Balancing Work With Online Education

caliotter3 · Apr 11, 2011

Easier to work and do an online class than to work and do a traditional class because of the time and trouble associated with traveling to and from class. However, generally, online courses require more work. Often the instructor will make you provide citations for the input you provide for online discussions. It is like every week is filled with doing research, even though it is on the internet, for papers. I spent more time doing this work for my online course than for my regular classes, in general. That was just to pass the class. You have to commit yourself to do the work and to be efficient with your time.

~KelRN~ · Apr 11, 2011

I work fulltime 3-11pm and am a mother and a wife. I'm currently taking 4 courses through my local community college online along with my LPNto RN through Excelsior.

Truthfully from my personal experience it's hard to balance all of it in the begining. But I think as time has gone on I've figured out ways to balance a little better.

It just depends on you and whether or not you believe it's the best decision for you. I agree with caliotter3 though, you tend to spend a lot more time studying for online courses.

BeachieRN84 · Apr 11, 2011

I work part time weekends at the hospital, 7pm-7am, so it ends up being 5 12 hour shifts every 2 weeks, and since it's 12 hour shifts I usually have a stretch of 4 days off or 5 days off in between. I am really greatful for my job and my schedule.

I also am a single mom to a one year old little boy so he is my full time job when I'm off work since he doesn't go to day care or anything. I have my system down now where I strategically plan when I am going to study around his sleeping schedule, but at first it was really hard.

I also have my note cards on my phone, so even on my pee breaks at work, I am flipping through flash cards.

Excelsior is the only way to go for me because there is no program at the local community college for LPN-RN. Doing online school though for me I think is harder than classroom courses and having a teacher. Doing Excelsior has made me SO much more disciplined because you are responsible for your own success--no one there to make you do it and no one there to give you power points or study tips.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it--or if I could do it, so before I enrolled I took Transition to the RN and Health Safety, and once I studied for and passed those, I knew Excelsior was the choice for me.

Good luck to you :-)

RNShenanigator · Apr 11, 2011

Wow, you guys give me hope. I was thinking about asking my job if I could drop down to PRN or part-time, 30 hours a week would be awesome for me.

Thanks you guys for your help. If you have any suggestions or study tips I would appreciate that too! Now I can't wait for school to start. hahaha:lol2:

Sensoria17 · Apr 11, 2011

I just started (and I'm not off to great start) so I'm interested in responses to this post as well. With my first foray into online classes, I will definitely agree that it is more work. I work M-F 3rd shift and this had made it difficult as well just because I don't sleep in a block of 8 hrs, it is more like 3.5 in the morning and then another 4-5 in the evening. At this point, I've opted for Straighterline for some of my prereqs because you can go at your own pace.

MsPC · Apr 11, 2011

I only work part-time. However, I have a a 7 month old, 4 online classes at the local community college (due to overlap there will be a time I have 6 and then back down to 4), and excelsior. I am also working on preparing to move later this year (purge and pack).

I make a schedule, carry flashcards everywhere. I used to take notes (as recently as last week), but I am now just taking notes onto note cards only (reduces the amount of writing I waste time doing). I have found for me flash cards are a lot more productive than reading pages of notes. I have some handwritten and some on my iPhone. I have books I can on my tablet so when I have time somewhere that the baby isn't with me I work on things then too.

RNShenanigator · Apr 12, 2011

MsPC, by tablet do you mean something like a kindle or more like an iPad?

MsPC · Apr 12, 2011

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

It's like an iPad as it has internet and apps. As well as kindle books, and nook books. It's smaller than an iPad so it fits in cargo pants (for when I'm in uniform).