working fulltime and school full time

AbeFrohman, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2010

I actually did it with their curriculum for a while. All A's and one B, but I'm not going to say it was easy. I've known others to do it as well, but most go part time with either their job or schooling.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 6, 2010

I did it - thru an MSN (online), two post-MSN certificates (total of 1200 hours of clinical). Not fun at all, very stressful. Doable....but not fun.

prairienp · Dec 6, 2010

Is is feasable to work full time and go to grad school full time? I know grad school can be overwhelming and I also know that people do it. But is it worth it, the stress of it all? I don't know whether to go to school full time and drop down part time at work or vice versa. I really can't afford to go part time on my job. I know the lord will make a way, but could somebody please give me some feedback. I work night shift, usually weekends twelve hour shifts. And I'm not a spring chicken anymore. I have applied to UAB, can it be done with their curriculum?

I am thinking you are looking at a FNP program? Yes, it can be done. But is it worth it, no. Short cuts will happen; either at work, school or family, the number of hours in a week does not allow a person to do everything. A graduate course suggested time per week is 3-4 hours for every hour in class. Thus, a 3 credit course should take at least 12 hours per week. Many will suggest they can do the class in less time. I agree, but at what price. What are we saying to the other health care professions when we can do what they do, yet work full time during our educational process. Our PA friends are not working full time; I suspect most work very little.

One answer is residency for NPs, the opportunity to receive pay while doing clinical as our MD friends have been receiving.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Dec 7, 2010

I think it can be done, but as others have pointed out, there is a cost. I started out working FT while taking didactic courses FT, but once I got into clinic, I began to cut back. It wasn't that I couldn't do the work, it was that I couldn't do the work at the performance level I expect from myself, go to a paying job and raise a family, maintain a home, take care of myself, keep fit and be a productive member of my community. It was either keep working and go to school PT, or cut back work and stay FT. I opted to do that latter and gradually cut back working hours until I was only doing 8-12 hours a pay period. I am used to having a lot more mad money than that, lol, but I believe in quality of life, and this made the most sense for me. I didn't want to miss important occassions, and I didn't want to do a half @ssed job w/ my studies. I want it all baby!

And to have it all, you have to slow down. There are only so many hours in a day, and I must sleep 9 of them, leaving me but a mere 15 to do all the things I mentioned. Most of my classmates either started out PT and quit all together, or never worked at all. Our last semester required 40 hours a week of clinic, so I don't know how anyone would work FT and manage that, let alone all the papers, case studies, exams, etc. There were only a few of us working at all at the end. My advice is to take it slowly. Go to school PT and see how you handle the work load. If it is very manageable, bump school up to FT. Worst case, you can always cut back to PT, at either. Good luck.

wengreen · Dec 8, 2010

Thanks, so much for your responses.

IloveTraumaNursing · Dec 10, 2010

I think it can be done, but as others have pointed out, there is a cost. I started out working FT while taking didactic courses FT, but once I got into clinic, I began to cut back. It wasn't that I couldn't do the work, it was that I couldn't do the work at the performance level I expect from myself, go to a paying job and raise a family, maintain a home, take care of myself, keep fit and be a productive member of my community. It was either keep working and go to school PT, or cut back work and stay FT. I opted to do that latter and gradually cut back working hours until I was only doing 8-12 hours a pay period. I am used to having a lot more mad money than that, lol, but I believe in quality of life, and this made the most sense for me. I didn't want to miss important occassions, and I didn't want to do a half @ssed job w/ my studies. I want it all baby!
And to have it all, you have to slow down. There are only so many hours in a day, and I must sleep 9 of them, leaving me but a mere 15 to do all the things I mentioned. Most of my classmates either started out PT and quit all together, or never worked at all. Our last semester required 40 hours a week of clinic, so I don't know how anyone would work FT and manage that, let alone all the papers, case studies, exams, etc. There were only a few of us working at all at the end. My advice is to take it slowly. Go to school PT and see how you handle the work load. If it is very manageable, bump school up to FT. Worst case, you can always cut back to PT, at either. Good luck.

I think you are right - start PT and see how you handle the work load, if it is manageable bump up to FT. That's my plan anyway -starting a ACNP program this summer, starting PT in program might move up to FT depending on how I handle the workload.

buster4 · Dec 10, 2010

if you have a choice, work least as possible, but I do not have a choice, I have to work, so I have gone to school part time and worked full time... and that is what I am doing now.. I have one semester left....... one does what they have to do.... is it fun, No I have made a lot of sacrifices, family, friends, one cannot do it all..... But it is what I have to do... so I do it... If I had a choice, I would not work as much.... but.... I have to..

MC1906 · Dec 11, 2010

Everyone has a different set of circumstances. I am currently working full time and going to school part time (2 classes a semester). I am making all A's but I do have the time to dedicate to my studies. It depends on what kind of student you are and how much time you need to absorb the material. Like others have stated, start part-time, that is safer and it also gives you exposure to the program to see if you like it. But anything you choose, you will do it, because you want it. School is not permanent...it's temporary.

ARNPCD · Dec 13, 2010

I worked full time and did school part time. It can certainly be done, but something will have to give. Be it your sleep and health, or social, or family time. I also had a few tougher semesters when you seem to get teachers that appear to thrive on making your life miserable, and everything fell to the wayside then. But, if you are motivated and have support, which I was so blessed to have, it can be done. It took the support of my family, significant other and also job to make it work.

Christen, ANP · Dec 14, 2010

I worked FT and went to school FT. I worked weekend days, then weekend nights. Weekend nights were TOUGH when it came time to do clinicals, simply because bouncing back and forth from days to nights every single week was terrible! While you're doing your first year or so, you do a lot of "busy work," like writing papers and taking patho / pharm / etc, so weekend nights is good for this as you can usually find time to study. But I'm telling ya, when it comes time to do your clinicals, try to go to days!

I agree though, it all depends on you and how quickly you want to be out and practicing. If you're not in a hurry, part time is great. I doubled up on a lot of the "fluff" classes, and graduated a semester ahead because I needed to get out ASAP while I was working. Do-able, but not really fun, and doesn't leave much time for anything but school and work!