working during clinicals

Published

I know many people have to work full time while doing NP school, but if you had the luxury of cutting back on hours what would you recommend? Can you do 32 hours a week while doing didactic work? When clinicals start, what is the most you would recommend to work (and still have a life and some downtime)?

I can make it financially on 20 hours a week or a little less, and would just prefer to not have every second filled while doing clinicals, etc and have time for other things too.

I think I gained 20 pounds getting my masters!!! All day on the computer for work and then all evening. Not nearly enough exercise. Now I am paying for it. :cry:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Oh yes, the weight gain! Glad you mentioned that, I had forgotten that little tid bit of info! I am still not back to my pre-degree weight, but that is the last thing I needed to concentrate on!

I also think age has a lot to do with it. I could have done this with a lot more ease at thirty vs fifty. My head said go, go, go! But my body said stop, stop, stop! So if you're going to do it, I would advise doing it before your body is old and worn out!

I admire your organization and stamina, but near the end you WILL run down, no matter what age. One of my instructors said to us at one point, " you won't believe how tired you are going to be when this is over". And was she ever right! Tired isn't even the correct word, I don't think there is a word for exactly how you feel but I feel like I will never catch up no that I'm done, I am so exhausted!

And also there is no huge hurry to finish since it takes forever to test, get your license, get registered with the medical board and get your DEA!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP.

"And also there is no huge hurry to finish since it takes forever to test, get your license, get registered with the medical board and get your DEA!"

Great! This interim sounds like the perfect time to lost 20 pounds and clean the house. In all seriousness though, I hate to see trepidation about how to balance work and school keep potential NPs away b/c there is just no reason for it. NP school is time consuming, but let's face it, not especially difficult. I am not the smartest person in my class, but if I can do it maintaining a perfect A average, work two jobs and raise 4 small kids by myself, it ought to be a complete breeze for anyone in simpler circumstances. You don't know what you can do until you try!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
"And also there is no huge hurry to finish since it takes forever to test, get your license, get registered with the medical board and get your DEA!"

Great! This interim sounds like the perfect time to lost 20 pounds and clean the house. In all seriousness though, I hate to see trepidation about how to balance work and school keep potential NPs away b/c there is just no reason for it. NP school is time consuming, but let's face it, not especially difficult. I am not the smartest person in my class, but if I can do it maintaining a perfect A average, work two jobs and raise 4 small kids by myself, it ought to be a complete breeze for anyone in simpler circumstances. You don't know what you can do until you try!

It shouldn't drive anyone away given the vast amount of flexibility offered by most programs. I *chose* not to have craziness in my life for a lot of reasons and so I was able to flex my load and do it my way. If you are the type of person who thrives and does well in chaos and being busy, then most definitely go for it! I don't like my world that way and I'm sure others do not as well. I found NP school to be hard and challenging and there was a lot to learn. Of course that could be because of my age and my realization of all that I don't know and that drove me to study above and beyond what is required for the program.

The bottom line is that you can find a program that fits your work/life balance. If you don't *have* to work 2 jobs and go to school full -time, then don't! If you have to do it then you should know that plenty of people have done it and have survived. I would never in a million years encourage someone to work while in school just for the sheer heck of it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

I am also thinking about not working but I read on another thread that a new grad NP was questioned about why she didn't work in an interview. Do you think it will be an issue with finding a job?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Med-Surg.

Right now I'm in my 3rd clinical course of 4 and I've worked full time throughout the whole program, right now I'm definitely running on E. I work in a pediatric ER and at the end of my 12 hours I'm emotionally and physically drained, I feel like crap and I get home to know that I have to do it again tomorrow. Perfect example is that since Monday until the following Saturday I will have no days off between school and clinicals. I go to clinic 2x/wk and work 3-4x/wk depending on the week. Not to mention the papers and requirements of your classes and also the need to actually read and have an idea of what you are doing in school. I have talked it over with my bf and it's not an option for me to go part time or per diem (I'm the head of the household), we wouldn't even be able to do our basic needs on his salary and mine part time. :o( As others have mentioned if you can survive on only part time or per diem salary then go for it. I have headaches everyday, feel tired, my mind keeps going when I'm in bed and etc.... so yeah............. Am I happy I'm doing the schooling, yes. Do I love learning, yes............ Do i wish I could move back to mom's house and have her cook and clean for me and all I have to do is go to school and study HELL YES lol.

Good luck either way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a new grad who is planning to graduate next year from my FNP program. I have to do 300 clinical hours in fall/spring. I really will have to think of options to work and do the clinicals. Being unemployed is not an option since I pay out of pocket for tuition. In addition, I have other expenses too. I work part-time now and have a per diem job. I plan to get rid of the per diem job and somehow make it work being part time or reduciing my hours slightly. There is no options to cut back with school, since I really want to graduate in 2011 as I planned when I finished my BSN last May.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP.
It shouldn't drive anyone away given the vast amount of flexibility offered by most programs. I *chose* not to have craziness in my life for a lot of reasons and so I was able to flex my load and do it my way. If you are the type of person who thrives and does well in chaos and being busy, then most definitely go for it! I don't like my world that way and I'm sure others do not as well. I found NP school to be hard and challenging and there was a lot to learn. Of course that could be because of my age and my realization of all that I don't know and that drove me to study above and beyond what is required for the program.

The bottom line is that you can find a program that fits your work/life balance. If you don't *have* to work 2 jobs and go to school full -time, then don't! If you have to do it then you should know that plenty of people have done it and have survived. I would never in a million years encourage someone to work while in school just for the sheer heck of it!

I think we can all agree that taking the road less traveled is not for everyone, after all, it is less traveled for good reason! It seems counterproductive to add unnecessary stress to the journey, and if you do not have to add obligations and commitments I wouldn't go out of my way to do so. However, as carachel points out, most programs are very flexible and this translates into "can do."

I am NOT belittling anyone's hard work in NP school, but I have not yet found my program to be difficult (I am only 3/5 of the way through). The only think "new" to me so far has been pharm, which is easy enough if you approach it by drug class. :shrug: Patho was a review of my undergrad program and everything I have been doing in critical care for 15+ years. I also have an advantage of being a much older student with 18 years of nursing experience, and previous graduate and professional school experience. I was a lawyer for a brief time (hated it -Dad's plan, not mine) and when I was in law school, all my peers did was whine whine whine. Nobody b!tches like a lawyer (or wannabe lawyer), ANP students cannot even come close! I used to think to myself, if you shut up and spent that time reading and writing, you'd be law review you dumb @ss. I still think some of my classmates should do less complaining and more studying, but I recognize their need to vent and commiserate. I just have never been one to wear my heart on my sleeve. I deal with stress by grabbing a bag of snickers bars and climbing into the tub with a glass of wine and my textbooks. Both my hips and books are a little worse for wear, but this too shall pass.

I want all nurses who are interested to feel like it is something that they too can achieve. I tell people my story not so they can say "huzza for linearthinker" but so they can say hey, if that woman can do it well and under arduous circumstances, so can I"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took the first semester off from working. I plan to work per-diem just enough to pay......whatever.

With careful budgeting and cutting expenses, I think you can do a lot to ease the financial burden of grad school. Fun isn't exactly in the mix.

One nice thing about this thread is it's good to know MOST of us are facing the same issues.

B

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am planning now not to work during clinicals. My husband will also be retiring from the military that year. We plan to move out of our higher cost rental and find almost a cheap apartment -- or cheaper rent than what we have now, so I can do it. It's only a year. I just KNOW that at my age, i can't do both. My boss, who is a FNP, says DON'T try to work during clinicals. Hubby is just gonig to have to get a job to support us both.

I hope we can make it work. I am already so tired even from the first SEMESTER of grad school that I'm not sure how I'm going to do this. I am at the point I want to cut to just one day of work per week. I've definitely got my applications into "office" type nursing jobs (in primary care), so I can get away from bedside for now. It's just too exhausting to be doing w/ school.

I also raise two kids, one w/ special needs. I'm 47, and i'm tired and already feeling very out of shape w/ all the sitting. I love, love, LOVE school -- but never knew how time consuming it would be. Still, I know when it's done, it will be SO worth it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am planning now not to work during clinicals. My husband will also be retiring from the military that year. We plan to move out of our higher cost rental and find almost a cheap apartment -- or cheaper rent than what we have now, so I can do it. It's only a year. I just KNOW that at my age, i can't do both. My boss, who is a FNP, says DON'T try to work during clinicals. Hubby is just gonig to have to get a job to support us both.

I hope we can make it work. I am already so tired even from the first SEMESTER of grad school that I'm not sure how I'm going to do this. I am at the point I want to cut to just one day of work per week. I've definitely got my applications into "office" type nursing jobs (in primary care), so I can get away from bedside for now. It's just too exhausting to be doing w/ school.

I also raise two kids, one w/ special needs. I'm 47, and i'm tired and already feeling very out of shape w/ all the sitting. I love, love, LOVE school -- but never knew how time consuming it would be. Still, I know when it's done, it will be SO worth it!

No need to kill yourself. If you don't have to do it, don't do it. It isn't worth it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree. It literally almost did me in working full time and going to school. But I had no choice.

If you don't have to work, DON'T!! You will feel so much better when it is all over. It took a toll not only on my body but emotionally. I'm still not up to par and I graduated in January.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion