Anybody NOT feel like it's taking over?

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2011

i have 16 hours a week in clinical (give or take an hour depending on if our instructors feeling nice and lets us out a half hour early), and spend maybe a half hour at home finishing up my clinical worksheets for each clinical day. (so an hour total because i have two clinical days.)

i have 16 hours of lecture a week (including my pharm class), and spend maybe 20-45 minutes a day (three days a week) retyping my notes, and then maybe another half hour each weekend day just reading over and reviewing the weeks notes.

this is what happens if everything goes as planned, but many times it doesnt.. i have things to do (work, i take a night class twice a week trying to fulfill my ASL/Deaf studies minor, and the occasional going out and socializing with friends) so i might skip a day of typing up notes and just type up two lectures in one day, or type them up over the weekend, or not type them at all...

if youve ever taken a meyers briggs test: i am an INFP.. so im really layed back and disorganized (to an extent). i dont really care about systems and lists and organization, i just like to get stuff done eventually. haha. so if your last letter is a J, my methods will annoy you.

Tarabara · Feb 12, 2011

others have said this but I will reiterate, stay on top of things, plan ahead, and dont get behind. During the first week write down when all exams/projects/assignments are due for the whole semester so you always know when they're coming up. and if you have a week where you have a lot less homework get ahead and start working on future projects. As long as you stay on top of the work and dont wait till the last minute, you'll be fine. Good luck!

metabolicfrolic · Feb 13, 2011

I hated fundamentals with a passion, now that I am in med-surg, I sort of feel like I have a grip on things a little better. I can actually spend more time with my kids and husband, and MAYBE some cleaning.
My first quarter, I over-studied everything. This semester, I feel like the pieces of the puzzle are fitting together quite nicely. I don't feel like I'm in a state of panic all of the time.
So, no, I guess "it" didn't take over this quarter.

You are such my role model! I, too, hate Fundamentals with a passion. The questions we have to test on are about semantics to me. I read the book, always go to class, am perched pen in hand taking notes, highlight the book (yes, I broke my rule for nursing school), outline the chapter with notes on the computer, do the practice NCLEX questions, ATI practice questions, and Fundamental's Success questions. But I'm barely making an 80%. Non-stop panic mode over here! I've talked with people about what could be going on, and they both say I'm "over studying." *** mate?

I am hoping I can be like you and have everything click once this semester ends! Nursing school has definitely taken over my life!

anonymousstudent · Feb 14, 2011

No taking over here. I don't let it. I don't freak out about things. I do what I can and then I let it go. If I didn't study enough, oh well. I'm working hard but I'm not going to kill myself for this and I'm sure as heck not going to sacrifice my family and friends over it. It's just not worth that.

I have clinicals once per week. I'm in an online program, so I read the content and do the online assignments when I can, a few hours here and there. I read to learn. I don't get a second pass over the material, so I READ it and remember what I need. I don't often go back over and study what I read. I spend a few hours reviewing major things before each test and then I take it. I don't drag that out either.

Good luck figuring it out. It may be that you need to look at how you read and learn if you're spending tons of time on this stuff.

symphie · Feb 15, 2011

For those who don't feel like it is over whelming, how much time are spending in class/clinical a week and how much time are you spending doing homework/studying?

Our class of 100 is split into 2 groups. A group and B group, so our weeks alternate.

On my lab week, I have Foundations from 8-12 on Monday, Pathophysiology 8-11 and Skills Lecture 1-3 on Tuesdays. Then I have skills lab 8-12 on Wednesday and Thursday.

On my clinical week, I have Foundations from 8-12 on Monday, Pathophysiology 8-11 and clinical planning 1-3:30 on Tuesdays. Then I have clinicals 6:30-4 on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I do most of my studying on Monday afternoons, Fridays, and Sundays. I almost always take Saturdays off as my "me" days where I spend the day with my boyfriend or go do something fun.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 15, 2011

Surround yourself with people like you. One of the best things I did was have friends that did not freak out about class/papers/assignments. We never studied together as we knew it would never work. When it came time to projects we waited til the end as we worked best under pressure. Have some non nursing friends that remind you what the real world is like. Have something you do that takes you away from everything.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2011

Nursing school has not taken over my life, butI am probably the most lackadaisical nursing student ever. There are a few reasons for this.

1. I have a good science background. Taught biology, A&P, and chem. for a while. Granted, it's been a good while ago, but having to think about that kind of thing a lot really trained my brain. The "science" of nursing school like pathophysiology, pharmacological mechanism of action, etc isn't hard to me. I just get it, and I like it. Those elements are largely what attracted me to it. Sadly, we don't get as much coverage of that type of thing as I'd like.

2. I used to work part-time as a paramedic. That was good experience because I got a patient I knew nothing about that many times had a lot wrong with them, and I was on my own in figuring out what to do with them. Being around sick people doesn't bother or intimidate me like it does many new nursing students. I also got to see the operations of several hospitals at least on a surface level, and I got to, in paramedic school, rotate through many diverse medical departments: radiology, cath lab, ER a lot, ICU, respiratory, OR, PACU, could've done OB if I wanted, peds, etc, and I've plucked plenty of people off the wards to tote off to other hospitals so I've seen a lot of chronic in-patient disorders.

3. I quit all the above and got into law enforcement. I progressed and become a supervisor/manger. That did a number of things to me personally and is probably reflected both positively and negatively. Law enforcement made me a questioning, distrusting cynic. That's common. Teaching and paramedicking didn't help. When you work around people that are constantly lying and/or yelling and/or cheating you then you develop a different outlook on humans in general. You also develop, out of necessity, a lot of self-reliance and self-confidence. As an officer you are constantly questioned and must be ready to stand by your observations (observation also becomes a well honed skill) and impressions while being prepared to defend your judgement. This has led me to not being at all intimidated by college instructors or staff members in the clinical setting. As arrogant as it may sound, and this is out of survival necessity, I know when I'm right and I know when I'm wrong and I know when I don't know...if that makes sense to you. This role, although on the outside makes me seem cold and detached sometimes, has provided me with so much exposure to diverse people and the patience and skills to communicate with them that again it's no big deal for me to walk up to a patient, a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, or whomever and ask what I need to know or say what I need to say. My only problem lies in that my life exposure to uber annoying people has been often but in short bursts. That said, being locked in a room with classmates for six hours, many of whom are annoying, is getting to me.

All in all, I'm in nursing school to learn. I want to learn. When we're not going over things to the level of detail such as MOA's, enzymatic reactions, etc. I would have liked I am disappointed. That happens probably two days out of the week. I want to go to class, take my tests, do my clinicals, and be done with it. What I study and do at home (I already have a BS degree) is what I refer to as my time. I don't want a lot of silly busy work or group work. I don't want to do a vocabulary crossword puzzle (I do them in the newspaper daily though), and I don't want to get on the Evolve website and watch procedural videos. I don't/won't use the student study guide, which used to be called workbooks, and I do work for a living.

All in all I'm a good student. I was gifted with being an auditory learner, but I can read a lot and retain well in an application-sense. All that said, I don't put in that much time with nursing school. Passing the NCLEX is the important part here. I've learned with points one through three that I mentioned that you can learn, apply, and memorize all you want in a career prep program, but when you get into the workplace it's all different. Gosh, how I've learned that. That's another reason why I'm not going to stress over learning things like many students will. I'm not going to stress out and memorize, for example, a list of 40 foods that are low in potassium along with ones that are high in it, low in Na, high in Mg, etc. because in two weeks I'll have forgotten 37 of them. I'd rather miss a question or two on a test covering that type of thing in my daily classes than stroke out trying to study that kind of material.

cas15 · Jan 18, 2013

Hello! To CBsMommy...I just want you to know that you above comment has inspired me! I'm a sophomore BSN student and have used this as a reference since you posted it. I've printed it off, put it above my desk and often refer to it when I need motivation. I also reference people to this website and your comment. Just wanted to drop you a line and say, "Thanks!" :)