Work, School, And FAQs About A Nurse Practitioner Program
Can you work and complete a nurse practitioner program at the same time? Advanced practice nurses are in demand, with a much-faster-than-average projected job growth rate between 2020 and 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you're a registered nurse (RN) who is ready to make a change, take a look at what you need to know about work-school-life and finding a balance.
Do Most RNs Work Before They Start Graduate School?
There's no universal answer to this work-related RN question. Nurse practitioners are licensed healthcare providers who have a graduate (master's, doctoral, or both) degree. To start down this career path you must already have a bachelor's degree and an RN license. While some nurses go into a practitioner program soon after graduating with a bachelor's degree, many choose to work between undergraduate and graduate school.
Not only will working after undergraduate school help you to pay back student loans or fund your current lifestyle (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, clothing, and entertainment expenses), it will give you the real-world experience you'll need to work in an advanced practice field. Some nursing school programs may prefer their students to have at least some clinical experience before starting graduate courses. While this isn't always a requirement, work experience may make you a more desirable applicant.
Do RNs Continue To Work After They Start Graduate School?
If you already work as an RN in a hospital, doctor's office, research facility, or any other medical/healthcare setting, you may not know whether to quit your present job before you start school. Even though a family nurse practitioner program will take a significant amount of time to complete, you can still work part-time.
A full-time work and full-time school schedule can overwhelm even the best nurse or student. But this doesn't mean you can't continue to do both and work your way through a master's or doctoral degree. Instead of full-time work and school, consider a part-time option for one or both of these. This gives you enough time to concentrate on your job and school, while still earning a living and building new nursing skills.
Are There Ways To Improve Your Work-School-Life Balance?
Along with part-time options, a family nurse practitioner online program can help you to achieve balance in your life. An online nurse practitioner program allows you to create a flexible school schedule that offers more freedom than a classroom-only option.
I went to a traditional college for one year after high school. I then decided to take a break from my education to focus on working more, so I could move out on my own. I was craving independence and thought it would be too difficult to juggle college and working the hours I needed to pay all of my own bills in my own apartment. I put college on hold longer than I expected, and I was soon going back after a decade absence. I then realized the world of college education had really changed! I found a reputable degree I could earn completely online. My kitchen soon became my "classroom." I loved the flexibility of colleges today, and this made it much easier to juggle school and work. I want to help other adults succeed in college by posting my adventures and tips for success on my blog!