Does Nursing School=No Life Literally?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi you all,

I'm hopefully starting my Lpn on January and then bridge right into Rn program. Is it true that once you are in the program is impossible to have a life? that you're life will take a 180 degree change? that studying at least 3-4 hours a day, aside from school/clinicals is the minimum?

What was your experience?

Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CCU, Alzheimers, Med-Surg.

During my LPN program I had class for 8 hours a day four days a week, and my school was 45 minutes away. I also worked two 12 hour shifts per week , leaving one "day off" a week. In the beginning of the program I would basically come home and study the rest of the afternoon until bedtime. Eventually I learned that this was overkill, and I didn't need to study nearly that much to learn the material.

By the time I was in my RN program I was working between part time-full time as an LPN (more money, yay!), and studying maybe 3 hours a week. Once you learn how to think like a nurse, the rest comes naturally!

I was scared at first when I read these forums before nursing school, because everyone said you had to study 20 hours a week, couldn't work full time, blah blah. It just isn't true. Some of my classmates studied like crazy and still failed, but I made it through just fine. Don't let anyone discourage you :)

Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

During LPN I only worked 2 days a week and went to school 40 hours a week. I didn't find it that bad. I was just broke all the time. RN school though.....I went to school full time and worked full time nights, 5 nights a week. I had some free time, but I was usually too tired to do anything. I was also super stressed. I was lucky enough to be able to do some homework at school, but not always. Now I'm in an RN-BSN program and I'm finding it a piece of cake after my ADN program. I think it depends on who you are, if you have to work, and your nursing program. Good luck!!

To be completely honest, I didn't study much in nursing school, or for the NCLEX and I did well in both (and passed the first time around). But, I've always been really good at retaining information and grasping concepts without the redundancy of studying. It all depends on how you learn. I did know people who spent 8 hours in the library every day studying.

It really does come down to how you learn and how you manage your time, and what else you have going on. I was lucky enough to not have to work during my full time program, and like the poster above, I also didn't study much either. I figured out a way to help retain the info and did well. I didn't spend as much time with friends and stuff as I was used to, but I had other stuff going on with me and needed the time to decompress and de-stress. And I had plenty of time to do that.

On the other hand, one of the classmates worked full time, was single mother of two with another on the way and had a 4.0 the entire time. If she can do it, anybody can.

Specializes in ICU.

I think the people that tell you life is over are the ones that only took a class or two each semester for their prereqs. Then they get to nursing school and it is overwhelming. I have 13 credit hours this semester and 17 next semester so I can get in the program next fall. I organize my days effectively and I do spend a few hours a day studying. But my nights are pretty much free so I can take care of my son's needs. I study a little bit on weekends but still make time for my friends. I think if you don't have a break or social life it is unhealthy.

Specializes in Hospice.
I think the people that tell you life is over are the ones that only took a class or two each semester for their prereqs. Then they get to nursing school and it is overwhelming. I have 13 credit hours this semester and 17 next semester so I can get in the program next fall. I organize my days effectively and I do spend a few hours a day studying. But my nights are pretty much free so I can take care of my son's needs. I study a little bit on weekends but still make time for my friends. I think if you don't have a break or social life it is unhealthy.

Talk to me after your first Fundamentals exam. I spent about forty hours studying for that exam just for a high B grade. You can't imagine unless you are doing it. I was one of those people who said, aw c'mon, it can't be as bad as "they" say it is. I can tell you that at least the first semester is as bad as "they" say it is.

Depends on your program and how comfortable you are with not getting straight A's. I had a super hard program and a relaxed attitude about B's, so I did OK. Our valedictorian, however, studied his azzz off and lived and breathed nursing school. He was recruited straight from our program into a CICU.

My advice is to decide from the beginning what you want to accomplish and then put in the appropriate amount of effort. If you want to have a 4.0 and be recruited before you graduate, say goodbye to your social life. If you're OK with a 3.0 and taking up to six months to land a job, party hardy!

Depends on your program and how comfortable you are with not getting straight A's. I had a super hard program and a relaxed attitude about B's, so I did OK. Our valedictorian, however, studied his azzz off and lived and breathed nursing school. He was recruited straight from our program into a CICU.

My advice is to decide from the beginning what you want to accomplish and then put in the appropriate amount of effort. If you want to have a 4.0 and be recruited before you graduate, say goodbye to your social life. If you're OK with a 3.0 and taking up to six months to land a job, party hardy!

Well I'm from Chicago and on the Chicago nursing section of this forum seems like it'll be hard for me to land a job as a new grad :/ kinda worried. So I might leave my party days behind to become a straight A student :)

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moved to General Nursing Student forum.

Moved to General Nursing Student forum.

Thanks for the various responses :)

Of course not, I know a guy who graduated with 3.5+ and he partied and fooled around throughout school. In class, I saw him playing video games half the time. It really depends on how fast you can understand and memorize - this guy could memorize the book right before the tests so he got away with playing the rest of the time.

You can have a life in nursing school, you just have to manage your time wisely. I am able to hang out with my friends about once a week, in addition to finding time to exercise and do things that I enjoy. It is a big juggling act. I don't have kids and I'm not married, so that makes it a lot easier. My hat goes off to my classmates who are working full time and raising a family. I don't think I would have a life then because I would want to spend it with my family.

I work full-time and go to school full-time. I also have 4 dogs that need to be taken care of so I don't have extra time to be going out and partying and carrying on a 'normal' life. I disagree that if you need to be studying all the time you're doing it wrong. For every exam we have well over 500 pages of reading. For every clinical (18 shifts this semester) we have a paper and pre-clinical prep. My pre-clinical prep for CBF has thus far taken me 4 hours and I'm only 1/2 way done. They estimate it will take 8-12 for many people. However, I'm also training for a marathon so I take the time to do that, I walk my dogs everyday, I have an occasional dinner with friends but I don't have the life I had pre-nursing school

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