Taking a break from NP School?

[Assaivivace]

Hi everyone,

I wanted some advice on potentially taking a break from NP school. I'm in an Adult-Gero Acute Care MSN program, and just finished my first year. I'm getting ready to start clinical late Fall/early next Spring. That being said, I only had a year of experience when I enrolled in the program and am feeling nervous about starting clincials so soon. I'm an ICU nurse. Additionally, I need to work both full time and usually pick up an extra shift a few times a week as I have no familial support system, and in fact help my family out quite a bit.

I'm contemplating postponing my clinicals to next fall, taking some of my lighter classes in the Fall (leadership, etc) and paying for those with my employer's tuition reimbursement program. Additionally, if I were to postpone a year I would open up more reimbursement money and will not have to pay any more than 1k out of pocket for the program.

What's holding me back is fear that I will forget a lot of pharm/patho and advanced assessment. I'm also worried that graduating a year later (2022 instead of 2021) will harm me in terms of looking for jobs in what seems like an already saturated market. It seems like there are jobs here for Acute-NPs, however, I don't know if that will still be the case in 3 years.

Any advice?

[Assaivivace]

Bump

[AnnieNP, MSN, NP]

I would think that postponing for only one year should not be a problem. There are so many ways for you to keep learning and stay up to date while still working that you should be OK. The AANP website has many online educational programs that you could do to keep up. Register as a student and it will be less expensive. Most importantly, tell your family that you are now off limits for $$$ help. Use the time you are working extra shifts to study!!!

[Assaivivace]

7 minutes ago, AnnieNP said:

I would think that postponing for only one year should not be a problem. There are so many ways for you to keep learning and stay up to date while still working that you should be OK. The AANP website has many online educational programs that you could do to keep up. Register as a student and it will be less expensive. Most importantly, tell your family that you are now off limits for $$$ help. Use the time you are working extra shifts to study!!!

Thanks for your reply! Do you think I’ll have a harder time finding a job? I hear the market is already so saturated

[RN_17]

You have had almost 2 year ICU experiences already. Why do you think it would be hard to find a job later?

[Assaivivace]

^ Because the NP markets seem to be getting saturated

[Oldmahubbard]

I don't know about the saturation in your area, but I did my NP program over the course of 5 and a half years. This was before the online option was available, and the school was 2 hour drive from my house. There were semesters where I couldn't take more than one course and still work. In the meantime, I was employed full time in the field and doing extensive self preparation. I can't emphasize this enough. Extensive self preparation. I went home every night and asked myself-what happened today at work, and how will I handle it when I am the provider?

When the time came, I was more than ready. I think way too many people are rushing their NP education. You will not forget things if you are doing the case studies and such as I suggested. Actively seek out learning resources, there are a ton available. Your knowledge base will only grow.

[Assaivivace]

Thats what I’m hoping for if I do take a break. At the 1.5 mark with being currently on track to graduate in two years, taking a year off would allow me to really hone in on some experience and build my skills.