The most difficult semester you've ever had?

SebagoLaurel · Oct 15, 2006

hi everybody! i am thinking about taking a very difficult semester starting in january so i can get all of my gen ed courses out of the way. if i do that i will qualify (if i do well on the teas entrance exam) to start the accelerated nursing program (15 months instead of 22) next summer.
here's what my semester would look like:
mwf-anatomy and physiology i (first 8 weeks of the semester) 8am-11:50am
mwf-anatomy and physiology ii (2nd 8 weeks of the semester) 8am-11:50am
tuth-microbiology 12pm-2:50pm
mwf-human growth and development 2pm-2:50pm
tuth-introduction to computers 10:30am-11:45am
i wouldn't be working and my children would be in school. i'd be out every day by 3 to pick them up.
i know you don't know me and don't know whether or not i'm a good student, but would you say this schedule is "doable" for most people? i would have a two hour break between classes on mwf to grab some lunch and do homework in the college library.
i also need an hour every day to clean my mom's house (she's disabled), and i don't want my children to be neglected! :) when i start the accelerated track i'll be in school from 8-5 so i'm thinking i should get used to this sort of schedule anyway!
can it be done??
tia!
~lainie

i had a semester similar to this that i survived - but with no kids, no housecleaning (for myself or others) and no life :uhoh21: i would seriously suggest, if you do this, that maybe you find someone else to help do the cleaning for your mom for semester, and maybe to watch kids for hour or two after school to allow study time. you mentioned you will be going 8-5 eventually anyway? there is a lot of study required for those courses - lab and homework. good luck.

sam027000 · Oct 15, 2006

I once took 24 credit hours in a single semester. I did it so that I could hurry and graduate. I manged to get mostly A's and 1 B, but I have no kids and my DH took care of a lot of the house duties. I'd say that if your family is very understanding and you are extremely dedicated that it can be done. When I took intro to computers and human growth/development the classes were pretty easy, so hopefully you'll only really need to focus your out of class study time on the A&P and Micro. I am a big believer of "Where there's a will there's a way," so I'd say that if this is something that you really need to do, then go for it, just be prepared for the long study hours after the kids are in bed.

Good Luck! I wish you the best!!

booklovinrn · Oct 15, 2006

Hi

Are you looking at an accelerated program in Arkansas? I've been trying to find one around the Little Rock area. I know UAMS mentions one, but said it is on hold pending funding. I just wondered if you know of another one.

Good luck on that schedule. I've only been taking 10-11 hours a semester and it keeps me pretty busy.

Thanks for the info.

Delaina · Oct 15, 2006

SebagoLaurel, I really can't get anyone else to clean for my mom. It's a long story, but it'll be my job.

I just looked at the Spring semester again and I could take Microbiology on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and move my computer class to MWF. Then I'd be out of school on Tuesday and Thursdays around noon, and still be out by 2:50 on MWF. That's a MUCH better fit for me I think. On Tu/Th I could clean for one hour, then concentrate solely on homework etc before the boys come home from school.

Sam027000, I was thinking along the same lines...that computers and Human Growth will be fairly easy. HOPEFULLY! :)

CAMeadors, I'm attending the Northwest Arkansas Community College in NW Arkansas. They just started the accelerated nursing program this past summer and they've had great success with it. They have a 96% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam with the regular program, so I'm really curious to see how the accelerated students do!!

AlishaNHayzley · Dec 17, 2006

This is doable. I took 20 hours one semster with a full time job and two kids. You just have to cram in stuff where time open up. You don't have to neglect your kids but they do need to get used to the term" mommy has homework, ya'll be quiet and we'll play later". Though they do not have your full attention now, they are learning that education is important and your lives will be better when it is over with.

Dabuggy · Dec 17, 2006

From what I remember about microbiology, it is somewhat related to A+P. I found the website for Hole's A+P to be helpful. Log onto the student section and they have 4 test that you can take and get instant results. It helps the student learn difficult concepts.

Put notes on tape, or tape your lectures to listen too while driving and doing house work, cooking, etc. Use the time the kids are awake to put notes on flashcards, or reviewing the notes you took in class, then when they are in bed use that time for the serious study.

Mark your calender so you know this will be over in ? number of days. This helps relax the mind, knowing it does end.

Good luck

Dabuggy

Delaina · Dec 17, 2006

i had to drop micro unfortunately. the chair of the science department actually contacted me and said that a&p i&ii are prerequisites for micro, so i couldn't take them together.

it threw me out of the running for the accelerated program, but i feel less stressed already!! :)

Delaina · Dec 17, 2006

Thanks Dabuggy! Very useful info there and I think all of those would work for me. I'm definitely an "audio" type learner.

Dabuggy · Dec 17, 2006

Ok, so it will take one extra semester, not a big deal. It will make this semester easier on you. Any other pre-reqs you need to take? take really good notes on pathogens and DNA/RNA in A+P and this will help you in micro.

Dabuggy

Don't think of this as a setback, you had a great plan to be in the regular program. You tried to improve the plan by shortening its time frame. Now your back to the original plan. Be thankful your in a nursing program. Personally, I think with your original post that you will benefit more from this schedule. PLUS, with the schedule that you tried to get, your GPA could have suffered and that may drop you out of the program.

Dabuggy

Delaina · Dec 17, 2006

Ok, so it will take one extra semester, not a big deal. It will make this semester easier on you. Any other pre-reqs you need to take? take really good notes on pathogens and DNA/RNA in A+P and this will help you in micro.
Dabuggy
Don't think of this as a setback, you had a great plan to be in the regular program. You tried to improve the plan by shortening its time frame. Now your back to the original plan. Be thankful your in a nursing program. Personally, I think with your original post that you will benefit more from this schedule. PLUS, with the schedule that you tried to get, your GPA could have suffered and that may drop you out of the program.
Dabuggy

Yeah, instead of getting through nursing school in 15 months, it will take 22. I figure it's probably better to learn everything slowly anyway. I felt a lot of pressure to get it done sooner (pressure from myself, not anyone else), but now that the school actually slowed me down, I really do feel better and more relaxed.

In the midst of taking A&P and two other classes I still need to study/practice for the TEAS exam, so this really does work out better.

The main reason I decided to drop Micro, since technically the college couldn't *make* me, is because the seats for those classes filled up REALLY fast, and I didn't want to take the chance of getting a bad grade and end up dropping the class. In my mind, someone wanting in there may just need THAT class to start the accelerated program next summer. I didn't want to take their seat away. SO.....I might've made someone's day the day I dropped it because the classes were FULL.

I like to pretend that's what happened anyway. :)

Thanks Dabuggy! You made me feel better.

LuvLondon04 · Feb 15, 2007

I attend NWACC and have had most of my prereqs there (the others at the University) and let me tell you: it's not as easy as you think! Computers is simple but the Human G&D requires a lot of reading and an attention to detail when studying.

I opted to go for the 22 month track because 15 months for a brand new nurse is a bit too much, I think. I don't feel comfortable learning so much information so quickly about an occupation that takes years to study. I think that the accelerated track should be more for an LPN or someone with a large amount of hospital experience beforehand.

Whenever it is that you decide to go, NWACC is a wonderful program. Their faculty is caring and their clinical rotations and first year nurses are rumored to be among the best in Northwest Arkansas.

As for an accelerated program (for the one that asked), there is a program to the RN level. From your prereqs it takes 15 months (summer thru the next summer) and classes are every day. I don't recommend it personally as I have worked with girls in it, but nonetheless it's a program with great success so far. Good luck everyone!