Working in med/surge days vs L&D nights while going to Women's Health NP school

[borninaugust30]

I've recently been accepted into grad school for WHNP/Midwifery for the fall as part-time, and I am also planning on working in the hospital part time. I currently work in med surge on days, but I just had an interview for L&D on nights (my DREAM floor, which is obviously why I want to be a WHNP). I don't know if working on L&D nightshift is doable/worth it compared to med surge dayshift during grad school. I want to work on L&D because I love OB and for networking once I become a WHNP/Midwife, but I've never done a night shift in my life, let alone during school, and I would also like to have somewhat of a life too! I've also been accepted into an online (4x more expensive) and on-campus grad school, and am torn there as well. Opinions on L&D nights vs MedSurge days during NP school?

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

I personally do not do well switching my body clock around. I have several friends who LOVE night shift and seem to have no issues flipping from days to nights and back. For me, if I worked a night or two, then try to study or do classes for the day, I am useless. I retain nothing and feel like I'm in a fog for the next several days. For my friends who love night shift, they seem to take it in stride, being able to get up after a two hr cat nap, take in a full day of studying or classes, or whatever and jump back into another night shift as if they were fully refreshed.

Truthfully, I wish I could do that, it would make going to school and working so much easier, but it's just not how I'm wired. I can see how L&D would be ideal for you both in experience and in networking and even knowing what I know about myself I'd be tempted to take it if I was in your shoes.

Good Luck with your decision and schooling!

[generalRN2008]

Do what will be best for your career. You probably could afford to not have a life for a few years to get your career jump started