Looking for advice on possible field change...

[NurseJamillah]

I have a year in med-surg experience and next year, I will be starting school for a MSN degree. I decided that med-surg is probably not for me, and I will be doing the psych NP MSN program.

I would like to have more flexibility in my work hours, when I go back to school, and I will be trying to conceive in the near future. I do not anticipate going to school full-time, and I believe they allow 5 years to complete the program.

I'd like to hear opinions regarding how important is it, during that 2-5 years, that I work in a field that I would like to practice in, upon becoming an NP. I am not 100% sure that I will do psych, but even if I don't, I don't think I would want to do inpatient work.

I am finding that a lot of the jobs that are available, that are either per diem, or have scheduling flexibility, are in specialties like dialysis, wound care clinics, or other niche areas. Would I be doing myself a great disservice to work somewhere like this until I finish school? Although I probably won't go into any of these fields, they appear to be able to provide a lifestyle conducive to my school/family plans, and earnings sufficient to pay the bills.

Thanks!

[NurseJamillah, MSN, NP]

Thank you, I will! I may have spoken too soon--I now have two interviews, next week. Both are for per diem jobs. One is at a small, locked facility within the hospital group that I currently work at, and the other is at a private "college" (with dorms) for children and adolescents with behavioral issues and special needs.

I also was hired this week as a school nurse sub for a local high school. They said they probably will only need me 2-3 days per month.

Now, I need to figure out how many per-diem jobs it will take me to be able to replace my current part-time med-surg job!