Any advice on how to get in study time while working part-time?

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Hello good morning everyone,

I'm going into my second semester of LPN tomorrow and it's going to consist of med surg, nutrition,pharm and fundamentals of Nursing 2. Last semester I did not work and did really well, thanks to my wonderful fiance, that works full-time and makes a pretty decent amount of money, so he was able to hold the family down while I was in school. However this semester I may have to work (he doesn't want me to), but he ruptured his achilles tendon at the beginning of summer and he's not fully healed yet. I don't mind working while going to school, it's just that I want to make sure I'm staying on top of things with school, and gonna be able to study. Last semester I worked one weekend and it just threw me all off, I wasn't able to study AT ALL, so that's why I'm asking for advice or tips on how I can get in study time while working. I work as a CNA, and we're pretty busy for the most part. If I have to study when I get off and be up all night, before school the next day will that get in the way of how effective I'm able to focus in school the next day? Thanks for reading and God bless!

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.

Record your lectures and then play them while you're commuting, so you're hearing the info over and over again. Make flash cards and bring them with you so you can review them when you have a spare minute. Volunteer to be a sitter so you can study.

Ask the nurses questions that are relevant to your area of study. Like hey you're studying diabetics and insulin, the patient you're taking care of is diabetic, ask questions about it then.

Dedicate a little bit of time to studying everyday. Like 30 mins a day on the days you have work, no matter how busy you get just 30 mins at home is your time to study and that it cannot be interrupted by anything. Then if it's a good day and you have time you can study more. Since your husband seems supportive have him quiz you on your flash cards while you're doing chores. Or play the lectures on speaker while you're doing chores.

Basically find time where you can.

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Specializes in Emergency Care.

Whatever you do, don't study when you are tired because it will go in one ear and out the other. The good thing is your working a healthcare job so that will help with medsurg. The best thing to do is to get to know your patients and observe to see if any of them are going through the same interventions you are currently learning (I.e. Chest tubes, heparin therapy, TPN or Enteral nutrition, etc.) this will provide you with visual learning as well as what you are reading causing you to use multiple parts of your brain to retain information. Always eat before you study and take a break about every 20 minutes to stretch get up and get you thoughts together about what you just studied. Try to relate the material, use acronyms, or whatever will help you retain information. My first semester I had pharm, maternity, research, health assessment, and nursing fundamentals which totaled 17 credit hours while working two jobs and managing a family so if I could get through the storm you can, just know that everything is being done for a reason and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

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Bring at least one book with you everywhere you go. You never know when you'll have a random few minutes to read a little. Also, make flashcards on Quizlet.com and download the app; you never know when you'll have a chance to study those either.

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