Need insight

Atl-Murse · Apr 7, 2015

This is a question you would need to answer, 100k is a lot to spend on a degree you are not sure of . Take that 100k and put it towards 529 plans for the lil ones if you are not 100% committed .

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Apr 7, 2015

$100,000 !!!! $100,000!?!?! you are kidding , right? Is it a solid gold diploma with guaranteed passing boards and a job making $200,000 when finished?

allnurses Guide · Apr 7, 2015

Hi all. I am a BSN prepared RN who works on labor and delivery. I work 2-3 night shifts a week and love my time off with our little one. I feel like I get the best of both worlds. Here is my "problem" if you will. I have felt this nagging that I want more in my career for the past few years. I recently applied to Georgetown University's FNP distance learning program and was accepted!! I never thought that would happen and I think it would've been easier if I wasnt. Now I don't know what to do... I'm afraid I will lose all my family time and be crazy maniac if I follow thru with this or regret my decision someday for not doing it.. Any insight? Thanks in advance

There is an investment of time and effort as well as money. There is also a pay off on that investment. By the time the little ones are in school you will likely be in a 8-4 weekday job making well over 100k/yr more plus benefits spending time with them before and after school and on weekends.

But that's not the reason to make the change: the role is. You could work the rest of your career doing what you do making decent money. You have to want the provider role to make it worth it.

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carachel2 · Apr 8, 2015

Umm, no. I wouldn't pay that kind of money. Is there no way to do a local or state university? Mine only cost like $20K. The above post about you working 8-4...sorry BostonNP but that's just laughable. Yes, the money can be done and that is a typical salary around here for an experienced NP but those hours ? BAHHAHAHHAHHA. More like 8-5; last patient leaves at 5 and then at least 1.5-2 hours of charting/refills/labs,etc either at home via EMR or at the office. I have been in contact with at least four colleagues recently in family practice and we are all feeling the pain of the late charting. WHO LEAVES AT FOUR PM????

allnurses Guide · Apr 8, 2015

Umm, no. I wouldn't pay that kind of money. Is there no way to do a local or state university? Mine only cost like $20K. The above post about you working 8-4...sorry BostonNP but that's just laughable. Yes, the money can be done and that is a typical salary around here for an experienced NP but those hours ? BAHHAHAHHAHHA. More like 8-5; last patient leaves at 5 and then at least 1.5-2 hours of charting/refills/labs,etc either at home via EMR or at the office. I have been in contact with at least four colleagues recently in family practice and we are all feeling the pain of the late charting. WHO LEAVES AT FOUR PM????

I work 8-4 (with an hour lunch) and only 4 days a week. I leave no later than 430 and I have all my notes done before I leave. If I am rounding before clinic I sometimes go in at 730. I rarely make calls from home but if needed I do. I have some colleagues that chart at home but most have learned pretty fast how to be efficient enough to get it done before the end of the day or they have admin hours to get that done.

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carachel2 · Apr 8, 2015

Well, me and my colleagues (four others who work family practice and see about 18-24 per day, no rounding) must totally suck or have the wrong system. Because none of us are done at 4. I'm five years out and must've missed the boat on how to "be efficient" because when the 10 minute "sore throat" patient starts telling me about her suicidal thoughts and weird abdominal pain and I check her chart and see she is bipolar and not on meds AND has a history of pancreatitis....my whole afternoon is shot and I'm there until 6. Are you family practice, IM or specialty? My hat goes off to you but I would bet you are the minority.

Tesses · Apr 8, 2015

It is possible to get done on time especially if your EMR has built in templates for most things. I have really never stayed an hour behind for charting except for my first month on the job....8-5.....and Im done!..and yes. ...notes completed! Medications sent right before patients leave the room as well. To the main topic of the thread: you need to have the desire to move on to the provider role.... then everything else becomes secondary for the period you are working on the degree. Started MSN few months after childbirth and we toughed it together through sleepless nights and nanny disappointments....today, He is my MSN baby! :)

allnurses Guide · Apr 8, 2015

Well, me and my colleagues (four others who work family practice and see about 18-24 per day, no rounding) must totally suck or have the wrong system. Because none of us are done at 4. I'm five years out and must've missed the boat on how to "be efficient" because when the 10 minute "sore throat" patient starts telling me about her suicidal thoughts and weird abdominal pain and I check her chart and see she is bipolar and not on meds AND has a history of pancreatitis....my whole afternoon is shot and I'm there until 6. Are you family practice, IM or specialty? My hat goes off to you but I would bet you are the minority.

I don't think it's an issue of anyone "sucking".

I think it is far more related to the practice you work in: your EMR, your support staff, your practice methodology, and the number of patients you see. I do also think it depends on the limits you set with yourself and your employer.

I work in adult IM with a panel of largely complex and chronically ill patients. I typically spend 30-45 minutes with each scheduled appointment. At each scheduled appointment we cover every item in their problem list. I do see add ons and walk ins which are the more typical 5-10 minute visits. We get a very limited amount of train wreck walk ins because we tend to address those problems before critical mass. If I do have a train wreck I will reschedule an afternoon appointment of needed.

Everyone does things differently but if you are working 1-2 hours at home every night, you should talk with your practice manager about some paid admin time in your regular day.

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Barnstormin' PMHNP · Apr 8, 2015

misslaceyob, sorry about my previous post, I had the horrors thinking about the debt accrued from that program. I would think it's impossible to pay something like that off.

I would strongly recommend you look at Frontier. They are an online FNP program which is very affordable. They also have the distinguished honor of being the first FNP program in the US and are very well respected. They also do midwifery I believe and have a strong women's health focus. You do have to find your own preceptors, but they also have a list of NP's willing to precept. I had strongly considered them before I went for PMHNP instead of FNP. My in state B&M tuition is about $545.00 a credit hour, I think Frontier is about the same.

I think your nursing intuition is trying to tell you something right now. If you have that gut feeling, listen to it. You are young and have plenty of time to pursue FNP, please be smart about it and pursue all the options before getting into a hole with that kind of money.

As far as having no time, well, I am almost halfway through my grad program and it is hard and time consuming. I also have to say I love the NP role and am willing to sacrifice for a couple of years to get where I want to be professionally. You should write out your pro and con list and see what comes up. I must say that it seems that not too many NP's regret their choice.

MSNce1 · Apr 9, 2015

The time you have with your 'lil' one goes by so fast. If it was me, I would take just one a course at a time until your child is at least in a pre-school/day care program. Meanwhile you can share what you learn with your colleagues which enhances the profession. Sounds like you love women's health and it is a natural for you so I believe you chose the program well as George Town has an excellent reputation and is more well known (Lord knows they advertise a lot). You will eventually get that investment back in spades and to name a few options can get work in a clinic with other nurses or midwives or a hospital system. If you apply for loan forgiveness at least some of the debt load can be reduced significantly. This works best working for a state or government facility such as on a military post but as a civilian worker once you graduate. Like nurses wear multiple hats so it has been shown 'we can have our cake and eat it too':)

Nacki, MSN, NP · Apr 9, 2015

This is a question you would need to answer, 100k is a lot to spend on a degree you are not sure of . Take that 100k and put it towards 529 plans for the lil ones if you are not 100% committed .

Am I missing something here? Where in the world did the OP mention she wanted advice on what to do with her potential tuition to grad school? How do you know she's not independently wealthy and can afford it? I'm sure she looked into the cost of the school when she applied. You've completely hijacked her thread and offered unsolicited advice on something she didn't ask.

OP, if you have the desire to further your education do so. Whether you do it now or later is up to you and your family. Like a previous poster said, I suggest you take one class at a time so you will still have time for family. You may find that to be a more reasonable balance for your life than diving in full-time.

You will also have to look at what you want your life to look like 5, 10, or 20 years from now...do you still see yourself working the bedside on nights? Nightshift can wear you down over time and you may find yourself missing out on more of your child's life than you would imagine. With bedside positions such as yours you have weekends and holidays to consider, not to mention being sleep deprived and needing to sleep when a good majority of the population is awake. Like BostonFNP said as an NP it's possible to work a M-F job making 100k +.

Overall what I would tell you to focus on is your future and what you want it to look like. From there you will be able to make an informed decision.