Feeling overwhelmed with just pre reqs! HELP!!

[studentnurse3]

Well, I just started the first week at ACC and I am starting out by taking the prereqs that are required to get onto the nursing wait list. I am already feeling overwhelmed!! I am married, work at home doing medical transcription fulltime and have three children, two of which are in school. I am taking three classes right now, A&P I, Eng, and Psych. I am taking all three of these online. Is it possible to get through these courses when I have so many other obligations? Has anybody else been in a simiilar situation and made it through? I feel like I need to give it a try before giving up on my dream but with my stress level having gone up this week, I am second guessing my situation. I want to do it all, but not at the cost of my sanity!! Can anyone give advice on this? Is this all possible?

Thanks!

[Miss Determination]

Hi studentnurse3,

Just read your message. I am overwhelmed by just reading the course outline. I have not enrolled in school yet, but I am planning to do so this year. I will be relocating from the Caribbean to study with spouse and two kids ages 7 and 3. I will study fulltime because I cannot manage working at the same time. Continue to try and pace yourself with a time management plan. You are raising 3 children that means you can survive anything!! The course hopefully, is not more difficult than chasing behind a toddler. Currently, I am a Kindergarten Teacher with 24 students.:chuckle

[Calzonan RN]

I can completely relate to you. When I went back to school and started my pre-req's my youngest was 10 months old and still nursing. I have 6 children, three are teenagers and three were five and under when I started back. I worked as an insurance transcriptionist from home for 4.5 years and found that helped a great deal with my time management skills. If you can, cut back on your workload, if that's not possible maybe only take two classes next semester instead of three. It will take a little longer but you won't be as burned out. Most of my pre-req's I took online, but I did take a couple of classes in person. I think it helps to take at least one class on campus so that you can meet other people, make some friends, and really get a feel for college life. To make a long story short, I am now in nursing school, I just started last week and will graduate in Dec '07. It took me longer than I had planned, but I maintained a high GPA and I feel I really learned a lot from my classes. Also, while I was waiting to get in I took some of my co-req's. I'm not sure if you have those, but they're classes you take along with nursing school. Because I took all of my co-req's while waiting I can focus on just my nursing classes now. It may take you longer than others because of your commitments, but you'll get there as long as you stay focused on your dream.

Keli

Glendale, AZ nursing student

[studentnurse3]

Thanks to both of you for your input. I have decided to drop one of my classes and drop down to only two classes, a little more manageable, I think. I was thinking that if I didn't drop one of these I would more than likely end up failing it and having to retake it so I figured I would just ease into the studies and see what happens. I know working full time, having a family and going to school is not easy but I have to give it a try if I want to pursue my dreams. I still feel a little overwhelmed but I suppose I will eventually get used to the studies and adjust, I hope!

Good luck to everyone just starting out with schooling.