mss6721

Thank you both so much for your words of encouragement. I start my first FNP job on Monday in Family Practice and I feel terrified and excited at the same time!

I'm working 3 12's in an Urgent Care setting and I go to school part time. I have been able to apply my didactic and clinical experiences at work and it has really helped pull it all together.

Congratulations!! That's awesome!

Congratulations!!! And thank you for the study tips!

I am over halfway through my clinicals. I had enough vacation time stored up that I have started taking one day of vacation every other week and this will get me through graduation. I have no choice but to work full-time as I carry the benefits for my family. It would be very difficult, but doable, to work full-time throughout the program. If it comes down to it, I can always work every Saturday and Sunday and one day during the week to allow for clinical time.

At my school they are required to all be in a primary care/outpatient setting. My instructors really stress trying to get in to see the patient and do everything we can. It really depends on your clinical setting. I've had some preceptors that take over the visit and just let me watch and some that push me to try to create a plan for the patient before they jump in and solve it all for me.

I started the FNP program at age 33 and I'll be finished next year just after I turn 36. I wouldn't recommend waiting too long if you know that's what you want to do.

I don't have the luxury of quitting work because my husband is self-employed and I carry the family benefits, but I would LOVE to be able to focus only on school! I started with many classmates who didn't have to work for one reason or another, and they were able to go to school full-time and now they're graduating and I still have another year of school left. I would not worry about losing your "skills", as you are constantly gaining new ones during school.

I think that once the provider/patient relationship is over, there is no reason you can't be friends with them after discharge. Since you said you won't be involved in his care after discharge, this should not be a problem.

I am currently enrolled in the FNP program part-time at UTA and work full time (3-12 hr shifts). I have taken pedi management and I'm currently in psych management. I will take adult management and advanced nursing role this fall and then Family I, Family II, and Practicum next year. I will graduate next December (2014). I was wondering if I will be able to maintain a full-time work schedule throughout the rest of the program. I have heard that the clinical hours required for Family II have increased and not sure if I will need to cut back at some point. My husband is self-employed, so I carry the benefits. Should I look for a PT job with benefits or will I be ok? What do you think? Thank you!! Mindy

At UT Arlington, I was told that the administration will grant you "two long semesters" to take time off once already starting the program. The semesters do not have to be taken consecutively.