Educator to NP

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I am currently a nursing faculty member in an ASN program. I have a Master's in Nursing Education.

I enjoy teaching, however the pay is very low, and if I want to continue long-term, I will eventually need a doctorate, whether than is DNP or PhD.

I am tossing around the idea of completing a post-Master's NP program. I need 6 classes to finish the certificate. However, getting in the clinical hours may be a nightmare in addition to teaching. I am contemplating the idea that I will need to resign my faculty position when I reach the clinical portion of the program.

Has anyone here completed a Master's (NP) either while working M-F or working as a faculty member? How were you able to complete the clinical hours? How did you go about choosing your specialty? I am considering acute care and also family. I understand that family is more marketable, however most of my experience is very acute (ICU).

Any advice or thoughts are welcome.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

There are a few recent posts kicking around about M-F jobs and NP programs.

The short answer is that it would be very difficult to complete the latter clinical portion of most NP programs while working M-F full time. Most programs require 30-40 hours per week if clinical time in the final semester.

Sent from my iPhone.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

There is one educator where I work who is completing her post-master’s FNP program. Her clinicals are at primary care offices that are open on Saturdays and Minute Clinic that is open both Saturday and Sunday.

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Specializes in Occ. Hlth, Education, ICU, Med-Surg.

I am currently in a Post-MSN FNP program and just went back to the hospital from an ADN program faculty position for just the reason you mention....time! I ABSOLUTELY made the right decision...the certificate program classes and clinicals take an enormous amount of time to complete and do well...time you do not have when teaching, doing clinical, and grading assignments!

I took a 36 hour a week position from 11a-11p back in the hospital...got a 15K raise in the process...and I am getting 5K/yr in tuition reimbursement. I now have the time to do assignments and clinical, make more money, work a LOT less, and with the tuition reimbursement the certificate will end up costing me, out-of-pocket- $2600!!

I love teaching but got tired of working M-F, grading and checking emails on the weekend, and being paid chump change! So I made a choice and I believe, without a doubt, that I made the right one!

Good luck with your decision!

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I am NOT faculty, but I AM a current FNP student who works in the medical device industry and I too have been contemplating leaving my position when it gets to the 'intensive' clinical semesters (for ME, the last 3 semesters of my program fall/winter/spring) next year.

it is a very difficult decision because I really love my position and it will be hard to leave but I also need to be completely successful at school and anything less than a "B" gets you an invite to leave my program. SO.....that said, I am in the same boat and don't want to hijack your thread but will also be very interested in the answers!

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Hi I left a 5 day a week work at home nursing job and went into a FT ADN Nursing faculty position to complete my FNP clinical hours. Let me just say it was rough. I would work 2 hours go to clinicals for 5 hours come back home and work the rest of the day . My weekends I studied and did write-ups, NP class was one day a week . My teaching job schedule allowed me to complete my clinical hours. It depends on your NP program. On my days off, I would go to clinicals about 1-2 days a week (8-12 hours/day) ,Christmas break, spring break and summer break I would try to complete as many hours I could complete. The weekends are always an option if you find a clinic or retail clinic to finish your hours. I did complete my FNP as Post-Masters and if I had to do it all again , I would have went back to being a staff nurse where you can get tuition reimbursement for FNP and your DNP and work 3 (12 hour shifts). Good Luck:)

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thanks ChiTown NP! going back to staff nursing is VERY scary for me because i have been in an outpatient type setting for over 10 years, but it is what i am planning on now. i have just gotten my resume polished up and starting the process. my 'busy' clinical starts in May so i want to make my switch before then, be through orientation and be settled in. i think it would be REALLY hard to be learning a new position AND doing hard-core school at the same time!

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