Clinical Question

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I am considering going back to school for nursing. I already have a business degree from a 4 year college! I also already have a 7 month old baby. I'm wondering if when it comes time to do your clinicals (Nursing I, II, III, and IV) if you are expected to do lots of studying at home too. I know you spend about 7 hours a day 4 days a week in the hospital, but do you need to do a tremendous amount of work after that when you get home? In my case, I'd get home at 11pm and then have to take care of my daughter all day the next day, until it was time for the clinical again later that afternoon. I just don't know if it's possible for me to do this timewise with a baby. It might not be fair to her....but I really want to be a nurse. Please help me with some advice....and be honest!

Thanks,

Dawn

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Specializes in CCRN.

Yes, there is a lot of work to be done outside the classroom/clinical setting. There are care plans to do, as well as other assignments and normally a large amount of reading. For example, this week I had class Monday from 10am-3pm, Tuesday from 10am-5pm, Wednesday lab from 10-noon, Saturday clinicals from 7am-5:30pm. Within those classes I had a test Monday, test Tuesday, quiz Wednesday, an article review paper to write, 4 page clinical paper/care plan to write, 9 chapters to read/study for a test this coming Monday, 8 chapters of vocabulary words to compile and study for a test on Tuesday, 5 chapters to study for a quiz on Tuesday, 3 lectures and two labs to study for yet another test on Monday. This is not to say it can't be done. But I will say that my house cleaning is one of the last things on my list. You just need to be organized and tell yourself you can do it. Then you take one day at a time.

A couple of quarters ago, a gal in my class had her baby on a weekend and made it to finals the next week. She's doing great. So yes it can be done.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I have 4 kids (older though, pretty much self-sufficient, but they don't drive yet), and am going through a divorce. Between those things and nursing school, I really have NO time for myself. But I knew that going in. There is a TON of paperwork, studying, labs, films to watch, reports/papers, and then more studying. And that's before clinicals.

But.......there is an end to it. Semesters aren't that long when you break them down, and there are some part-time options available, usually. I attend a private college with a huge nursing program (over 800 nursing students between the ADN, BSN and MSN programs - day and evening), and they offer a lot of different options. A classmate of mine does lecture during the week and day, but does her clinicals on the weekend so her husband can take care of their 2yo. That would never work for me, but is great for her, and they save on daycare expenses.

Good luck!

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I vowed to never work during the time between clinicals again, if that's any indication. :rolleyes: Often, I have clinical one day and a care plan due the next day in clinical. Even with a care plan writing book, it can still take a few hours for me to write one I'm satisfied with. I work part time, maybe 4 hours after clinical (morning). Then I come home, spend several hours on that, sleep, get up for clinical.

Honestly, I don't know how people with kids do it. They do, but I don't know how. Some say they feel guilty taking time away from their kids, but I also think they wouldn't want to wait any longer to finish school. So it's a tradeoff.

Plus there is skills lab time, to practice for my skills evaluation (a hands on test.) Time to complete case studies. Time for reading in general - look for 250+ pages a week. You definitely have to be organized and have good support.

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Good grief you all:)

Are you JUST taking Nursing classes or are you taking other req's as well?

I know when I start ( if I get in!) I will have class Mon + Wed from 9-3 and then Clinicals/Lab from 7-12 Tue/Thur. Clinicals don't start until week 7. Plus time for Skills Lab. This is just Fundamentals.

But...that's not until next Spring ( hopefully!!)

I have already been telling my boyfriend, my kids' father, my friends, etc to enjoy me now....I plan on it being 24/7 studying and my other time will be my kids my kids my kids!

My house is a wreck already HA HA HA...so I am used to it....but I do have my " study area".

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Specializes in CCRN.

Booners mom, to answer your question, I am taking 3 classes this quarter. Patho (3 credit hours), ECG class (2 credit elective), and my psych/neuro nursing class (7 credit hours and a gazillion contact hours). The patho class is the last non-nursing class that I need to take, so I am fortunate for the fall. I am enrolled in a 7 quarter ADN program, currently in quarter 4. I do plan to continue for my BSN and MSN so I will fill up my last three quarters with courses that will transfer.

Taking all of the classes you can prior to entering the nursing program is a big help in minimizing the stress and workload, but I know many people who must carry a full course load for financial aid.

Once again don't get overwhelmed and just take it one day at a time. It has been done by those before us and will continue to be done long after we have completed.

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Thanks stressgal~

When I start I will have all my pre-req's done. Patho is actually part of the nursing program here- so we can't take it until we are already in. I know for Fundamentals the books on our list include Fundamentals/Patho/Pharmo/+ Med/Surg. I guess it's all just kind of whopped on us at once:)

I am going to open house next Wed to get a better feel for how it will all play out...

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I'm beginning to worry here. We didn't do care plans...or study for clinical and what we did look up and into...was minimum. I'm hoping next year will be better.

Z

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