Family and studying!

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Hello all,

I was wanting some advice from those that have been in my shoes. I graduated nursing school 2 years ago with 2 failed attempts at NCLEX. I have 2 children, one who is pretty independent and then a toddler. I feel like even though I plan out a great study schedule. It never goes the way I want. I do work full time, and it's hard to study before or after work. I'm to the point where it feels like I should take a chunk of time off work or quit my job to really study and pass the NCLEX. I'm so lost. I'm almost wanting to give up on ever trying to become am RN. How do you manage family and study time? Any advice?? Thanks for your time.

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In my humble opinion, and with respect to your busy schedule, my advice is to study a little bit each day. For example, do 20-30 practice questions at the beginning and end of each day (but be sure to read why an answer was correct and why the others were NOT- this helps with that "study" component). This also keeps the information fresh, even though it's just a little bit at a time. Don't give up, you can pass the NCLEX! The key is repetition and info retention. I have found the big yellow (or purple for newer version) Saunders NCLEX prep book was a great way to get those practice questions in. Good luck :)

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Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it!

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Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.

I gave up a lot of sleep and weekends. I also gave up my excuses. Make it happen. You can do it.

The longer you wait....the more unfamiliar and distant the information is going to become. The old saying, "If you don't use it, you lose it" stays true.

Wanted to add: You have the strength to get up every day and go to work, take care of 2 kids (one being a toddler), you take care of your family and you passed nursing school.....no reason why you can't pass the NCLEX....you are a strong woman/mother and soon to be nurse. Finish what you started 2 years ago and don't let anyone get in your way...not even yourself.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

My advice is contrary to some of the earlier responses. I think that if becoming an RN is your goal, you owe it to yourself to complete the last step of passing your NCLEX, even if it means not working.

You'll be quitting this job once you become an RN, right?

I say this coming from my own experience. I recall graduating Lvn school and preparing for the NCLEX by studying daily for 6 hrs while my son went to school.

I dropped him off, took NCLEX Qs and studied until I picked him up. Every day. I also studied in evenings with him at my side.

I didn't work during this time because my "work" was studying to pass the NCLEX and get a nursing job-which I did.

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Specializes in ER.

Can you take a vacation and also take a refresher class? It has been two years. Isn't there a time limit for taking NCLEX? Also, if you don't work will you suddenly find other demands like will you be expected to watch the kids all the time to save on day care? If you quit your job, you will find other things to fill that time. If you can, set an hour a day where you will not be interrupted like studying at a Starbucks, library, or something.

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Specializes in ICU.

The thing is here, you are already 2 years out. You are past your 1 year of being a new grad, so it's going to be hard enough to find a job as it is. You need to get this done. So if I were you, I would do whatever it takes. Also, like a PP stated, check the laws in your state to see if you need a refresher class. You are not going to be eligible for any new grad residency programs at this point, so you need to see what you need to do to freshen up your clinical skills. I like the idea of taking some vacation time to study.

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Specializes in critical care.

Two years is such a long time. I highly recommend, if a refresher course is not required or available in your state, getting hurst. It reviews the body systems in a summarized but comprehensive way. It would be a great way to bring the info back to recent memory and can also be done entirely online if you need that option.

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I took the NCLEX within a few months after I graduated and it still took me 2 years to find a nursing job. I would wake up early or put the kids to bed earlier to get this done. Like others have said... You are getting too far out from school to wait much longer

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