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Question:

Dear Donna,

I am at a crossroads with my nursing career. I have worked in a busy city hospital for 12 years in both the NICU and BICU. I have started looking into other options that would allow me to work during the same hours that my children are in school. I am considering going back to school for my family nurse practitioner degree. However, I am not familiar with what kind of commitment and how many hours of work are involved in being an FNP. I am a mother of three and enjoy being home with them. In your opinion, would I be able to find a part-time job two or three days a week as a family nurse practitioner, or is this more of a full-time commitment?

Kelly

Dear Donna replies:

Dear Kelly,

Before moving forward, do some informational interviewing (www.dcardillo.com/articles/thescoop.html) with working FNPs. Be sure to speak with several FNPs because everyone has a different experience and perspective. Find them by asking around and through your state chapter (and the national office) of related professional associations, including your state chapter of the American Nurses Association (www.ana.org), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (www.aanp.org), and the American College of Nurse Practitioners (www.acnpweb.org).

I think you will be able to find part-time work as an FNP.

The next step is to contact some schools that you might attend to find out the specifics. Read “How to Get Back to School” at www.dcardillo.com/articles/gobacktoschool.html and “Master the Scholarship Game” at www.dcardillo.com/articles/scholargame.html.

Do your homework, talk it over with important people in your life, and do what works best for you and your family. Read “To Act or Not – It’s Your Decision” at www.dcardillo.com/articles/toactornot.html.

Best wishes,
Donna

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Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of “Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional” and “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career.” Information about the books is available at www.Nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.Nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.Nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call 800-866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.