Can you work full time while attending NP school?

Specialties NP

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can you work full time and still complete your NP degree in 2 years?

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Specializes in Nurse Practitioner-Emergency Room.

Hey,

Congrats on the potential of going to NP school. They say that people have worked full time while going to school full time and getting their NP degree, but personally I don't see how. I'm in a part time program and their is no feasible way that I can see that I'll be able to work full time for the last year. Know people that went before me, and they weren't able, with clinicals and homework, assignments, etc. Still, I've heard it can be done. Maybe if you work weekends or something, I'm not sure. I guess it just depends on the way your program is set up. Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide. If you want to be an NP you can do it somehow. It's a field that needs people.:welcome:

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I worked a full time weekender type job while in NP school full time (and full time mom to one school aged son), so it's not impossible. You don't have much of a life but it's not impossible...

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Specializes in Med/Tele.

I'm starting NP school this fall, August 08' and I plan on doing a WOW job on my unit, weekends only with every 8th weekend off. The pay is better than just regular weekends. Most of my classes the first year are online, so it should be cool. When I get to the clinical portion...........I will trim back as necessary because I hear that can be a challenge but I am gonna try to work full time while in np school unless it becomes too much of a challenge. Thank God for weekend positions. Also, I am single and no kids so hopefully I want fall in love before I graduate!! To those that have worked FT, have hubby and kids...........I am in awe of you. ;) Anyone else starting in fall 08'??? I am so excited!!

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I'm planning on going to a 4 year DNP program that is part time so I can work full time. I think it would doable even at a 2 year program if you could work weekends. Good luck with school and keep us all up to date on how it's going!

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I don't think it's possible for everyone. Depends on your situation. In my FNP program we started out with 32 students, in one year we are down to 11!!!! Most had to drop b/c they had to work, had families to take care of and just didn't have the time to study.

In the group of 11 of us left, most do work. However, the overall situation is they either are single and still live at home, married/no kids or married/don't work, or work only part time.

To me, I'd rather get a loan for the last 1.5 years than fail and lose $4k in tuition and waste a whole semester and get off track. But I do have a husband to pay the bills.

My friend failed peds this semester and now she is so upset, lost thousands of dollars, wants to quit forever, won't be able to even start for a year b/c she is off track now. She tried transferring credits to another school but it's useless. Most grad schools will only take 8 transfer credits (3 classes), she has way more than that so is basically trapped at our school to start back up again, next August! Horrible situation.

I spend probably 40+ hrs a week doing papers, projects and studying. It's a full time job.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

I think that it would be very difficult, but it is a very individual decision. I think that it really depends on what else you have going on in your life, the amount of support you can count on from your family (emotional, financial, and help with daily tasks), and your tolerance for being very busy all the time.

Right now I am going to school part-time and working full-time (1.0 FTE plus some overtime). I have decided to take the spring semester off and return to school full-time in fall while working part-time or prn.

I finally got to the point after spending 7 of the last 9 years in school where I am no longer willing to give up hobbies, family time or even mundane things like housework for the sake of my education. When I do return to school, it will be full-time and on my own terms. I might have to take out loans, but the alternative for me would be to spend the next few years feeling miserable and crabby. I am looking forward to next fall and hope that it works out for you as well.

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Specializes in Plastic Surgery, ER.

I was just accepted to Univ. of South AL FNP program. I had planned to start this spring but since I do NEED to work full time and want to keep my current job, I decided to change to a summer start. This gives me 8 semesters versus 6 to finish.

I'd like to keep my current FT job as long as possible (M-F, no nights, weekends or holidays) but I am not against having to go PT as needed once clinicals start. I work prn in the ED and thought when the time comes, I may try 3 12's there.

I realize an MSN/FNP will be more work and a different kind of learning,and more clinical time, but I did my BSN while working 2 jobs and traveling for my sons ATV racing 35 weekends a year, so I am in the mind set that I CAN do this, no matter what it takes!

Good luck to all of you students out there!

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I know someone who worked baylor and then went to NP school monday-friday. It took her 2 1/2 years to complete the program. She said it was tough but managed to do just fine throughout the program.

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I am currently working 2 6-8 hour days per week and considering having to cut back. I mean, I have class one full day per week, clinical at least one full day per week and a completion project that expects about 8-10 hours worth of work per week. So add that to my part-time job and you have 40 hours + of work. And that doesn't include time to read, study and write the CDM's. CDM's and SOAP notes will take a MASSIVE amount of your time.

I have found that the best thing to do is to have options about working. Work while you can, but keep your eyes open when your clinical load starts to increase. This is stuff you HAVE to know and retain. I will be taking out loans next semester and quitting work because it just isn't happening very well.

I have a school aged child as well and I refuse to ignore her in the process. What good is an NP degree if your family doesn't even know you after you are done with school? Like the poster above, I refuse to give up my life so I would rather be in debt a bit and have the time to learn and have a life.

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can you work full time and still complete your np degree in 2 years?

i don't think the question is "if" you can work full time and complete your np degree. many have and more will. a better question is "why", i know the $$$ are important. the education is more important, working full time will clearly impact your education. i am not in favor of programs that tell you can work full time while going to school. what are they offering? one of the big criticisms of np education by pas and mds is the fact you can work full time while going to school full time.

if the academic rigor is present how could you work full time, expectations for graduate school is 2-3 hours of study outside of class for every credit . a 10 credit semester would require 20-30 hours of study outside of class.

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Exactly ! And isn't including clinical hours and the resulting documentation that should be done there as well.

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