How to balance work, life, and school during a FNP program
Vested
🗣️
As a prior family nurse practitioner (FNP) student, I understand the (almost) daily challenges of balancing work, life, and school. My first several semesters of FNP school were hard, but it was mainly asynchronous coursework that I could work on during my own time. But once clinicals started, it became increasingly more difficult to balance school, work, and life. Below are a few things I’m sharing that I think helped me succeed with my work-school-life balance while in FNP school.
First, I think knowing yourself and your habits helps to better understand what a balance between work, school, and life looks like for you. Remember, everyone is different! For instance, I know that I’m detail-oriented and have “Type A” tendencies. So during school, it was important that I let go of the idea of perfectionism and pay attention to my stress levels so I didn’t get burnt out. Also, I recognize that I am an early morning person, and have the most brain energy first thing in the day. So, I completed the majority of my school work during this time. Knowing yourself and your habits can help guide your ideal balance.
Additionally, time management was a must. I had a color-coded calendar and to-do list of what I was doing each day and what needed to be done. I would look at my upcoming school work, tests, and assignments, and then prioritize what needed to be completed that week. If I had an upcoming test, I would block several hours of “quiet time” throughout the week to study. I would set aside ample time to complete assignments since I know I’m very detailed. Also, I set clear boundaries and non-negotiables with my time. Every week, I would make sure to spend time doing the things I enjoy and with friends and family.
Once clinical rotations started, I found it more difficult to maintain my school, work, and life balance. I was working full-time and precepting at a primary care clinic on my “off” days to complete my clinical hours. The only reason I think this was manageable for a few semesters was because I elected to work weekends. During my last semester, I had to drop down to part-time hours to manage school work, life, clinicals, and studying for the FNP exam. Since obtaining a certain amount of clinical rotation hours was a requirement, many of my fellow classmates were working part-time, not working, or were managing their households with children. With that being said, find what schedule works best for you.
For me, the work-school-life balance is about knowing your limits and priorities. It’s important to recognize that these also change, even over the course of FNP school. How would you or do you manage school, work, and life in FNP school?