Work and going to school???

[nursebrittany12]

I just recently graduated with my BSN in May 2015 and have started a job in the CCU on nights from 7pm-7am. I am wanting to go back to school for Nurse Practitioner(6 credit hours a semester). I would not even start classes until August of 2016 so I would have over a full year of work. Is it possible to work nights and do nurse practitioner school? I do not have kids or car payments, etc. Has anyone done this? All advice and comments are appreciated!! Thank you!!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Thousands upon thousands of people have gone to school part time (and full time) while working night shift as RNs.

[Dogen]

I'm a current NP student, and I work. The question isn't whether you can, but how much. A 0.9FTE would kill me. A friend of mine works a 0.7 nights and she's getting through, but she's pretty stressed. I work a 0.4 days (8 hour shifts) and I'm pretty solid. Broke most of the time, but I rarely feel like I can't get school stuff done. YMMV.

[Dranger]

I would drop to a 0.6 or 0.75

Also I would work a bit more before you think about school. There is a large number of RNs trying to be NPs and I feel this will effect the job/pay market later on. For example, my MICU has approximately 80% of the RNs in NP or CNS school.

You are probably still in residency, work first then think about school later. A year really isn't that much experience, it's enough to be dangerous haha