I am second year FNP--need advice on work load

BChapp3182 · Jul 14, 2009

Quit your job and get loans, unless your husband will take care of the kids, cooking, shopping, errands, cleaning, and everything else so you can just do clinicals and study. I worked my first year, but when clinicals started and the courses got harder there was no way I could work. We lost many people in our class that second year.

When I was getting my BS degree I did work full time but did home health, 8 hr shift, nights taking care of one elder. I basically was paid to study for 8 hrs as the client slept. A job like that you could do. Home health/private duty can be alot of sitting around time if you get the right case.

allnurses Guide · Jul 14, 2009

Hi,

I give you a lot of credit for working so hard...my situation was not too different from yours, and here's what I did. I went to school full time, and was only able to manage working part time while I was in school. I ended up working 2nd shift-Fridays and every other weekend. I was doing 20-24 hours of clinical a week and taking 3 courses. I would have been able to work another shift or two if I wasn't taking courses, but that wasn't the case. I have two children, but they're teenagers and are pretty self sufficient. I'm not sure I could have managed this with little kids. My husband did most of the work driving the kids around and making sure they were where they were supposed to be. I also had some good friends who could help me out if my husband had a work commitment. I'm not going to say it was easy, cause it wasn't, but it wasn't impossible. If there's any way you can cut down your work hours, I would do it. Other than that, the only thing I can say is that it will be tough, but you can get through it, and it will be worth the sacrifice in the end.

Best of luck to you!

Blessedx3 · Jul 14, 2009

Thanks everyone. We have managed no loans to this point. Try to live debt free is at all possible...but for 15 months--it may save my sanity. My husband is awesome--but is medical sales and does travel.. Thanks again....

xos4eva · Jul 15, 2009

I don't have any children but I currently work 3 12's and do clinical's 2 days a week for 8 hours each day and then I come home and attempt to study, it's not easy I'm tired and easily irritable, and I've taken loans to help pay for school and still have to work. I wish you the best of luck.

Ericka

allnurses Guide · Jul 15, 2009

I don't have kids (I have pets!). I work 8-5 mon-friday plus on-call duties 24/7, one week per month. I am doing ACNP and have been studying about fulltime credit hours so far. Going into 2nd year have had to cut down on the credit hours I'm taking per term though - I have to stay working fulltime, and I would rather go slower, pay as I go, and not be totally stressed out.

I am not eligible for loans/aid as I'm not a US citizen so I'm just saving up and paying cash along the way. Pacing the course helps with the $$ outlay too.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 15, 2009

I've done clinicals at off-hours - would that be possible? I also use my PTO - is that an option?

Blessedx3 · Jul 15, 2009

Trauma-No-I work for the school system--the nurse for 800 children--so Mon-Friday is it...We don't get time off because we get summers and holidays. We'll see how it goes...Thanks for the suggestions.

allnurses Guide · Jul 16, 2009

I think Trauma meant can you do your FNP clinicals out of those hours (ie. when not at work, such as evenings/weekends).

I must say, I can only work FT because my boss is completely flexible about my hours. If I need a day off for an exam, or need call covered, or clinicals, etc - he is fine. I am lucky that we have a bunch of casual staff, so I can just call one of them to come in and cover for me if we have stuff going on and my coworkers can't cope without me. If I had fixed, unchangeable hours it would be almost impossible to remain FT + school.