Thinking about becoming a FNP; Help!!!

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What sup guys? I will obtain my BSN in about 6-7 weeks now, sitting on 3.6 GPA in this college here in PA. I'm thinking about the next step of going to graduate school. I have a couple of questions in regard to the FNP program, all answers are appreciated.

How is life as a grad. student in regard to a FNP student?

Is it doable and manageable (working like 30 hrs/week, paying BSN debt, family etc...?)

How is the study and workload wise? How hard would u say is the FNP program in your perspective???

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Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

Its challenging. They see to that, in my opinion. You can work 30 hrs a week, but you are going to be so busy with class and clinical and reading and writing assignments, that I would not recommend it. I flat out stopped working because it was just too much for me. I have 3 kids so between work, school, studying, STUDYING FOR CLINICAL, and kids...it was just too much. There is assignment after assignment after assignment. Some weeks you are reading 10-12 chapters for one class. And its not like nursing school. Its a world of difference. You have to learn this stuff inside and out. How to diagnosis , what test to order, how to interpret those results, the next steps to take, when and when not to refer, adults, peds, and pregnant women. It's a lot. I was ready to pull my hair out towards the end. I love to study and learn. I hated the busy work.

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Would you recommend the convencience of online school vs a traditional university? I'm in similar situation like you too, kids, family, etc... Little worry and anxious!!

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Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

Um..no. I really cant recommend that. Its already hard enough being an under dog..working in Primary care with Physicians whom have been through up teen years of school and dont hold NPs in high regard to begin with. The last thing you want to do is go online. Not to say that you wont get a quality education. I am not sure, I never went to an online school. But it will be ALOT more work and then you have to teach yourself..depending on the school. There are just some things you can't do online. It can be done. But I am not sure that I would recommend it. Trust me, when you get out of school people will automatically judge you just for being a Nurse. You dont want to give them added amunition against you. Just my opinion. My BFF is in an online program now. Its A LOT of work. And to do all that work and still have people look their nose down on your education is not worth it to me. Not trying to offend anyone :)

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Specializes in Psych, ICU,clinic supervis case manager,.

FNP GRAD 2012....The majority of the programs are going into online status...even brick and mortars 2/3's online...main importance is passing board cert test...I had no problem with that, neither did the rest of my class. The only benefit of brick and mortar is if you need the structure, also to interface with students and professors...they are making you find your own clinical preceptors too...so what are they good for???

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Thanks Tina for answering my question! RNGO4IT, whoa that's suck u have to find your own preceptor..... How's testing and all that? Superb hard??? I'm having second doubt about becoming a FNP; I barely made it through regular RN school...

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Specializes in Psych.

HNT,

I'm answering your question to the best of my ability.

RN school was ridiculously easy for me. I worked a full time job, managed four kids and a husband, and other than the time that clinical took there was no significant change in my life. Homework that my colleagues reportedly spent hours over a span of days completing took me less than 45 minutes. Studying was limited to re reading my notes the day before the test. I graduated with a 3.9; and that only because I missed a test my last semester when I went to my dad's funeral, and I didn't study before retaking it after the final exam.

Grad school is HARD WORK. Going part time (two classes), I study at least two hours a day, I'm writing at least a paper a week. I was informed by my senior that it was time for me to stop going to school because the grocery shopping and laundry aren't getting done.

If I had any doubts at all, I would wait - work as an RN for awhile, and let my family get used to the rhythm. I promise, once you have no doubts - you'll consider quitting at least every three weeks.

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Thanks for your reply! Must be tough

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I have two jobs. One is what I presently do for a living and was a requirement to complete NP school, and there other is a hobby related to my first career. Between those and school (I just finished my busy work semester) I got tied up a lot, but when I went back for the BSN and now the MSN I swore to not let it eat up my personal life so I luckily found a RN job in which I can sit and do my school work. Nothing about the "generic" BSN or grad school so far has been hard. The burden is some of the time consuming assignments and interference with trivial, busy work assignments with little to no point value. It seems manageable with any amount of work and family involvement because all types of people with all types of obligations do it.

I'm not in the FNP program, but I know many that are as most people in our school are in the FNP tract. None of them complain about the course content being too demanding. I don't feel like their three classes are enough and deep enough in content though, and I have heard some of them say that. Unfortunately, for the FNP students, FNPs have just about reached market saturation in all but the most BFE-type places to live in my state.

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