Working during GCU FNP Program?

elliebelle01 · Aug 4, 2014

I have a year left of the GCU FNP program and have been able to work full time the entire time. It was challenging with a couple of the courses, but I just took a day of PTO here and there. I have enjoyed the program and feel like I made a great choice. Let me know if you have any other concerns.

Adhartma · Aug 12, 2014

Hi elliebelle01!

I currently work at Mayo as an RN and am in the process of applying for the Jan 2015 class. I see that you have been able to work full time so far, that is awesome! Do you feel like all your free time is spent doing school work? I did my undergrad at ASU but that was almost 8 yrs ago, and now I have a 17 month old. Do you know if many people in the program have families and work while attending school? I know you must be crazy busy with school, but I really appreciate the feedback!

elliebelle01 · Aug 12, 2014

There are courses where I felt like most of my free time was spent studying. Patho and Pharm were two of those. However, GCU recognized the problem and changed them from 8 week to 16 week courses with about the same content. I have a friend in the 16 week patho course and she said it is going well.

There are single parents and people with lots of responsibilities in our cohort. They just make it work. I work for Scottsdale Healthcare and they really value continuing education. They give me scheduling priority and allow me to take PTO whenever I need to. I often take a PTO day the week of a final or important exam. Hopefully Mayo would be as accommodating. Let me know if you have further questions/concerns.

Adhartma · Aug 12, 2014

Thanks elliebelle01!

I hope that Mayo is as flexible as SHC has been! You have been very helpful!

puchica · Aug 21, 2014

I'm about a year into GCU's FNP program and have been working full time at Mayo as well. I'll agree with elliebelle01 that during Patho (which I literally just finished) I spent a great deal of my free time studying. My class was the first to do the 16 week course and although, per the instructor, they did add more content, it is definitely manageable. As far as Mayo they have been very helpful with scheduling for school. I have my class day off every week no questions asked and my leadership has been great with any other scheduling needs. From what I've heard it gets more challenging when rotations start.

Adhartma · Aug 21, 2014

Thank you for the info, Puchica!!!! I REALLY appreciate it! Being that Mayo has a preceptor partnership with GCU, will you be doing your clinical rotations through Mayo?? Where within Mayo do you work? Im in Endo over at the clinic. Keeping my fingers crossed that I get accepted into the Spring 2015 FNP class!!

puchica · Aug 22, 2014

I'm in the ICU. I haven't set up any or my rotations yet so I don't have specific details, but I from speaking to people who are ahead of me at the program it is definitely an option, although I'm told there is a pretty lengthy process to get it done. Good luck I hope you get in, when do you find out?

Adhartma · Aug 22, 2014

I'm told I wont find out until the middle of Novemeber. Seems so far away! :)

bfallers · Sep 7, 2014

Hi there! I am enrolled in the FNP program at GCU and just finished my first week of clinical. I do work full time and just had a baby 4 months ago (yes I was pregnant during patho and pharm). I had my baby 3 days after pharm class finished. Needless to say working and having a family is do-able while attending the FNP program but it Takes a lot of effort. I could have studied a bit more but the end of pregnancy was very tiring and my motivation level was down. Starting clinical is very time consuming. The one day of class, clinical days, assignments, and full time work. That is a lot of time to be away from family and it makes me feel guilty at times. If it were possible I would only work 2 days a week but that is a no go. So if you have determination and truly desire to become a NP, than you can get through it :)