taking a break from grad school

[meg2465]

Just finished my first semester of clinicals at an ACNP program. I got glowing evaluations from my clinical preceptor, and carried a good grade on my exams, but I fell far behind on documenting my clinical writeups and am looking at an incomplete for the semester. Barring a miracle, I won't be able to progress this semester, and I will have to recycle into the program a year down the road. I have two years of didactic already invested into this program, and I have done very well up to this point.

I'm disappointed, of course, but I'm a bit relieved as well - I work 12 hour nights FT, and I am not a night person - no day spots available on my unit. I've been swimming upstream trying to schedule daytime clinical around work. I have been living on coffee, I never exercise, and I don't get to see my friends or my family. Basically, I am exhausted and miserable.

I have every intention of finishing this program, and I am worried that this "break" will become permanent. Has anyone out there successfully navigated through a situation like this, and do you have any words of advice?

[Moogie]

You are not alone. I started a program several years ago but didn't finish, partly due to personal reasons and partly due to problems within that program. My situation was that I was a single mom at the time, with teenagers, and working and I was finding it too difficult to balance my family obligations, work, and school---especially since I wasn't happy with the program. The most difficult part for me was that I felt like a failure---I had this goal for myself and hadn't achieved it---but in retrospect, taking that break was probably one of the best things to happen to me. I was able to work through some personal issues and, when the time was right, I decided to start over with a different program that was a much better fit for me.

I will admit that I beat myself up over not finishing my original program and that when I started the new program, I felt frustrated because I would have finished years earlier had I not taken that break. Still, I had to do what was right for me at the time. While there still are days when I wish I was done with this journey, the time I took for my break enriched my education and enhanced me personally and professionally.

Again, the huge difference between your situation and mine is that you sound like you are satisfied with your program. I wasn't and, it definitely complicated matters when I had to pretty much start over at a new school. I am glad that I got out of a program that didn't suit my needs and into one that does.

I also feared that the break was permanent and that made me feel rather angry with myself. It was a pain in the neck to start over but I was able to transfer in several credits and, again, I felt much better once I was back on track with meeting my goals.

Be easy on yourself and take the time you need to get some balance into your life. I think you will come back feeling refreshed and better able to cope with the stressors of school and work. I did.

I wish you luck on your journey. If you want a shoulder, please feel free to drop me a PM.

[meg2465]

Thanks, Moogie. . . . I'm much more at peace with this now. It's not a race, after all!

[Who?Me?]

I have quit one grad program MBA--just not my thing and am currently in a MSN/MHA program that will have taken me a total of 4 years to finish when I graduate this fall. The end is in sight--finally.

Taking a break from the program is NOT the end of the world. I would suggest finding out what your school's leave of absence policy is and starting off with taking that time off. This will give you time to catch your breath and decide what you want to do with the program. Taking time off has saved my sanity several times!

Also have you asked your professors for an extension on the clinical writeups? Sometimes they will grant these related work and life issues. Since you did so well in the clinicals, they might be more likely to give you one.

As long as you finish your program within the maximum allowable time frame you get the same degree as someone who finishes it in the minimum time required. Who wins? You both do--you just get more sleep than the other person. LOL.

BTW...I have to exercise several times per week or I am a real witch to live with. When I was working nights, exercise also helped me sleep better and stay healthier than when I did not and caught every single cold known to man.

Good luck.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Just make sure you will finish within 5 years from doing your pharm, I think that's a requirement for certification or licensure.

I took 2 semesters off for family reasons, and it was fine. I got back into it last semester and got As in both subjects.

I am sure it's only yourself putting pressure on you to get done, so if you slow down, so what? If you want it, you will finish when the time is right. No point finishing sooner and being miserable the whole time.