Home/Study Schedule (with family)

arelle68 · Jun 19, 2009

I can't help you here. I attempted what you are talking about, and got really sick from the stress and not sleeping. I quit everything, raised my kids, and then went back to school. Good for you if you can do it all at once. It is really smart what you are doing as far as researching how it can be done. Think it over first. Talk to your extended family, and your friends. See who would be able to watch your kids while you do your homework. Will your husband help with the house? Think about the emotional and physical toll. The time away from you kids. The stress on your marriage. It may not be worth it to you. Look before leap.

From someone who has been there.

smartin13 · Jun 19, 2009

You may want to ask this in the student section to get more feedback but I will tell you what I do.

First off I have no children but I do work 32hrs a week in a hospital.

Here is my typical week from last quarter

Sun usually tried to sleep in then study for a few hours depending on what I felt I needed, generally spent 4-5 hours preparing paperwork from previous week that was to be turned in on mon. All of our paperwork was electronically submitted by 0900 on mondays

Mon class 0900-1230, lunch 1230-1300, work 1400-2300

Tue no class re-doing any paper work that needed done, a few hours reading/studying

Wed study 1000-1200 class 1200-1530 pick up paperwork from hospital 1600-1700 prepare clinical paperwork 1700-? this could take an hour but has taken as many as 6 depending on the client

Thurs clinical 0700-1200 work 1300-2300

Fri clinical 0700-1200 work 1300-2300

Sat work 1500-2300

I have a job where as long as we are slow I can study and genearlly did most of my studying while at work.

Hope this helps and good luck!

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

I hope you have a lot of support because your kids are very, very young. I really hope you can do this.

Good luck.

MystyqueOne, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

Thank you all ofor your quick responses. I personally have attained two AA degrees with honors, recently. I am a very determined and motivated person and luckily my husband works the graveyard shift, so he is home during the day. I will post this in the student section as suggested to get more responses. Thanks again!

D.R.A. · Jun 19, 2009

I have 4 children, 10, 6, 5, 4. I have been in school working on pre-reqs and a certificate for the last 2 1/2 yrs. I'm sure that Nursing, which I will start in the Spring, will require a much more rigorous study schedule. I am a straight A student thus far, and plan to employ the same study habits as I have been using. I'm a reader and a reviewer (notecards that I use to quiz myself).

I'm a little bit concerned about meeting the needs of my family/home in addition to my increased need for study time. I plan on getting things EXTREMELY organized this summer for starters. Then I am going to start a practice plan where I cook/clean on a semi-schedule. Otherwise I tend to just be a constant cleaner who never actually gets everything done, lol.

I tend to study in the spurts which I think is best. In other words, breakfast, clean up, get dressed and ready for the day, get kids outside playing or involved in something, study for 30 min. STOP. If I don't stop the kids start interrupting and I get frustrated. I just take little sessions throughout the day, read during nap or at night before bed AND take time on the weekends or in the evenings when dh is home to go to the library for a couple hours for study time that only involves me.

Oh, and I try to make the best of extra time at school, i.e. class ends early or I finish with a test early. I stay and work on other things when that happens instead of rushing home.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

Thank you all ofor your quick responses. I personally have attained two AA degrees with honors, recently. I am a very determined and motivated person and luckily my husband works the graveyard shift, so he is home during the day. I will post this in the student section as suggested to get more responses. Thanks again!

Until you've been in nursing school, it not the same thing. Those care plans and researching patients, medications, co-morbidities....trust me....you dont' know yet.

I hope you can do it.

MystyqueOne, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

THanks for the NON-supportive responseJoPACURN. I have done a ton of research and I KNOW this is going to be much tougher than what I've dealt with in the past. I, on the other hand, have been through some pretty tough challenges that I've overcome pretty successfully. I'm not going to say it was easy, but I believe my determination will pull me through! I'm not the only one with small children to have gone to nursing school and successfully finish. I'm motivated and determined to become that RN that I've been wanting to be for such a long time! All of my family suppot me, also, and that definitely helps!

Thanks!

AllSmiles225 · Jun 19, 2009

Do you have to work while your in school?

MystyqueOne, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

Right now, I am working as a CNA about 15 hours per week, but... If I feel it's going to jeopardize my education, my job will be the first thing to go! I'll just have to take out an alternate loan to cover what my job pays. Yes, it'll put me more in debt, but in the end, it'll all be worth it. I'm already stressing about how to juggle my time, so I think I just may be quitting my job before clinicals even start (They should start around October or December for me). What do you suggest???

WyndDrivenRain, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

I graduated 5 years ago from nursing school. I had kids under 4 and it was a lot of work but completely doable. You will need to rely on the support of your husband. He needs to understand that the short term inconvenience now will pay off in the end. I studied when my kids slept, very early in the mornings, and very late at night. We did a lot of easy dinners/lunches/breakfasts. Sometimes on a Saturday I'd cook a bunch of stuff for the week. Make sure you take some time for you, even if it is just a couple hours a week. You will do fine if you keep reminding yourself and your family this is a short term inconvenience. Keep up with your reading, use your vacations and summers to get ahead. I was married to my Med/surg book the summer between nursing 2 and nursing 3. I remember being on vacation with my family at the beach and seeing all these people reading the latest and greatest best sellers..I read my med-surg book. If your fundamentals of nursing book comes with a study guide or workbook, use it, faithfully. If your school offers tutoring or offers a med math class, GO! Take advantage of -every- opportunity the school offers. Best of luck to you!

Sue, RN

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 19, 2009

Consider what I learned from my wife. She went to med school when the kids were in Jr and Sr HS. She studied every day for a set time in the Health Sciences library before coming home. It was the best way to assure some undisturbed time for studying.

Consider reserving some time every week when you will sit in the library to study without hearing the kids, TV, whatever in the background. It might really be helpful.

Good luck with school!