[Arnetta]

Hi Marvelous, thank you for your question. I am a full-time DNP student and was a transfer student last year. So, my first year at the previous university was scattered and disconnected; I had been out of school for almost 20 years, so I had to get acclimated to studying and working simultaneously. What helped me was I had to sit down and write down my priorities, which included setting up a calendar and my work schedule. Luckily, my job had self-scheduling, so I scheduled my study time around my days off. I set boundaries and tried to keep the commitment to doing homework on my days off. We, as nurses, know our health is essential, and getting enough sleep is imperative. I prioritized my physical and mental health with my physical health. I go bowling twice a week, and for my mental health, I satisfy that with my religious faith. My faith and regular interaction with my family, facilitated by a group family text, played a significant role in maintaining my mental well-being. It took me a year to coordinate the essential things in my life. Work-life balance is a continuous process to ensure that I stay on track with my goals.

[Arnetta]

Although the original author of the question completed her DNP, I am grateful this question is still open because it is a vital topic for DNP students, as it is a concern of mine right now. I have a year to come up with a scholarly project idea. I have been a nurse for over 30 years and have worked in many different areas of nursing. My passion is doing a project in the community; however, I must emphasize the need for flexibility and adaptability in my approach, especially regarding available learning opportunities. I need to select a topic that I enjoy because of the countless hours that I will devote to the project. I hope to get a list of people to talk to from my job or university as I am considering going to my county’s public health department or a local community clinic. I must consider the organization’s needs when selecting a topic and will need to meet with the institutional leaders to learn about their priorities. My university has a faculty advisor who will mentor the DNP students, providing me with the much-needed guidance I will need throughout the academic program. I just wanted to have ideas in mind before I take my first DNP project class, therefore, I will have to meet with the institution’s stakeholders before the class.

[Arnetta]

Hi Laura, thank you for your question. I am a full-time DNP student and was a transfer student last year. So, my first year at the previous university was scattered and disconnected; I had been out of school for almost 20 years, so I had to get acclimated to studying and working simultaneously. What helped me was I had to sit down and write down my priorities, which included setting up a calendar and my work schedule. Luckily, my job had self-scheduling, so I scheduled my study time around my days off. I set boundaries and tried to keep the commitment to doing homework on my days off. We, as nurses, know our health is essential, and getting enough sleep is imperative. I prioritized my physical and mental health with my physical health. I go bowling twice a week, and for my mental health, I satisfy that with my religious faith. My faith and regular interaction with my family, facilitated by a group family text, played a significant role in maintaining my mental well-being. It took me a year to coordinate the essential things in my life. Work-life balance is a continuous process to ensure that I stay on track with my goals.

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