Raise your hand if you worked and went to NP school full time?

Nursing Students NP Students

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Specializes in Emergency.

Ok, so I guess I'm one of the lazy ones. I started working full time, but between ft school, ft work, and my family I decided to cut back. It's not that it can't be done, it was actually a family decision. We have two boys who were in the midst of teenage-dom. By the time I graduated, one would be in college and the other a junior/senior in HS (depending on exact # of classes/semester). So we as a family decide that the extra family time was more important than the extra $$ of a full time second income. I switched to per-diem and we haven't looked back since. I think the moral of the story is you have to sacrifice something, and it's a personal choice with too many variables in each person's life for there to be one right or wrong answer. What works for me, probably won't work for you and vice versa.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I worked full time 3 12-hr shifts/week the first year of my ACNP program and part time 2 12-hr shifts/week during the second year. The 8 hours/day clinicals during second year was difficult to squeeze in with full time work even with a supportive nurse manager.

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I am doing my FNP full time and working part-time nights on a inpatient hem/onc/bmt floor at a childrens hospital.

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I am not sure if I will be able to continue my FT job I have now when clinical time starts, but I do plan on working while doing the beginning theory courses. I work M-F 830-5p, off on holidays and weekends. I'm not sure how I'd be able to fit clinical hours in working that schedule. I'll probably start looking for 3-12hr shift positions as it gets closer to clinical time! =)

I am switching from 8 hr shifts to 12 hr shifts to accomodate a clinical schedule, so I know what you mean!

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I worked full time 3 12-hr shifts/week the first year of my ACNP program and part time 2 12-hr shifts/week during the second year. The 8 hours/day clinicals during second year was difficult to squeeze in with full time work even with a supportive nurse manager.

This might be something that I will have to do. We will see when I get to the second year. I have a slight advantage in that my schedule is set so I always know what days I am working.

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Specializes in Not too many areas I haven't dipped into.

I work full time and I am an FNP student. I will tell you that if you have a family, a life, a job...it can be very demanding. However, I have found that using a calendar and putting every detail of my life on it that it keeps me on track and I can keep my life on schedule. It takes a lot of work and fortitude, but you can do it. Would it be easier if you did not work? Probably, but if you are not motivated to use those extra hours then it really doesn't matter...lol. I am a procrastinator some times and I have found that if I have "extra time' I use it to do other things...lol.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Peds OR as RN, Peds ENT as NP.

I will be working 4 10s a week and do PNP part time. I will approach the clinical schedule hurdle when I get to it. I work in the OR so I take quite a bit of call so we shall see how it pans out.

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I am currently in FNP program and work full time. I was working nights CICU for the past year but am now working days. I will begin clinicals this January and I will probably go part time in the Fall when I have my last semester of clinical hours (260hrs.). Its been good so far but I am taking 3 classes this Fall, 2 classes a semester have been manageable though it got tough at times. I agree with RNFELICITY and I too am a procrastinator, I work better when my schedule is more full than empty.

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I am currently in FNP program and work full time. I was working nights CICU for the past year but am now working days. I will begin clinicals this January and I will probably go part time in the Fall when I have my last semester of clinical hours (260hrs.). Its been good so far but I am taking 3 classes this Fall 2 classes a semester have been manageable though it got tough at times. I agree with RNFELICITY and I too am a procrastinator, I work better when my schedule is more full than empty.[/quote']

I never thought about it that way. I am a major procrastinator. Do you take two classes at the same time each semester, or is it one class the first half of the semester and another class the second half of the semester?

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I will be working 4 10s a week and do PNP part time. I will approach the clinical schedule hurdle when I get to it. I work in the OR so I take quite a bit of call so we shall see how it pans out.

I'm in the same boat, except I'm going for FNP. Fortunately my call is only every 9th day, so it isn't too bad. I figure when it comes time for clinicals, I will either hope for some weekend hours, or end up using vacation days to do clinical hours. I'm trying not to worry about that aspect of it too much right now!

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Went to school full time and worked 0.75FTE

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It worries me how NP programs allow people to work full time while attending. There is no way an MD or PA could work full time while in school - are the clinical and coursework demands just THAT much lower for NP schools?

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