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Discussion

Time Commitment Accurate?

I just finished an interview this past week, hoping to be accepted into the direct entry MSN program at UT. The interviewer commented that I should expect to work 60-80 hours per week, adding up class time, labs, etc. Do you think this is accurate? I have three children, all in school. I will not be working, and will be able to have household help. I am a very hard worker and good student, but do not want to sacrifice my family's well being. Thanks!

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    I don't have any knowledge or experience with UT's program specifically, but I attended grad school at another school that included a direct-entry program. I was a traditional, experienced-RN student, but many of my classmates were the direct-entry students -- the first year of their program was a rigorous, intense 12 months of basic nursing education, and then they entered the traditional MSN program with the rest of us. I heard from my classmates that that initial year of basic nursing was, basically, six 12-16 hour days a week for the entire year (class, clinical, etc., plus the necessary study time). Many of them were obviously still "shell-shocked" from the experience.

    If UT's program is similar, I think that >60 hours/week, at least for that initial year of basic nursing, is probably pretty accurate. In my program, the remainder of the program, the MSN portion that we traditional students were completing, was at least the equivalent of a full-time job (>40 hours/week) for me, and I know that the direct-entry students in my track, who didn't have my extensive background in nursing in general and our specialty specifically, had a harder time and put in quite a bit more time than I did.

    This was a v. rigorous and demanding program in general, and I don't know how UT would compare to that. But the figures you were quoted are certainly not outrageous.

    Any nursing program is a big commitment of time and effort.

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    This is accurate, at least in my experience. I averaged 70-80 hours per week throughout the program, between class, clinical hours, and prep time. I honestly don't know how others who do this full time can manage anything else. I do know moms who have done it, but they had extensive help from extended family, daycare, etc. All in all, it is still worth it though. Just try to be reasonable with yourself...if you need to work or don't have ALOT of help, do yourself a favor, and do it part time rather than full time. Just my 2 cents :)

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