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when i started nursing school, i had an 18 month old, and a 3 year old. it was extremely tough to do, but with the support of a great husband, i was able to carve out the time i needed to study. if they were with me, and my husband was at work, i would incorporate them into my study time, and they loved it! at the age of 5, my son could tell you the course of blood flow through the heart. i must have made an impression on them about how hard college was when my then 4 year old daughter asked me if she had to go to college if all she wanted to be was the check-out girl at krogers? you too can do this, it just takes planning. i took my kids with me to the library when i studied, and they had reading hour, kept them occupied for a little while at least. good luck to you!
I went through this phase during critical care. Had a hard time getting motivated and when I studied I had a hard time retaining the information. I had to force myself. I made a study schedule and stuck to it. I also made myself recopy my notes and notecards.
The best thing for me was to remind myself why I wanted to become a nurse. I also made myself think of the sacrifices my family was making and how I did not want to let them down.
Good luck. Think of what best motivates you. I hope for you that this is just a phase because you may have spread yourself too thin and have become tired. Perhaps you should create a reward system for yourself. Plan your study time and leave a block of time for just yourself and your family. Best wishes.
Thanks for the advice/ideas/encouragement. Ladyjane- good idea about the library, I will definitely have to look into that one. Cactus Wren- I really can't do much after class because I have to pick up my son, my mother in law watches him which is great b/c it is free, she is a former teacher so she has really excelled him intellectually, but she has other kids that she tutors in the afternoons and I have to pick him up so she can focus on her other kiddos. We don't want to put him in a daycare for $ purposes plus I really appreciate the 1:1 attention he gets from my mother in law. I am going to have to try and maybe "teach" him about what I am learning that way it occupies him to a degree and reinforces what I am learning.
I don't have kids right now so I can't speak from experience. And as for the "motivation" I guess I can only offer that when your motivation is low, try to think about what excites you about nursing or why you want to become a nurse. Maybe talking with your wife about her day at work will give you the mental push that you need to resume studying.
I realize your son is rather young and it sounds like you have a good deal with your MIL but are there any "play dates" or "after school" activities for children of his age in your area that he could attend a day or two a week? It would give you some time alone but it would also be good for him to interact with other children too since he is an only child.
I have found that what helps me is keeping to a pretty strict schedule of studying. It's kind of like a diet. I really have to keep to it 'cause if I blow it off some night it is really easy to blow off the next night, etc., etc. I work between 8:30 and 5 and then some nights have class, others go home and study. In bed by 10:30. Tuesday nights I wash the sheets, Weds and Thursday the rest of the laundry and ironing, Fridays dust, etc. etc. Sunday between 3-6 I get ready for A&P the next day.
Maybe if you can get into a consistent schedule you'll feel a little better about everything because I am also getting the feeling from your post that you feel things in your life are a little out of control right now.
Good Luck in all you do,
Col
bigwavedave
36 Posts
It has been a while since I have posted, things have been going pretty well around here for me. But lately I have realized a problem that I am having. Some background info first: I am currently in my second semester of nursing school at the University of Texas @ Arlington (Arlington, TX), I just finished my psych rotation- which by the way was not as bad as I thought it would be although I still have no desire to be a psych nurse. Anyways, my wife is a nurse in the Neonatal ICU in a large nearby hospital, she graduated last may and is loving her job. Together we have a three year old son. Here in is where my troubles start. I love my wife and son to no end, and I love nursing school and really want to do well in school. However, I have come to realize that lately I have not been able to concentrate and study regularly like I should/need to. My test grades are starting to slip and I hate it. I want to go on eventually to do a graduate program and I know that I need good grades now to get there someday. I want to study, I really do, but I just cannot concentrate- both when my son is running around the house and even when he is sleeping or at his pre-school. So I am turning to you guys and gals, I am hoping that maybe some of you have been through similar experiences and will have some helpful hints or tips for effective studying. I have tried studying after he goes to bed but I still have trouble concentrating, I end up falling asleep, or staying up too late trying to get something done and then I have a hard time paying attention in class. I am sorry that this is so long, but I feel I am at my wit's end; I really want to do well, and I really want to be a nurse, but right now I am going through a tough time. Please help! Thanks in advance!!