AW: More school

NurseyK

I'm applying for my Nurse Practitioner certificate - to work with children!

My dream goal (in 10 years) would be to partake in opening a pediatric / family practice office in my neighborhood. So I would have to meet a pediatrician with the same goals in the upcoming years. Currently, there is only one pediatric office... and our area one of the highest ranking school districts in AZ with the most elementary/middle/high schools. There is potential!

jaycee7389

YAY!! That is my dream, as well Are you going back to school..masters or DNP? Details please!

kellyt89

This is great!! How long does it take to get a NP certificate?

NurseyK

Well in May I will graduate with my M.S. in Nursing Education. The certificate is a 2 year part-time program. The majority of it is clinical hours since I will already have my MSN.

I'm excited!

I'm not going for the DNP just yet.... It's not possible financially for me to not work at this point in time.... so I have to find a part-time program where I can continue to work to support our basic needs. We want to start a family in 2012, so going to school part time and working part time will enable us to try to start our family and keep the house (and my sanity) afloat.

That being said... if you remember my post about student loans.... when I'm done with the NP program I will probably be making nearly double what I do now. This is exactly what we will need to support a family.

And the best part, I won't feel like I would have wasted my M.S.... like I kinda do now.

jaycee7389

Now is definitely the time to do it, as well! They are getting rid of all of the masters NP programs around here..which really sucks.

bethsmiles

Will you have to go in to even more debt for the program?

NurseyK

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_aw-school?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9af1b67a-4cf0-49b2-b585-2dcd112f8fbdPost:d88c310f-4ea6-4e8d-b6aa-f0823db4fcee">Re: AW: More school</a>:
[QUOTE]Will you have to go in to even more debt for the program?
Posted by bethsmiles[/QUOTE]

Yes, but not by much. My employers offers tuition reimbursement, but will still be short about $5K for the whole program when I reach my lifetime max.

Since I've only been here for 7 months, I have yet to use any of that benefit.

bethsmiles

Are you sure you will have time to do work, school, and have a baby. It sounds like a lot to take on!

I don't want to sound like a downer, I think it's awesome you are following your dreams it just seems like quite a bit to take on.

NurseyK

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_aw-school?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9af1b67a-4cf0-49b2-b585-2dcd112f8fbdPost:f04c2ff1-89be-445c-ba0f-d87e28abbfe4">Re: AW: More school</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you sure you will have time to do work, school, and have a baby. It sounds like a lot to take on! I don't want to sound like a downer, I think it's awesome you are following your dreams it just seems like quite a bit to take on.
Posted by bethsmiles[/QUOTE]

Yes. We (FI and I) agreed that I will do both school part-time and work part-time once clinicals start.... not full time.

I'm not the first woman to accomplish this... and the ones I do know, are single moms. If they can do it, than I can. ;)

jaycee7389

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_aw-school?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:9af1b67a-4cf0-49b2-b585-2dcd112f8fbdPost:748c3aa5-601b-4823-9ba0-8139633ff463">Re: AW: More school</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: AW: More school : Yes. We (FI and I) agreed that I will do both school part-time and work part-time once clinicals start.... not full time. I'm not the first woman to accomplish this... and the ones I do know, are single moms. If they can do it, than I can. ;)
Posted by NurseyK[/QUOTE]

True that. Almost all of my clinical instructors were working full time AND getting their DNP. It can be done, it's just a lot of ball (or ovary) busting!