Working while in school

hkPSUrn · Jun 9, 2012

I haven't heard this about the UVa MSN programs. Is there anytime during the program when it is easier for students to continue working? Is it possible to switch from full time to part time if it becomes financially impossible to not be employed?

UVA Grad Nursing · Jun 9, 2012

hkPSUrn:

The work/study recommendation differs based on programs. We do not recommend that students in the Master's Entry program work at all.

Since you have "rn" in your name, I presume that you are already a nurse and looking at a MSN program. We do not recommend that you work fulltime (.9 FTE) and also be a full-time student (taking 12 graduate credits). Most of the students in our MSN and DNP programs are part-time students (taking 6 or 9 credits per term). You could complete any of the MSNs or the DNP in 3 years this way. Being a full-time student (12+ credits a term) would allow you to complete the MSN or DNP in 2 years.

Students who work full-time (and are enrolled as part-time students) usually get tuition benefits from their employers (as well as health insurance). Not a bad trade-off for that extra 12 months of calendar time.

Full-time students are encouraged not to work more then 20-24 hours a week. A few students have done the Full+Full, but they have generally been energetic folks with no families at all who also put a hold on any social life for 2 years. All of our clinical practica are in the last year of the program, so doing 25-30 hours of practica and working 36 hours and taking several courses and papers/logs/posters is asking a lot of yourself. We have seen unfortunate outcomes from people who try the Full+Full.