Working while getting my PMNHNP

[OutDoorsmanRN]

Hey all,

I recently was admitted to a part-time PMHNP program and will be done in the Spring of 2020. Is it feasible to work fulltime while in school fulltime? I do not have to go to class or clinical more than once a week for the first year and a half.

Thanks!

[ThePsychWhisperer, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

I went to school what was considered full-time and worked full-time up until my last clinical rotation. It is doable, but takes considerable time management skills.

[verene, MSN]

I think it depends on how your program is structured and what your time management skills are like. I go to a B&M program - first year classes are two days per week with out clinical and a several students worked full-time or close to full-time during this year. Once clinicals started everyone either dropped to very part-time or not working at all. It is hard to balance significant work hours into a schedule of 2-3 days per week of clinical, 1 full day of classes, and 1-2 online classes on top of that.

In talking to coworkers who are students of online programs, they seem to find it easier to balance school with working full-time, but most of them pack clinical hours into last year or last couple of terms rather than more spread out like my program does.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

I suppose it's doable if you do absolutely nothing else but go to work and school. Even so, it will still be tough when you factor in clinical hours. Also, you might not have time to learn things outside of the NP curriculum or maximize NP clinical hours.