Too much? 16.5 credits

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I know credit hours aren't the most realistic thing to judge the difficulty of a program, but isn't 16.5 credit hours per semester really unreasonable?

This is my first semester and I haven't really done anything other than school. I read on my bus rides to/from school and clinical. Classes are from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Tuesday/Wednesday, clinical from 6:30am to 2:30pm on Thursday/Friday. I'm pretty much studying every single moment that I'm not at school, but I still can't finish all of the pre-readings! I'm able to finish assignments on time, but it's still pretty stressful.

I'm overwhelmed, but not too much. Most of my concern is regarding my health (sitting so much) and wondering how I'll do 5 more semesters of this while giving myself a bit of balance. I have started some exercise. Mainly yoga and moves to get my heart pumping (i.e., burpees!). However, I still sit on my butt minimum 12 hours a day when I have days off from school. This includes mini-breaks, where I get up and walk around the house, talk with mom, play with the dog, etc.

Is this typical NS? 16.5 credit hours? I know this is probably quite common, having a first-semester student complain, but does anyone have advice?

My first semester was 17 credits. It was hard work and I had class every week day. I know of accelerated BSN programs having students taking something like 18 credits in one semester.

My advice? Stay organized and do not get behind. I lived by my planner and the myHomework app I downloaded. I knew exactly when everything was due and how much time I had until then. Stay ahead by working on something are early as you can. I would write on papers or start studying weeks in advance and balance it with whatever I had immediately due (with all those credits something is always do). This helped when I had a lot of things schedule in the same week.

You will get through, don't worry. Good luck!

read while walking on the treadmill. Walking, at like a 3.0. it helped me move a little more and it helps stimulate your brain in a different way.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

My AAS program was set up for 16-19/ semester. I did a 23 credit semester once in my BSN program. You'll be fine. Trust me nursing SCHOOL is easier than nursing WORK.

Specializes in Pedi.
I know credit hours aren't the most realistic thing to judge the difficulty of a program, but isn't 16.5 credit hours per semester really unreasonable?

No, not at all.

This is my first semester and I haven't really done anything other than school. I read on my bus rides to/from school and clinical. Classes are from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Tuesday/Wednesday, clinical from 6:30am to 2:30pm on Thursday/Friday. I'm pretty much studying every single moment that I'm not at school, but I still can't finish all of the pre-readings! I'm able to finish assignments on time, but it's still pretty stressful.

It's only gonna get worse... You have no school on Mondays? And 8 hrs of class 2 days/week and 8 hrs of clinical 2 days/week? Sounds better than any semester I ever had. Nursing school is stressful. So is being a nurse. You picked a stressful career. That's just the way it is.

I'm overwhelmed, but not too much. Most of my concern is regarding my health (sitting so much) and wondering how I'll do 5 more semesters of this while giving myself a bit of balance. I have started some exercise. Mainly yoga and moves to get my heart pumping (i.e., burpees!). However, I still sit on my butt minimum 12 hours a day when I have days off from school. This includes mini-breaks, where I get up and walk around the house, talk with mom, play with the dog, etc.

Ok, you have 8 hrs of class 2 days/week. Presumably on your clinical days, you're moving. A significant number of working people (outside of healthcare) sit on their rears for 40+ hours a week. I don't see why you'd be sitting on your rear 12 hrs/day on your days off unless you choose to.

Is this typical NS? 16.5 credit hours? I know this is probably quite common, having a first-semester student complain, but does anyone have advice?

Yes, it is. I had many semesters of 16+ credit hours. And, I agree with meanmaryjean, the truly hard part will come when you're working as a nurse.

We are in a traditional program and had 13-15 credit hours every semester. Not unheard of.

No, not at all.

It's only gonna get worse... You have no school on Mondays? And 8 hrs of class 2 days/week and 8 hrs of clinical 2 days/week? Sounds better than any semester I ever had. Nursing school is stressful. So is being a nurse. You picked a stressful career. That's just the way it is.

Ok, you have 8 hrs of class 2 days/week. Presumably on your clinical days, you're moving. A significant number of working people (outside of healthcare) sit on their rears for 40+ hours a week. I don't see why you'd be sitting on your rear 12 hrs/day on your days off unless you choose to.

Yes, it is. I had many semesters of 16+ credit hours. And, I agree with meanmaryjean, the truly hard part will come when you're working as a nurse.

Yes, I understand that it will only get worse. I'm sitting for so long on my days off because there is a humongous amount of work to do.

My first semester was 17 credits. It was hard work and I had class every week day. I know of accelerated BSN programs having students taking something like 18 credits in one semester.

My advice? Stay organized and do not get behind. I lived by my planner and the myHomework app I downloaded. I knew exactly when everything was due and how much time I had until then. Stay ahead by working on something are early as you can. I would write on papers or start studying weeks in advance and balance it with whatever I had immediately due (with all those credits something is always do). This helped when I had a lot of things schedule in the same week.

You will get through, don't worry. Good luck!

Thanks! This is pretty much what I've been doing, keeping a calendar with due dates and working on things ahead of time. I feel fairly organized but it never seems like enough in this program :/

read while walking on the treadmill. Walking, at like a 3.0. it helped me move a little more and it helps stimulate your brain in a different way.

I have found that moving helps :) If I'm reciting meds or reviewing skills, I like to walk around my room.

My AAS program was set up for 16-19/ semester. I did a 23 credit semester once in my BSN program. You'll be fine. Trust me nursing SCHOOL is easier than nursing WORK.

Wow 23 credits? I think most of my complaints come from the fact that my workload has stunned me. Previous to this, I was taking 3-6 credits for a couple of semesters (prereq's weren't offered in the same semester)!

So although I am working very hard, I can always manage time better. There's really no time to stress.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Yep, sounds about right! It's a big adjustment! You'll find your way. I TOTALLY agree about reading on the treadmill- it keeps me sane!

I took 21 credits one semester + worked in a research lab and worked part-time. 16.5 is really not that bad.

I always took 18 for my first BS, I have no clue how many credits I'm taking this semester..One of the beauties of any of the science programs, each class has a lab (or now clinical!). What frustrated me the most at my last school is that 18 credits a semester was required - but any semester you took more than 15 credits you had to pay an overload fee. And then lab fees! :arghh:.

That doesn't sound too bad - clinical you're up and moving around all day! I'm sure you'll get used to it quickly :) I'm a hyperactive girl and I'm in lecture from 8:30-12 1-4:30 T/THU, 8:30-1 on Fridays and a 3 hour lab on Mondays. When teachers give us a break I always get up, leave the classroom and jump around for 5-10 minutes before I have to go back in. One of my teachers told me I could get up and stand in the middle of a lecture if I wanted to but I think my classmates would find that really distracting...I've kind of accepted that there are going to be weeks where I'm not going to make it to the gym as often as I should, not sleep as much as I should..Its a crazy 16 months! If you're really concerned about your health, I've been finding doing HIIT workouts or any of the pop pilates videos on study breaks really helps me sit back down and refocus, and I'm managing to sneak workouts in on days where I can't devote an hour to the gym. Also - I make study guides, record myself reading them, and then listen to the recordings when I do cardio at the gym. Multitasking!

Specializes in psych/dementia.

For my first degree, I regularly took 20 credit hours and full time was considered 16. Now in nursing school, full time is considered 9 credit hours and I've taken 18 for fall and spring. Winter was only 3 though it was 2 week class. The summer will be full time as well with 9 credit hours and my last semester will only be 16 credit hours.

Clinicals make the credits better and worse. I have mini care plans due every week for my one clinical and assignments sue every week for my other. Unfortunately they're not graded which is annoying.

Anyway, you can do this. People have done if before you and people will do it after you.

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