FNP school with a busy family?

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · Feb 2

When I decided to return to school to become a FNP my kids were 6 mos and almost 2 years old. I went PT and completed my degree in 4.5 years. The one thing I have to say that I feel helped me the most was that I went to a school that was in-person only. That was my "me" time and it was a welcome relief to be around like-minded individuals after being with the little ones most of the day. My classmates and professors were very supportive as I was the only one with little kids at the time. My classes started at 4pm and I was out by 8pm. I only worked on the weekends while in school.

Once clinicals started, I dropped down to per diem and would pick up 4 hour shifts on Fri/Sat nights two weekends per month just to my ER skills up. Luckily, my husband was also very supportive and really helped a lot with the kids when I needed time alone to study or write papers. We also were able to get sitters from the local college to help with watching the kids from the time I had to leave for school until the time DH got home from work. We also were able to get sitters on my clinical days.

My recommendations: Attend school in person if possible; attend a school that helps with clinical placement (I never had to arrange my own - it is one less thing to worry about); if you need to - go to your local library or designate a quiet time/room in your house to be your study time.

It was definitely difficult at times, but also very doable. Good luck!

FuryWin · Feb 2

Hello!

I will be graduating with my PNP (a DNP program) in May. I have three children (now 11, 9, 5) and had been in practice as a RN for about 20 years before I started full time in a 3 year program at a school with a hybrid program. I will have 840 patient care clinical hours upon completion. My school found placements for me and I highly recommend this! I was able to work a 0.8 the first 1.5 years (I worked outpatient), but then needed to start an educational leave for clinicals. I'm not going to lie, there have been times that it's been hard, and I have to tell my kids "no" because I need to study. However, my husband has been my biggest cheerleader, and once we found kind of a groove I feel like there are plenty of days I get to say "yes" and do things with my family. My advice:

1. Buy noise cancelling headphones (a really good pair!); not only were these helpful at home, but I would also put them on when I sat in the passenger seat while going places with the family.
2. don't be afraid of being creative about finding ways to slip in studying: 20 minutes while at the dentist, 30 minutes at a dance practice, etc.

3. if you can, hire a housekeeper, even to come 2/month. We made some sacrifices to do this, but it really helped to save my sanity!

4. Really make sure to know your "why" for doing this to yourself. My reason was I felt a calling to working with children with medical complexity to the point that not taking that additional step was just intolerable. Remembering this has helped me to focus when times are hard.

I hope this is helpful!

alconnor · Feb 3

Thank you so much for your reply! It was very helpful!
How many days a week were you doing clinicals?

FuryWin · Feb 3

alconnor said:

Thank you so much for your reply! It was very helpful!
How many days a week were you doing clinicals?

My clinicals are spread over 3 semesters, and one day each week I would have in person (or live virtual) lecture. My normal clinical schedule was about 3-4 days/week during the first two semesters. This last semester we only have lecture every other week so it's more like 4-5 days in clinic.

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · Feb 3

When I started and it was just lectures I went to school twice per week - each class was one 4 hour lecture. Once clinicals started, it was class once per week but clinicals at least 3 days per week. It also depended on how you wanted to structure your clinical time as long as you did "x" amount of hours in a semester. Some students did longer days, less days per week and some did shorter days, more days per week. I typically tried to do the longer days with less days per week due to needing a sitter.

nurse.j., ASN, BSN, MSN · Feb 3

You got this!! I did my MSN- FNP program, working as a 0.6 in the hospital while having a 3, 5, and 10 year old. My husband was incredibly supportive as well. The school I went to had live lectures 1-2 times a week, plus didactic work, but it was manageable. Once clinicals started (spread out over about 6 months), I just had to do it and still worked 2-12s a week and clinical hours. It was rough at times, but not impossible. Just have to be creative with studying and getting work done. I'm so glad I did it when I did, because even as kids get older and "easier", there's more stuff they're involved in and activities to go to, and with my clinic schedule now, I can totally do it. You got this mama!