NP and DNP students- hours studying??

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2019

I’m in a hybrid master’s NP program so I only go to class four days in a month for 8 hours each day. I like it since I don’t have to worry about wasting time commuting to class. I don’t learn well in class anyway.

The sheer volume of information is a lot so I find myself studying and reading about 56 hours per week! I work 1-2 days a week for 8 hour shifts.

I am kind of type A personality so I spend a lot of time studying to make A grades

yourgoodneighbor · Sep 25, 2019

How many years will you be in your Hybrid NP program since it is only 4 days a month 8 hours a day?

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 25, 2019

Now that we're in didactics & clinicals, I spend just about every waking hour that I'm not at clinical studying. We have a HUGE volume of material to absorb between exams (about 20 to 28 chapters each unit). Right now, we're doing Peds & OB/Gyn with a bit of adult med. It is SO much information that is outside my wheelhouse (I'm used to adult, non-pg patients), so it's a bit harder to absorb the sheer volume of information in such a short span of time. I'm in clinicals all day 3 days per week, starting in Oct. it'll be 4 days per week, so that only leaves me 3 days off to get all my studying done. By the time I'm done logging all my clinical patients in our school's system after a long clinical day, it's time to go to bed. I feel like all I do is study, clinicals, paperwork and repeat. And that's not counting the weeks we have to turn in a SOAP note or do a narrated PowerPoint assignment. It's a LOT of work!

I was working full-time when I did my non-clinical courses and was able to balance school/work. Now that I'm in clinicals, I can no longer work full-time and keep up with school. It's just too much. My grades would suffer if I tried to maintain both. It's been a hit to the finances, but hubby & I are making do for now.

I'm in clinical 24 hours per week and I'd estimate my study time is about 30+ hours. In October, I'll have clinicals 32 hours per week. That's really going to cut in to my study time, but it's only until I complete my OB/Gyn hours.

yourgoodneighbor · Sep 25, 2019

1 hour ago, SopranoKris said:
Now that we're in didactics & clinicals, I spend just about every waking hour that I'm not at clinical studying. We have a HUGE volume of material to absorb between exams (about 20 to 28 chapters each unit). Right now, we're doing Peds & OB/Gyn with a bit of adult med. It is SO much information that is outside my wheelhouse (I'm used to adult, non-pg patients), so it's a bit harder to absorb the sheer volume of information in such a short span of time. I'm in clinicals all day 3 days per week, starting in Oct. it'll be 4 days per week, so that only leaves me 3 days off to get all my studying done. By the time I'm done logging all my clinical patients in our school's system after a long clinical day, it's time to go to bed. I feel like all I do is study, clinicals, paperwork and repeat. And that's not counting the weeks we have to turn in a SOAP note or do a narrated PowerPoint assignment. It's a LOT of work!
I was working full-time when I did my non-clinical courses and was able to balance school/work. Now that I'm in clinicals, I can no longer work full-time and keep up with school. It's just too much. My grades would suffer if I tried to maintain both. It's been a hit to the finances, but hubby & I are making do for now.
I'm in clinical 24 hours per week and I'd estimate my study time is about 30+ hours. In October, I'll have clinicals 32 hours per week. That's really going to cut in to my study time, but it's only until I complete my OB/Gyn hours.

What kind of grades are you getting? Straight As?

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2019

20 hours ago, yourgoodneighbor said:
How many years will you be in your Hybrid NP program since it is only 4 days a month 8 hours a day?

This is only for fall semester, first year. First year is non-clinical and we take like 6-7 credits per semester so its manageable. Semesters are 14 weeks long. Second year is clinical courses and they said we can't afford to work

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 29, 2019

On 9/24/2019 at 10:44 PM, yourgoodneighbor said:
What kind of grades are you getting? Straight As?

I've had all As and one B so far. You are only allowed one C in the program (have to repeat it if it's a didactic or clinical course). A second C gets you dismissed. So, definitely have to study hard!

Our didactic this semester is very difficult because we have so much to study in a short period of time. We are not allowed to use the book, notes or study guides during the exams. This is to prepare us for taking boards. It's hard to remember everything when you have 20+ chapters of info to retain. They do an online lecture each week, but it's more geared on how to focus our studying for the various Peds, OB/Gyn & family med topics we're reviewing.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 30, 2019

When I was in my program I worked 5 days a week. I felt like I studied every spare hour that I had and I had no days off for months at a time. When I switched to 3 days a week I still had no time off because I had to accommodate clinicals 2 days a week. I graduated with a 4.0 but it was very stressful. Plan on not having any time off.

Oldmahubbard · Oct 17, 2019

I worked full time throughout most of my program and only took one or two classes a semester. My school was located 100 miles from my house. Yes I drove there.

I could see that the MSN curriculum at my brick and mortar school would not adequately prepare me to be a competent PMHNP, so I spent a large amount of time studying self-selected materials.

Essentially, I came home from work at a mental health clinic every night and asked myself- what happened today, and what does it mean?

My suggestion is not to be in a rush to complete a program. It takes what it takes.

If you are working and going to school, don't expect to have much else going on in your life.

I always took Saturday night off, however.

verene, MSN · Oct 19, 2019

My experience in a B&M MSN program:

8 hrs/wk of on-campus class/clinical supervision, ~8 hr/wk on online/hybrid class coursework, 16-30 hrs/week of clinical, 12-24 hours/week of working as RN in relevant specialty (so sort of like being in school but also work?), + homework and studying. I think I averaged between 70-80 hours most weeks? My final term I was hitting close to 100hours/week in commitments and felt like I was losing my mind a bit. I'm currently working ~24hs week (with hour + commute each way) and spending about 16 hours a week on school while in DNP program and I feel quite relaxed in comparison.

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Oct 19, 2019

I'm in a part-time, 3-year, NP program (not DNP). I was already a RN when I went into the program.

I'm physically in class about 6 hours weekly (2 classes per semester). During non-clinical semesters I spent anywhere between 14-30 hours a week outside of class for school work. I'm in my clinical year now (final 2 semesters) and I spend about 30-40 hours a week outside of class for clinical and school work.

GCmomRN · Oct 25, 2019

I'm in a 3 year "hybrid" AGNP program. I am in the 3rd year which is clinical with a didactic component. I'm in clinic 16-24 hours a week. I only go to campus twice a semester, but there are online lectures to supplement our reading. Each week we have either a discussion board, quiz, exam, SOAP note, H&P, etc. It's a LOT of content. I'd say I spend most of my spare time studying or doing classwork. I still work two 12-hour shifts, but I'm lucky that I usually get downtime at work so I actually am able to study there as well. It's a lot more than what I expected and it's taking a toll on me (hello massive stress and anxiety!!) but the end is in sight and I know I'll be well prepared when I'm done.