What's your work schedule like during school?

Nursing Students NP Students

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  1. Which would you choose?

    • 4
      (3) 10 hour shifts - 30 hours
    • 1
      (4) 8 hour shifts - 32 hours
    • 0
      (2) 10 hours shifts and (2) 8 hours shifts - 36 hours

5 members have participated

Specializes in OR Nursing, Critical Care, Med-surg.

I'm starting my FNP program in the Fall as a full-time student. I was wondering what all of your school and work schedules were like. My first semester has no clinical rotations; courses are online. What's your shift? Are you part-time or full-time? One class a time?

Since I'm attending full-time (3 courses for 16 weeks) -- I'm trying to see how many hours I should adjust my schedule to. I currently work 40 hours a week, off on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I also have no kids.

The minimum I'd work is 30 hours (3 - 10 hour shifts), 32 hours (4- 8 hour shifts) max is 36 hours (4 days; 2-8 hour and 2-10 hour). Off on Friday, Saturday, Sunday regardless of what shift I choose. Which would you choose?

Would love ya'lls input. Thanks!

0 Votes

I chose the least amount of days possible to work. I think that you will have more flexibility for clinicals that way.

I am starting my NP program in the fall, too. I'm going part time and I work part time (2/12 hour shifts).

Good luck!

0 Votes
Specializes in OR Nursing, Critical Care, Med-surg.

Thanks a lot! Definitely whenever I start clinical I'm going to (3) 10 hour shifts, which will be Spring of 2017. I'm trying to debate which shift I should take for the Fall 2016. I don't want to be overwhelmed with work and 3 courses. So, I was trying to see what other people's schedules were like and how they managed. thanks!

0 Votes

I am starting an NP program in the fall as well full time. I am going to be working 36 hours a week, 3 12's with no weekends or holidays. I hope it works!

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Specializes in OR Nursing, Critical Care, Med-surg.

Thanks for your input! I've requested to work (3) 10 hour shifts starting this fall, Monday thru Wednesday - no holidays, but still have to take call like 4 times a month. Hope it works too, good luck!

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, OMFS, OR.

Hi gelli.25, which program are you in? I am currently in ISU program and find it very doable. I work 32-38 hrs a week and take 2 classes at a time. Once clinical start( January 2017) my plan is to work a max of 3 days a week (24 hrs at most).

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Specializes in NICU, telemetry.

I'm in my third semester. I've been doing school and work full-time. My first semester I had no clinicals. I started them the second. I work 3 12s(night shift) a week.

0 Votes
Specializes in OR Nursing, Critical Care, Med-surg.
Hi gelli.25, which program are you in? I am currently in ISU program and find it very doable. I work 32-38 hrs a week and take 2 classes at a time. Once clinical start( January 2017) my plan is to work a max of 3 days a week (24 hrs at most).

hey! I was accepted into ISU as well but decided to go with Angelo State as it was a better fit for me.

I'm hopefully going to work a max of 3 days a week for the whole program, that's the plan at least.

0 Votes

I attend full time.

I do not work as a nurse, bc I still manage our family business. I do do that about 30 hours a week, two children, a traveling (gone months at a time) husband and it's not been bad at all.

There are weeks where I worked much more than 30 hours and weeks where I had to clear my week and just get through a test or sick child or whatever was on my plate.

Not sure if you have that sort of flexibility, but it's been golden for me.

ETA: Try not to sit on your days off. If you feel school has a lull- move forward in your due dates and find some project or paper to work on. Get those knocked out ASAP. I think it can be done- but don't be afraid to back off the throttle with work for school.

0 Votes
Specializes in OR Nursing, Critical Care, Med-surg.

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I do not have that sort of flexibility. I work in surgery, but will have a pretty standard schedule (Monday-Wednesday) 6a-5pm, which will be 30-hours (I'll be facing a 40-hour cut per month). My plan is to most definitely devote my off time to school. Also, I do not have any kids, so that's even more time devoted to my studying. I've already come to a conclusion that I be on a tight budget since I am paying out of pocket along with using my employer's tuition reimbursement --also my social life won't be as great. But, I'm totally okay with that! I'm really excited about starting with this program!

Thanks for sharing your schedule. With you working 30+ hours, with a child and attending school full-time, it gives lots of confidence that it can be done.

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Specializes in ER.

Right now I am fulltime with rotating schedule that is preplanned. However, I want to drop part-time. There is a weekend spot opening up that is part-time but if I don't get it, I'll probably switch to a different area.

0 Votes
Specializes in NP, ICU, ED, Pre-op.

So those that are beginning school, if it is online, most classes will have some type of online discussion. From most people I talk with, you will have a discussion that "opens" on a Monday, you have to reply with your initial post by Wednesday. Then you will have to "respond" to at least two other posts by Sunday. Keep this in mind if you are planning on maxing your work hours on Mon-Wed.

All online programs that I have seen, Waldon, Chamberlin, UAB, CSU, USA, and many others work this way....These discussions have to be taken seriously as they are a major portion of your grade. It is the only way the course instructors have to "see" that your are participating in "class". Good Luck!!!

0 Votes
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