Is Graduate School Right for You?
I have had many nurses ask me if grad school is the right path for them. I always answer with, “How do you think your life/career will change by obtaining your graduate degree?” Pursuing an advanced degree should take careful consideration. You will need think about what your career goals are and why you are pursing those goals. You will also need to think about how obtaining this degree will affect your family. Further, how are you financially? Are you able to afford to invest in your future at this time or will it be better in 6 months or a year from now?
There are many reasons why you should pursue your graduate degree. Some of these reasons are obvious and some are inconspicuous. Obtaining your graduate degree may be a long-term goal or you may immediately hop into your graduate work right out of nursing school. For me, I knew I wanted to be a Nurse Practitioner when I was 17 years old. It took me several, I mean several, years to finally graduate with my post-master’s certificate. I thought it would never happen but with a great support group and a drive to see things through, I completed the program.
1. Find out why you want to get your degree.
Getting your graduate degree or post-graduate degree is an important decision that you will make in your career. Think about why you want to advance. Is it because you want a better job? Or do you want to help more people? Do you want to educate or research? Do you want a better paying job? Will you stay in your current place of employment, or do you plan to work in a completely different location after you graduate? Do you plan to get your degree in nursing or are you considering law. public health, or business? There are so many avenues one can go down.
Think about your why. How will this improve you as a nurse and as a person? You may have all your answers and at the same time you may not have any answers right now, and that’s ok! When you start to think about graduate school being on your “to-do list”, those answers will start appearing in front of you. You will start to realize where you are meant to be.
2. Develop your plan.
As I mentioned before, it took me several years after deciding to become a nurse practitioner to become a nurse practitioner. Honestly, nursing school kicked my butt, and I did not walk away with a GPA that I would have liked. I knew I had to get my act together before I applied to nurse practitioner school. I wanted to be and feel prepared. I worked several years to gain experience as a pediatric and ob/gyn nurse. When I decided to actively work on my graduate school plan, I enrolled in a Master of Nursing Administration degree to help boost my GPA. I also did have an interest to work in administration so, going down this road worked for me. I eventually enrolled in my post-master Family Nurse Practitioner certificate and completed it successfully.
The takeaway is do not let life and your fears get in your way of completing your graduate degree. You are on the journey you were meant to be on. When everything, work, life, school, gets too tough remember your why. Along your journey, find a good group of nurse friends who are going through the same thing, and connect. It will make your experience easier.
3. How will graduate school affect your life and your family’s life?
When choosing your program, you want to also account for how your life will change. Will you need to take time off from work to complete an internship or clinicals. Will your place of employment work with you? Will you be OK with taking a pay cut? Will you need to find a different job with a different work schedule to accommodate your school? Many of these questions are not the first thing we think about nor is it the second or third. However, along with the excitement of getting your acceptance letter you should also begin to plan for all aspects of your life.
Another important aspect to consider is your family. If you have a spouse and/or children, taking on graduate school can fill your plate but talking with your spouse about your dreams can make going to school easier. Your kids will be proud of you when you cross that stage to get your diploma. You may have to rearrange your schedule for play dates and social outings with your family. You may have to stay up after you put the kids to bed to study. All of that is OK. You will get through this and remember that you are also completing your graduate degree for your family.
Lastly, consider your resources to help you get through graduate school. Think about the school’s counselors, your program advisors, and the school’s alumnae that can help you and guide you along your journey. All the reasons why you chose graduate school are the right reasons because they are your reasons. I wish you all the best in graduate endeavors. It is not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.