Nursing school effect on life?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi all,

I am a Medical Assistant in Urgent Care and have been for 5 years. I want to do more with life in the medical field and have decided to return to school for a BSN. I have to take 1-2 years of pre-reqs and then 2 years in a nursing program.

What I want to know is do you still have a life outside of the nursing program? I hear soo many horror stories of losing friends and relationships over nursing school.

I will be working 10-20 hours a week at my current job (just to pay bills). I have no kids, I'm not a party type, but I do have a loving boyfriend. He's already told me that he will do all he can to support me through these next few years, but with all humans, we need personal time. How do you all manage this while going to school?

Look as I said before if you are the traditional college student 18-25 and with no family or marriage you have time, period. I did ROTC, lacrosse and partied in college and my grades didn't suffer. The material isn't that time consuming or difficult and at least 1-2 classes a semester are fluff or theory. The "no-life"mantra is thrown around waaaay too much. As I have said before my pre-med classes took up a lot more of my time than nursing school.

Non traditional students are going to be strapped for time in any major.

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Specializes in ICU.

Fortunately, my boyfriend and I have very busy lives and we get to see each other a few times a week and make a date night for each other once a month. He is my biggest supporter for me going back to school. He doesn't mind how busy I am. He is too with his job and works 3rd shift. He also has his own business teaching karate lessons to kids. I don't know what I'd do without his support though, he truly is my rock. And if you are both willing, you will make it work. My friends have kinda taken a back seat but they understand. I have a child and school so we try to get together about once a month. It works for me.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

I'm not going to lie, I once went a whole week without contacting my (then) boyfriend. He called my mom Sunday night to see if I was okay. I worked 2 jobs while in my BSN program full-time. Had no time to be social. Facebook was as social as I got. And study groups. You may not get to hang out with many of your friends outside of nursing school, but I gained life-long friendships within my cohort and it was totally worth it. Besides it's only 2 years of your life, minus summer/winter break, and you have the rest of your lovely life to have fun. I'm only 24 and I have my Bachelor's degree/RN license and I only have to worry about paying my bills with my ONE job and how to stop my impulsive shopping with my extra cash. I have many more young years ahead of me and it feels good to be done and living my life vs. some of my friends my age who like to party more than study and still haven't made it past college or their parent's house.

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Specializes in Nursing Management.
I'm just in my first semester of prereqs so maybe I'm in for a rude awakening... but I do have a life. I aim to spend 2-3 hours a day studying. I still spend most of the evening with my fiance I work part time, I work out for an hour almost every day, I have a horse that I go ride a few times a week, I hang out with friends and... I have straight As. High ones. I have a final this afternoon that I only need a 30% to get an A in the class and then another on Monday where I only need a 50%. Again, maybe I'm delusional but it's not that bad if you manage your time and stay caught up. Don't let things sneak up on you so that you end up having to cram. I do have the advantage of having a previous science degree so a lot of this stuff is pretty familiar to me and I'm not having to retake chem or a few other things. Still, I would think that having been a medical assistant that things will be similarly familiar to you too.[/quote']

The pre requisites are nothing like being in nursing school. I loved anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. They were a piece of cake compared to nursing school. I say that because there is only one right answer in those science classes where as in nursing school you really need to know what your professor is looking for and it's difficult sometimes when the book says one thing, another book says another, and then your professor has her own opinion on it as well. You never know if she is gonna want the textbook answer or her answer as it differs from question to question.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, Subacute, Homecare, LTC.

What is this life you speak of? :wacky:

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I just finished my first semester and I feel like I let school overtake me in many ways. You have to make time for the things that are important to you. I've realized that grades aren't everything.

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I'm in pre-reqs right now, and I stayed pretty busy this semester, but I think that is a result of my time-management skills (which need work). I have two kids, I'm in school just under full time (about 10 credits a semester), I'm doing it this way so that I won't be full time even when I get to nursing school. Better to space it out so I still have time for my family. I don't keep very many friends, just a few close ones and we still talk semi-regularly, once or twice a week, versus the maybe 3-4 times per week before I started school, but it wouldn't be any different if I had a job.

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Specializes in Clinical Nurse Leader.

I think it depends on the program you apply too! I am in an accelerated masters CNL program and I am taking five classes doing 2 clinicals and I have a family. Its manageable but I do have to decline offers to do social things. Its not every single time. Nursing school is busy and for some people it takes a little longer to grasp material, so it may take up all your time but its only 2 years. I am in the midst of finals and have spent 10+ hours each day at the library for the past week and I have not seen my family. It comes in spurts because a month ago I was celebrating my close friends birthday. Time management is key, if you don't know how to do that, then you might be in trouble and HAVE NO LIFE;0

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I'm entering my final semester of my BSN program. Running has been my sanity during this program, and I've managed to run several races, including Tough Mudder, a marathon, and several half marathons during the program. It's really a delicate balance, especially with a spouse and a child. People in my life do feel ignored, however, they also understand the demands of the nursing program. I haven't lost any friends because of school, though my relationship with my husband has had some rough patches (we're doing great right now).

As best you can, try to (flexibly) schedule study time AND personal time. Have something that's yours that helps you maintain your sanity. I love running, because I can do it anywhere, anytime. I carry running clothes with me in my car. I'll go before clinicals if I have to (I have to be at the hospital at 6:30AM). I'll go before class and shower at the campus gym.

I also try to plan time with friends whenever I have some downtime. I'll have a friend over for dinner with my family when there's a holiday break, or a weekend after a major report is due or something. I'll also use commute time to catch up on phone calls (for example, my ER rotation was over an hour from home- great time to call people!).

It can be done. :)

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Hi soulshine,

I am interested in hearing more about your experience in the CNL program at UVa. I am almost finished my pre req's and will be starting to study for GRE's. I really love the program at UVa! I have been to a couple of info sessions but not since the new director.

Regarding the summer session (May start), what is the week like? Mr. Hysell said clinicals start in July. I was wondering when the classroom days were and when the clinicals were. What is a typical day and week this first semester?

I am so excited at the possibility I will attend the CNL program!

Thanks for all your helpful info!

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I'm in my junior year of a BSN program and there were times I felt overwhelmed like around exam times but after exams it was like a week of relief and just learning new things. I worked part-time and have no kids. The thing about me is that I'm sooo nervous about failing so I spent the majority of my time reading and studying which I don't regret at all. It was difficult to go out when I barely had money to spend due to bills and I just felt like my main priority was studying not going out to have fun. Of course I would do simple things like watching my favorite TV show or go out to watch a movie and spend time with my boyfriend. But it was so difficult to get in the program and I just didn't wanna not study hard enough and regret it ya know? But that's just me.

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We are social animals. It's worth the effort to improve your time management skills to avoid solitary confinement.

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