FuryWin

My clinicals are spread over 3 semesters, and one day each week I would have in person (or live virtual) lecture. My normal clinical schedule was about 3-4 days/week during the first two semesters. This last semester we only have lecture every other week so it's more like 4-5 days in clinic.

Hello! I will be graduating with my PNP (a DNP program) in May. I have three children (now 11, 9, 5) and had been in practice as a RN for about 20 years before I started full time in a 3 year program at a school with a hybrid program. I will have 840 patient care clinical hours upon completion. My school found placements for me and I highly recommend this! I was able to work a 0.8 the first 1.5 years (I worked outpatient), but then needed to start an educational leave for clinicals. I'm not going to lie, there have been times that it's been hard, and I have to tell my kids "no" because I need to study. However, my husband has been my biggest cheerleader, and once we found kind of a groove I feel like there are plenty of days I get to say "yes" and do things with my family. My advice: 1. Buy noise cancelling headphones (a really good pair!); not only were these helpful at home, but I would also put them on when I sat in the passenger seat while going places with the family. 2. don't be afraid of being creative about finding ways to slip in studying: 20 minutes while at the dentist, 30 minutes at a dance practice, etc. 3. if you can, hire a housekeeper, even to come 2/month. We made some sacrifices to do this, but it really helped to save my sanity! 4. Really make sure to know your "why" for doing this to yourself. My reason was I felt a calling to working with children with medical complexity to the point that not taking that additional step was just intolerable. Remembering this has helped me to focus when times are hard. I hope this is helpful!

Hello! I think that, given you are currently in school, it really comes down to what your schedule needs will need to be so you can complete your clinical hours. I've worked both inpatient (10 years) and ambulatory (9 years), am currently in PNP school, and while I can tell you primary care could provide you with networking opportunities, most clinics are M-5, 8-5 hours. I had to take a leave of absence from my job (ambulatory) to complete clinicals; you mention cutting down, but is it necessary for you to keep working? If yes, then inpatient (weekends, nights, etc) gives you more flexibility. I also do not know how helpful a year of primary care experience as a RN would be for you right now; while my role in outpatient helped me in some ways, I had also been in that role for 8 years....a year in and you'd still be learning the RN clinic role. BUT, if you hate where you are now, then I'd tell you to change for that reason! It's never worth staying somewhere you are miserable. good luck to you!

There are absolutely schools that guarantee and arrange clinical placement (I will be graduating from one of them this May). I recognize that it sounds like many programs are now saying they "assist with" when that doesn't necessarily hold up, but when I say that my school promised this and then followed through, they did. I did not ever have to ever contact a clinical site to beg for hours, and my preceptors so far (NP, MD, PA) have been wonderful. I know geographically those schools don't line up for others, but they DO exist. Online or in-person, I think that there are definite benefits for a program that incorporates both (particularly for the skills assessments). In my program the first year was mostly online, but starting in the second year I am on-campus about one day/week. I understand this does not work for others. The original post asks about being pregnant during school, and NP school will definitely tax you pregnant or not, even outside of clinical. I have three young children and while I have been very lucky to have a partner who supported me returning to school, there have been many times I have had to prioritize school over spending time with them. Make sure then that any program you pick is truly worth the investment of your time....and because it is something you are pursuing as not doing so is absolutely intolerable to you. Remembering my why has been instrumental to me in completing my program. Good luck to you!

Hello! I have been a RN in pediatrics for 20 years, and I'll take a swing at your questions. 1. What is nursing for you? It might sound cheesy, but nursing has never been "just" a job for me...it's become a big part of my identity. A part of what makes me my authentic self. Nursing is about caring, yes, but also for advocating, educating and looking at the entire person rather than looking at the disease first. I have been there for the joyous beginnings as well as the tearful ends, and everything in between. I heard a speaker once say that while the nurses might not be the reason why the patients choose to seek care, we are what they remember. While I won't say it's all been sunshine and rainbows, I will never regret becoming a nurse. 2. What are the roles of nurses based on your experience? Nurses serve in a variety of settings. From hospital bedsides, outpatient clinics, infusion centers, patient homes, schools, jails, mobile clinics, law enforcement, government, and even the courtroom. Caregivers, educators, advocates, advisors, these are a few of the roles of the nurse. 3. What could you advise for future nurses? If you have a passion for a particular population, then do whatever you can to pursue that passion! When I was a new grad I had SO many professors and older nurses telling me that "new grads don't belong in peds" or that I would need to "serve my time" in med/surg first....but I knew that working in peds was as my calling, and I didn't want anything else. I said I would go anywhere if I could work in peds...and I did. And never looked back. The second piece of advice I'd give you is that it's also okay if you don't know ? The great thing about nursing is that nurses are everywhere, and if you start with one thing and do not like it, there is usually a move you can make. Third: it's OK to say "No.” when I was a new nurse I used to feel guilty when I couldn't pick up overtime....but it's okay to set boundaries and have time away from work. Lastly, find ways to try and be present when you are at work, but find ways to heal and disconnect when you are not. Outside of seeing a therapist and working out, I would keep whatever I could keep for work at work if possible (ex: shoes, stethoscope, etc). When I would leave, I would think about how I was leaving those things behind to head home. That visual helped me. Good luck on your project!

Try not to look at it ask a backwards move...but rather a new beginning of your career in the NICU (which is indeed its own special world). What you are feeling right now is completely normal when dealing with ANY big change...no matter how experienced you were, now you are a novice again and that can be a tough place to be. Just remember that you might have been on days with your last role, but you weren't happy there. It was time for a change. Try to trust that you made the right decision and give it some time.

First of all, congratulations on your offers, and I love hearing about your interest in peds! As an RN in pediatrics myself, I’m going to echo the calls telling you to take the job in peds. If working with children is where your passion is, I personally just do not see huge overlap in any baseline experience you might get at the other facility that would benefit you should you be wanting to end up with a career in pediatrics. Kids are not little adults and there truly is no replication for working in peds except working in peds. Good luck to you!

Hi everyone! Happy to find this thread. I interviewed about 3 weeks ago for the PNP DNP program and received my acceptance today! So hopefully those of you in the other tracks find out something soon.