Too early to think about grad school?

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  1. A year is enough?

    • 3
      Much too early!
    • 5
      A year is fine!
    • 9
      Depends on the specialty and the person

17 members have participated

Hello all!

I'm a new grad nurse from may 2015. I've been working for 2 months on a busy postpartum floor. Orientation is coming to an end very shortly. I've begun to seriously consider my next move after i have a year on the floor. I always knew that I wouldn't want to stay as a floor nurse forever from my 1st nursing clinical. I like what I do but the hours are less than ideal (4 8 hour shifts 11-7am) and I have already begun to hate the politics of hospital work. I miss my family and friends.

Sometimes, I feel more like a well paid waitress than a nurse. I've been researching women's health NP programs and I am sure I'd really enjoy that profession in the future. I LOVED working for an OB/GYN office while in school and saw myself in that role in the future.

Is a year of experience enough? I want to be good at what I do and well rounded. I dont have kids or any plans to be married. I will be training to L&D early next year so I would see both those sides to the birthing process. I'd appreciate some advice!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I voted "depends" ... but that only partially reflected my true opinion.

Because you seem to fairly secure in knowing your general field of interest -- and have experience in it -- I think a year is sufficient to start graduate school. That's particularly true if you plan to keep working a while as you start school on a part-time basis. If that is your plan, you will be getting more experience as you go to school and that combination will enrich both your academic education and your continued maturation as a clinical practitioner.

On the other hand ... If you are planning to quit work completely and go to school full time, then I think you would benefit from a little more than a year's experience. At 1 year after graduation, a nurse is usually competent, but not yet proficient as an entry-level staff nurse. You would probably do OK in grad school, but you would probably not get the full benefit of it. You would be wise to get a little more experience before quitting your job completely to strengthen your clinical foundation.

Is it possible to keep your job a while longer and start school on a part-time basis? If that's possible, then I say "go for it." You sound like you have enough experience in the field to know that you like it. But if you would have to quit your job, I would recommend waiting a little longer so that you could end up being the best that you can be in the long run.

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I think I'd change my FTE as long as I could afford it so I could work and go to school. I would never just quit. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

I think you should have a minimum of three years of experience. Most programs require you to have at least 2 years of experience before applying.

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Hi!

Actually, the majority of WHNP programs I've researched only require 1 year. UIC, Duke, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, etc. all say one year experience. Thanks for your reply!

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Specializes in CVICU, post-codes.

I plan on going back in spring (2 years of ICU experience). I plan on getting either my FNP or ACNP. I would like to work cardiology. I now that with the program I will start, the first two years are the same curriculum, so I guess I'll go for one and if I changed my mind - so be it:)

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Although many grad programs might stipulate one year of experience, that is the minimum requirement for entry. Those spots are competitive. If your goal is NP school more experience will be beneficial to your practice.

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