I am writing all of you with deep concern. I am scheduled to begin ANP online this Sept. at University of Cincinnati. I currently am a nurse in outpatient cardiac rehab...which is a dream job. That is part of the reason I took this job to decrease the amount of work load I had while in school. I was formerly an ICU nurse at a teaching hospital in an open heart recovery unit. I am now faced with pressure from my director to become the manager of cardiac rehab. I have repeatedly turned down the position citing the fact that I begin NP school in Sept. Nevertheless, I am being pressured in to this and assured that everything will be done to aid me in my personal and professional life. My wife is concerned that this will ultimately blow up in my face. I currently work 3 11 hr shifts and one 6 hr shift, generally off either Tuesday or Thursdays. My new position would most likely make it difficult for me to be off as much, but they are putting it in writing that I will be able to take off at least one day a week. I really don't know how my life will look when I am in school with exams, papers, and clinicals...along with working. So, I just need to know if there is anyway anyone thinks this is possible at all. I really appreciate your input.
I went to NP school fulltime and found I was only able to work 14 hours per week. Sometimes that was even a bit much. If you're going to do school full time, I would say you won't be able to work full time also. If you only want to take 1 or 2 courses at a time, it might be doable. I sacrificed pretty much all of my personal life to go to school. I certainly don't regret doing it, but it was tough.
Well, University of Cincinnati's curriculum is a quarter system. So, each of the first 4 quarters have 2 classes. I am optimistic that I can hang in there until at least next June. I work with two exercise physiologists who are interested in the role, but my director(who is an exercise physiologist by trade) feels that they both need more mentoring before that are ready to assume the manager role. So, my ideal outcome would be to accept the management position until it doesn't work for me any longer and then hopefully one of my co-workers will have proven them selves to my director. Then I could which roles with the staff member who takes over for me. Anyway, it is very complex.
Thank you all for participating in my professional dilemma.
I was in NP school full-time, with a predominantly online component. I averaged 70 hrs a week with school work and clinicals. There was no way I could have worked on top of that and still had any semblance of a family life (which is very important for me). Just my 2 cents...
I think you've gotten some excellent advice. I worked full time, three 12 hour shifts, and I went to school part time, but probably could have gone to school full time and worked full time for the first half of my program, but once the clinicals started there was really no way I could have done it.
As it was, I worked Fri, Sat and Sun so that I could have M-Th for clinicals. If you work M-F when will you do clinicals? Even going part time meant I had to sacrifice time with my family, I'm married with 2 early teens. My husband didn't like it and my kids hated and I was only doing it part time. They all pulled together for me and helped, but it was a struggle for them.
If you do work full time and do school full time you are going to need a flexible job and most likely a weekend only job...like I said, even I needed that to get all my clinical hours in.
I agree with what everyone else has said, and I think your plan might work. During didactic, with a flexible position, good study habits, few other obligations and supportive family, yes it can be done. Once the clinical component becomes dominant, work has to go on the back burner.
My residency was 40 hours a week for 16 weeks, and I also had homework assignments, seemingly millions of SOAP notes to turn in, exams to take, an article to write that was worthy of publication (we were required to submit it for consideration; sadly mine was not selected but several classmates were published), a proposal to write and subsequent presentation to make of same, and of course boards to study for during that time. No, I could not have worked. AFAIK, none of my classmates was still working that last semester either, though some worked right up until then- a shift or two on the weekend or something.
Up until that last semester, yes, I think if it had to be done, one could do 12 hours, perhaps even 24 if food and shelter demanded it. The final semester, I'd have to say no, no mere human could manage that work load and "work" at a job as well.
Again, I must extend my deepest appreciation for the time you all have taken for my benefit. My meeting with my Director and HR yesterday was productive. They are still confident that I can balance this position and my school obligation, but as an insurance policy they have agreed to hired a float pool nurse to work my staff position for 3 months. Now, I know that my curriculum will become exceedingly more difficult in the months beyond, but it should allow for me and the staff to adjust to the change. There are two coworkers waiting in the wings for the manager position who the Directory thinks need a little more mentoring before they are ready for the role. I will also have off every Thursday and it turns out to be an hourly position somehow, which works in my favor to eliminate overtime. School starts in Sept., so I will see how things go. My wife has warmed up to the idea as long as I have it in writing and have my escape plan.
Furthering my self from an educational perspective is my number one priority, besides my family of course. It is not so often that I will have such an opportunity to purse this goal. In fact, I was never even the type to believe I would achieve graduating from college period. Now, here I am having graduated from U of Maryland BSN and beginning NP school. Looking at it from that vantage point, I could never live with myself if I walked away from this chance. If I feel that I am unable to keep up with my studies I will not hesitate to step down from this position. No ego tripping, I owe it to myself to do the right thing. For those of you who advised me to think twice about stepping into management, please don't feel like you wasted your breath. I will not let this job come between me and my goal. As things continue I would be happy to update this post.
Well I can tell you first hand it definitely can be done. I am in one of the MSN programs at UC right now. I am a married, mother of 3 little ones and I also work full time as a 0.9 FTE. My program is also full time including clinicals which I actually travel to cincinnati for. If you have a great support system and an understanding family it can be done. People ask me all the time how I do it and honestly I'm not sure. I think its just one of those things that you just do it and get through it. The good thing is that its not forever, and its only 2 years. Best of luck in your decision.
When I contacted Univ of Cincinatti they told me no part-time programs are available. That part stinks as many people returning for higher education also work. I think your heart is in the NP program and encourage you to strike a balance for the next couple of years. It's so important to keep your relationship intact. Good luck to you. I hope you find the balance you need.
BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP
1,678 Posts
I went to NP school fulltime and found I was only able to work 14 hours per week. Sometimes that was even a bit much. If you're going to do school full time, I would say you won't be able to work full time also. If you only want to take 1 or 2 courses at a time, it might be doable. I sacrificed pretty much all of my personal life to go to school. I certainly don't regret doing it, but it was tough.