RN to NP education. How did you manage it?

[Nurse2B in TN]

I will be graduating as an RN next year, and at 51 years old with no retirement in place, I'm seriously considering NP. But, I need to work as soon as I graduate. Were any of you able to work while pursuing NP training?

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Are you interested in going back into public health? I did my MPH before nursing school too and you're right... Opportunities will certainly open up to you once you're done- no matter the direction you end up taking.

I started out with a very narrow scope and now I am totally loving NICU - never saw that coming. It's a specialty that feeds a lot of my strengths and personal fulfillment. Education, research, critical care, evidence based practice, who knows maybe I'll be editing the merenatein "bible" one day. I know that whatever I end up doing I will go far with it.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I am 49 and will graduate next year with my NP so I'll be 50 then. I work full time and have done throughout the program. I may need to change jobs next year to allow me to work 3 12s while I'm in clinicals (I work 8-4 5 days a week right now). I cannot afford not to work. It adds a lot of stress as some of the classes they call "part time" really weren't and I wish I would have had more time to study. However, I've managed to maintain a 3.9 GPA even with all that going on. It's a lot juggling everything but I know it's temporary. I have to keep working for the foreseeable future and so doing my NP means I can work at a less physical pace and a more cerebral one as I get older. Makes perfect sense to me.

[rachelpearcerp]

It took me 5 years to get my DNP FNP - but I worked full time all but 9 months of the program, And I had two kids under 5 ... it's do able, especially if the only one you are caring for is yourself. I just worked weekend package and did my 1000 clinical hours & class during the week!