Want to be a NP, but not a nurse... so confused!!

carachel2 · Jan 4, 2011

First of all, very very normal to have second doubts about virtually everything when you are pregnant. It is probably impossible for you to even imagine your life as a new mom, yet less imagine a whole new career.

Secondly, there is so much more to nursing than floor nursing. It is VERY hard work and can be very rewarding, but there are many many more paths in nursing. I worked in an outpatient fitness center for years as a cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation nurse....fun job! Don't let yourself back out of what is potentially a wonderful mommy job just because you can't envision yourself working on a nursing unit. The beauty of nursing is that you can do a million different things once you have the RN behind your name.

IF you are at least halfway through your program, I would consider pushing through to the end. Aside from teaching, I don't think there is a better family friendly career path with the same income as nursing. Once you are done and your initial training is complete (and assuming you are not the sole provider) you can drop down to working one DAY a week! How wonderful is that ?

Finally, I found that NP school was very, very family friendly. I went part-time through most of the program and work just 2.5 days per week now. I understand enjoing your pregnancy and enjoying the times when your children are little and you totally need to do that BUT trust me when I say that once they get into school, your life will get so insanely crazy you will be thankful for a flexible well paying career.

Blessedx3 · Jan 4, 2011

Carachel-we seem to always respond on these family topics.... I agree-I was pregnant with my second child while in nursing school. I actually graduated and then laid off for a year to enjoy the baby. I made nursing work for my family schedule--I worked part-time Post Partum, taught childbirth and lactation for years, and then was a school nurse for 1800 kiddo's when my last one went to kindergarten.

Fast forward 14 years--with a hubby, dog, and 3 children-I just graduated from NP school. It is family friendly UNTIL you hit your clinical component. The last 4 months in my program--I missed a lot of family events. There is no way to do full time school and full time parenting and do it perfectly. My biggest piece of advice when going to NP school is finish your writing and all pre-req type courses first...slow if needed. I had to take 2 writing courses in my last year with all the clinicals-that was definately difficult.

Best of luck..You have time to enjoy this baby. You only have one shot at being a parent. I have one that heads off to college next year....that idea is very fresh on my mind. Best of luck!

rr0416 · Jan 4, 2011

I have a question I hope you don't mind me intruding. I just had an interview to get into the direct entry MSN program at UT. The interviewer said to expect to work 60-80 hrs per work with classwork, labs, etc. Is this what you experienced? I have three kids but will not be working, and will be able to have household help. Is this doable? I don't want to sacrifice my family. Thanks so much!

Music in My Heart · Jan 4, 2011

I have a question I hope you don't mind me intruding. I just had an interview to get into the direct entry MSN program at UT. The interviewer said to expect to work 60-80 hrs per work with classwork, labs, etc. Is this what you experienced? I have three kids but will not be working, and will be able to have household help. Is this doable? I don't want to sacrifice my family. Thanks so much!

I suggest you repost this as a stand-alone thread rather than hijack an existing thread.

I went through such a program and would be happy to comment in the appropriate forum.

magn1jes · Jan 5, 2011

Thank you SO much for the wonderful advice carachel2 and Blessedx3. I really appreciate the thoughtful responses! You both reinvigorated my drive to eventually be a NP. Working only 2.5 days a week; that would be great while having a family! Did you work full time as a nurse prior to that, or part-time?

I will do my best to push though my program, and hopefully have the opportunity to take it a bit easier once the baby comes. Any more advice or stories are welcome!

Thanks again.

carachel2 · Jan 5, 2011

Thank you SO much for the wonderful advice carachel2 and Blessedx3. I really appreciate the thoughtful responses! You both reinvigorated my drive to eventually be a NP. Working only 2.5 days a week; that would be great while having a family! Did you work full time as a nurse prior to that, or part-time?
I will do my best to push though my program, and hopefully have the opportunity to take it a bit easier once the baby comes. Any more advice or stories are welcome!
Thanks again.

I am glad it helped! Truly, nursing is what you make it. The nurses in the hospital who are griping are just nurses who aren't going out and making their own future. The opportunities are endless. I know things have changed, but at any point in my 15 years as an RN, I have walked into a department, said I wanted to work there or transfer there and told them which hours I wanted to work. Not that I was "all that" by ANY means, it's just that most units and departments are (or were) always in need and there was always a way to work another RN into the schedule...CCU, ER, ICU, etc. My first job as an RN was in CCU and I worked three 12 hour shifts a week. I didn't have kids then either!

After my first child, I returned only part-time and since then have worked a combination of various part-time hours depending on where I was working. At one point, I worked one 12 hr shift a week! As an NP now, I work just 2.5 days per week. It is TOTALLY worth it to make great $$ and be home a lot of the time with my child.