Working during UCSF AGACNP?

[Cupquake12]

Hi all,

I'm starting the AGACNP program at UCSF this fall. I currently work at one of the big 4 hospitals in the bay area, 4 days a week (day shift). I love my floor, people I work with, I know the system, and I've developed some seniority here.

However, My hospital doesn't offer any reduction in work hours to accommodate school. I ideally want to work 2 12 hour day shifts.

I'm trying to connect with current students to see how your work schedule is while doing this program? Do you think it's feasible to work 4 days a week + 3 days of classes?

What work schedule do you typically work?

Appreciate any tips. Thank you.

[buttercup9, ASN, BSN, MSN]

I am in the program now and the students all have a variety of schedules. I was able to drop to per diem and I work 12 hour shifts so it is not a problems for me. Other people have kept their full time status HOWEVER, most, if not all do 3 12's. I am not sure how you would manage with four 8 hr days.

That being said, there are some people who skip class some days and work variable shifts. Most (but not all) of our classes are content captured (meaning they record the class and you can watch it at home.) Your classes are all on Tuesday and Wednesday. If the schedule stays the same, you will be able to watch the Wednesday classes at home but you will have to come in on Tuesdays each term of year one (there is one class each term that is either hands on or NOT content captured) So many of my classmates work on Wednesday.

Just think about how organized you are, what your home life is (do you have a partner.... kids? how much of your time do they demand of you?) Think about what your other responsibilities are and plan accordingly. Think about your options, can you go part time? per diem? Do you have a ton of PTO and education days you can burn through? Can you offer to work Baylor shifts (every weekend.. 12 hours?).

Again, some of my classmates are managing Full Time but they work 12 hr shifts or nights (they are pretty sleepy).

Are you willing to part with your seniority and get a part time or per diem job somewhere else??Will seniority matter after you become an NP?

Best of luck!

[Cupquake12]

Thank you for your reply!

In Fall 2018, the classes will be Tues, Wed, and Thurs (clinical).

I ended up finding a per diem position to help. I did look into full time (3 12 hour shifts a week) but I decided that I would end up being miserable if I did that!

Can I ask what to expect during the first semester of clinical? Do you mostly shadow the NP in the assigned hospital or actually start doing things like assessments, etc.? I assume the way the clinicals work are very different from undergraduate nursing school!

[buttercup9, ASN, BSN, MSN]

No problem,

First, congratulations on getting into the program! I should have said that first. Anyhow, I think being per diem will help if that is something that you can manage financially. I know it was the best option for me.

As for clinicals, the first term is every other Thursday. Your cohort is broken into two groups. You will not be shadowing anyone as there are two UCSF NP's that are the instructors for the course. It is focused on assessment and H & P's. You will be learning head to toe assessments in skills lab (Tuesdays) and then putting that into practice during your clinical. For example, in the beginning you might just do a head and neck assessment, next head, neck and skin, then head, neck, skin and pulmonary. By the last day you will have all the systems including cranial nerves. For each clinical day you will have to write an H & P. The point of the first term is to make sure you have assessment skills and can write a full H & P. The subsequent clinicals are much different as you will be placed either individually or on teams where you will be expected to know how to write H & P's and give SOAP presentations.

The first term clinical is a bit painful however the second clinical experience was amazing and made me feel much better about my choice to go back to school (a few people were second guessing themselves 1st term but after the 2nd we all felt great).

In having said all this. Please don't worry about it. They will send you more information some time in June explaining which onboarding tasks you need to complete. Much of it is tedious but you will get it done.

Seriously, stop worrying and enjoy the time left that you are not a student.

However, I would recommend brushing up on your anatomy and physiology. I didn't think I needed to but for the 1st term advanced pathophys class AND health assessment, it would have been in my best interest to do so. Many students felt the same. There might be some online tutorials from Khan Academy or some other educational source that you can check out.

Good Luck!