My first day in NP school - gulp!

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This is just sort of a reflection post. If that kind of thing bores you, now's the time to click the "back" button!

I had my first day last Wednesday in a brick and mortar NP (actually, DNP) school.

Wow. I had thought that the workload would be significant, but I think I did not realize the extent to which that would be true.

I am wrestling with a few confounding factors.

a) I am no spring chicken. I'm in my late 40's, and I know I don't absorb information as I did when I was in my 20s.

b) School was a while ago. I am continually checking the course material to make sure I haven't missed an assignment. This school has tucked some assignments away, rather than in the big "what's due when" chart.

c) I live in a rural area, and my home internet is S-L-O-W (1.5mbps) on it's best days. Plus I have two teenage daughters who are data leeches. They looked like I kicked their puppy when I asked them to read a book or something, because I was trying to do homework. It's not going to work to study at home.

On the plus side, the instructors were kind and encouraging. Additionally, this University arranges clinical experiences, which -as I have come to learn by reading many posts here on Allnurses- is infinitely easier.

So, onward and upward,I guess!

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Happy for you!!! I just graduated Friday with my BSN (already been a nurse for 4 years) and I am already looking to start NP school. I have 4 boys and I am so torn when to start. Good luck to you and your DNP jounrey!

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Thanks! I think going forward with education is kind of like having kids. There's never a "good" time to start.

In 3 years, you'll be 3 years older, whether you've gone to school or not! Personally, I wish I would have started this journey 10 years ago.

Good luck whatever you decide!

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I am supposed to start NP school this fall and also live in a rural area with slowwwww internet! This is something I've actually worried about with trying to get my class work done. Looks like I may be driving into town a lot to steal some internet over the next couple of years :)

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Here's a tip for the internet issue. Get yourself an unlimited data plan for your phone and use your phone as a wifi hotspot. I do this every week at school because my computer doesn't like the internet there. I work off my phone's wifi every week and it works just fine.

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This is what I plan to do. My phone is a lot faster than our internet.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

Congratulations!!!! I was in my 40s when I went back and I have never regretted it.

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I always said that to my kids and now they are reminding me of the same quote as I begin NP school in September.

You've got this!1

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