Am I biting off more than I can chew?

Love-A-Nurse · Jul 16, 2002

originally posted by debbie5
i have been reading some of the posts and threads about classes you people are taking in the fall. i have been at cc already three years and don't want this to keep dragging out. my four year bsn is now taking me six years and my hubby is wondering if i am making college my permanent career?!

anyway, i have enrolled in a&p, college algebra, world liturature, and govt. i have made up a generic schedule to make sure i will have enough time to study for each of these classes. i used the guideline of two hours for every hour spent in class. if i stick to this schedule, i should be able to do it. i know that i will obviously spend more time on a&p and algebra than on govt and lit. the only time i can study is between classes until 3:00 monday - friday, and some on the weekend. once i get home after school, i'm in the car with the kids driving all over dallas to various soccer practices. we get home around 9:30 and we still have to eat dinner. i do take my books with me everywhere we go so i can study while i'm waiting.

it sounds like it will take much more than the recommended two hours for each hour spent in class for a&p. i have had gen. biology so i am familiar with the basic concepts - did most of you find that it took all of your time?

another reason i scheduled things this way is so that i can get adjusted to a heavier workload - because i have been told that in nursing school, you don't have a choice; you just have to do it. i can't afford to get dropped after all the time i've already put into it! i know i must sound like a worry-wart; i'm not, i just want to be realistic.

thanks in advance for your input.

debbie, you can do it! keep the faith!

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2002

It does seem as if it takes forever to get through. I spent 3 and a half years getting through what is supposed to be a 2 year program. When you have a family things go a little slower but they still move forward.

I know nursing wont make anyone wealthy, but find a website and show the hubby what kind of contribution you will be able to make after you are done. It may be enough to calm him down a little and give him a little more resilience to wait out the duration of you program. One of my biggest problems was with the hubby who felt like i wasnt ever going to be contributing to the income again.

The last 2 years my kids and I have had an understanding about the extra ciricular activites(granted they are a little older now). They keep their own schedules and if I cant take them because of study time or a upcoming test, they call someone else for a pickup. There are a lot of other kids in these sports and things whose parents can swing by and pick up another kid. You just have to remember after you are done, and make the other parents lives a little easier now and then.

I spoke with some of the other parents, explained my situation and they were more than happy to help out with transport. Be careful with trying to study at practices etc. things can get to distracting and you wont get anything accomplished.

Hope this helps a little, just know you arent the only one out there that is an expert juggler, others have made it and you will too.

babynursewannab · Jul 16, 2002

Ok. First off, let me tell you that you will need more time for world lit than you think. I'm taking it right now and MAN am I strapped for time. Granted, it doesn't take quite as much time as A&P did, but don't take it for granted.

Second, you're right in checking your ability to handle the higher work load, but in nursing school, it's a little different. It's book stuff plus application stuff...you can't really compare it to regular college stress. Not that it's necessarily worse, it's just different.

And, finally, third, I am a firm believer in making college a lifetime carrer. :) I will be graduating either Dec. 2004 or Dec. 2003 (if I get into the accelerated program...keep your fingers crossed). I only started college in 1991. My goal was to simply get a degree in this millenium! :chuckle Tell your hubby to be patient. Plus, now that you've devoted so much time to school they really need to consider what it will be like when, after graduation, you have that free time together. They may not be so eager then! ...kidding....I may be projecting (haha).

Good luck and you'll be fine. Remember, you can alway drop a class if it gets to be too much. Use that while you can.

-Alyssa

Debbie5 · Jul 16, 2002

Thanks Meownsmile.

We are taking advantage of carpools whenever we can - we have to, we have four kids playing soccer. I usually take one or two if it's practical and the other two get rides and then we switch out so that it doesn't become a burden for one parent. Btw, our kids do not practice every single night, but everynight, someone will have practice. Friday nites we go to the football games to watch our girls march in the band. I can't give that up - especially this year - it's the only year that all three girls will march together. Yeah!! Anyway, I feel like I can do it.

Thanks for all the encouragement!!

Debbie5 · Jul 16, 2002

Believe me, I have used the "drop a class if it gets to be too much"! I haven't done it every semester, but I sure don't want to make a habit of it. I'm afraid to look at my transcript. I have all A's and W's, how's that gonna look to the admissions people?

Anyway, I appreciate the support.

babynursewannab · Jul 16, 2002

I wouldn't worry about that, Debbie. I have all A's and W's. 5 W's to be exact. And I'm up for that accelerated thing I told you about. Also, I applied to the nursing program that way and got in.

You'll be fine! And you're welcome. :)

darby1 · Jul 16, 2002

It's encouraging for the nice people here to say "you can do it!", but only you know what you're capable of. I've already taken A&P 1&2, and I had to spend a lot of time on my studies. If a "C" is all you want, maybe you can juggle all thoses classes and be a full time mom also. How important is it for you to keep going to soccer practice? Maybe you could get someone else to take your kids, while you study. This is your future you're talking about, and I wouldn't keep on dropping courses. It doesn't look good on your transcripts, and this may be a deciding factor to whether you get in to a program later on. Regardless of any excuses, they frown on withdrawels from a class. To the admissions board, they may wonder if you would drop the nursing program if it became too tough. I have an older lady that I tutor in A&P, free of charge, that goofs around and don't study as much as I think she should. Just like tonight, she will expect me to go over the chapter, and explain everything about the nervous system. She's out for several days goofing off in the evenings, and then wants me to teach her everything in one night so she can make a dern "C" on her tests. I'm an "A" student myself, and I study every chance that I get. If a person is a dedicated student, they won't have much "spare" time. I hope that I haven't offended you, I'm just being honest. The more you put in, the more you'll get out. What kind of student do you want to be?

*edit* I went back and read some of the posts on this thread again. Several of you women suggest to tell the "hubby" to be patient. Well in my case, I'm the hubby, and my wife brings in the bacon while I'm going to school. My job at this point is to do my best at school. I'm currently holding a 4.0 average, and I work my butt off to keep it. There's been several times on the weekend that my wife and daughter would have to go shopping without me, because I was stuck here studying A&P. I don't mean to sound harsh, but if your job is to be a student, be a great one. Your hubby deserves your best effort.

Debbie5 · Jul 16, 2002

Darby,

I appreciate your viewpoint very much. Hector and I were talking about that very thing this morning. I think I may have given the wrong impression of him. He is more than supportive. His thing is that he doesn't have a problem with me studying,it's just that he was hoping that I'd be further along by now. When I drop classes, it only delays my progress and delays my getting a job. I am willing to work while attending school but I'd really have too much on my plate. I am a very good student and very determined and diligent. I guess I need to be patient with myself. I have made a promise to myself that I will not drop a class this semester even if it means I have to accept a B in something. I'm learning that it is more important to keep going than to try to keep everything perfect. My kids have made a committment to me to help as much as possible(I have great kids) by cleaning and getting dinner started when they get home before I do. Some friends have suggested that the kids let go of some of their activities, but that would not be fair to them. They have worked very hard and have achieved many honors and awards and want to use these resources to get into college. And just to state again, we do have a lot of help with carpools, it's just that we have so many kids that we have to work with. My other half is working more now so he's not available to drive unless I drop someone off with him on the other side of the city.

Gosh! It sounds like I'm doing an awful lot of complaining. Sorry, I didn't intend for this to be a gripe session.

I know that God is leading us and He will continue to give us the strenghth and resources to get this done. I really give Him all the glory for all we've accomplished. He will see us through to the finish! My confidence needs to be in Him.

God Bless this cyberfamily!!

carlalogan · Jul 17, 2002

I just had to respond to your thread because I understand how you feel. I was all set to start nursing school in the fall after dragging out my prereqs at CCCC for 3 years while my children reached full days in school. What has already been a struggle became even more of one the past week when my youngest, 6, was diagnosed with Juv. Diabetes...on top of the other autoimmune illness he has had for the past 1 1/2 years. Now, I am faced with just taking 2 classes this semester in nursing school and feel like I will never graduate!!!!! My husband thinks I am also going to be a full time student and at this rate, who knows? But what I do know is that it keeps working out so that I can continue plugging away no matter how slowly. I'm blessed that my nursing school is working with me and letting me take such a reduced load right now...and I'm pretty excited to still be a part of it all but being given the gift of more study time! So, I will have faith for you that it will happen if you want it to and if it is God's will...just like I do for me! :) Prayers for you!

RNConnieF · Jul 17, 2002

I have to echo a question someone else asked; do you need to do it all for your kids? I have 4 kids and I DO understand your feeling that you have to be there but from experience I feel that I can point out something you may not have thought of. When your children see you putting school first, doing homework for hours every night, and not settling for a "C" it changes their attitude towards school. You are setting an example that they will carry for the rest of their lives that education is a priority in your life AND in your home. Makes it easy to insist they only do their VERY best in school. You may be doing them a bigger disservice than you think by ajdusting your school schedule to soccer practices and baseball games. Just wanted to offer another point of view.

live4today, RN · Jul 17, 2002

((((((Debby)))))))) Slow it down to a calmer pace...BREATHE...and take things a step at a time. You are making yourself become more uptight than you need to be. Do what you can do, and let the rest go. Life does go on whether we are with it or not. :kiss

It would be great to have the support of your husband and children, but that's not always the case. If you want this so badly, and you can manage home and school, then go for it. It doesn't matter how long it takes one to finish an education as long as you finish. Stop counting the number of years you spend in school......at least you are learning and not wasting your precious time. Also, it's not necessary for kids to be overly involved in activities either. I raised three...I know. Regroup as a family, have a family conference about your classes at school BEFORE you begin, and separately enlist the support of your spouse. If they are against you, you or your marriage will crumble. I encourage you to deal with the homefront issues FIRST to clear the path for you to go to school. If you have to set your foot down to get this underway, then do so. Moms and wives pretty much set the tone of the home anyway. If Mom is happy, the kids are usually satisified as little rugrats can be...but remember...they will ALWAYS have their moodswings, so don't cry over those too. All you can be is who you are and give whatever you undertake your best...and that is the message you want to relay to your children. The spouse?????????? Wellllllllllll...you know him better than I, so I will digress at this point. :chuckle