job is to have very solid RN experience, agree to work full-time and do call. However, that situation differs dramatically across the US.

I think your idea to finish school now has merit but don't depend entirely on CEUs to keep you updated. Other things, become active in your state's APN organization, network informally with other APNs.