Q about Nursing School credit hours

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I have a handout here to the Nursing Program (ADN) at my school and would like some input. This is after all the pre-reqs have been completed (A&P, etc):

First Semester: 11 credit hours

Second Semester: 7 credit hours

Third semester: 9 credit hours

Fourth Semester: 11 credit hours

To me that is not a lot of credit hours at all. But is it the work and reading *outside* of class that takes up so much time? The BSN program here is different, about 14-16 credit hours per semester. I hear how hard nursing school is- is it the actual lectures and clinicals that are so much time or the outside work and homework and reading that take up so much of your time?

The reason I am asking is I wonder if I could take my Nursing classes and some additional BSN pre-reqs at the same time while in nursing school? One semester as you can see is only 7 credit hours and I would need at least 12 to get full financial aid.

How many credit hours are your ADN programs per semester (not counting pre-req classes)?

Marilyn

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consider yourself getting off easy

I am in my 3rd year of classes and I am looking at 16-18 credits per semester. It is all about time management.

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In my school each credit is equal to 2-3 hours of class time. Our regular nursing classes are 8 credits, but meet for 16 hours. Our labs are 1 or 2 credits but meet for either 3 or 6 hours. They told us it maes it cheaper for us this way that way we don't have to pay for all those credits.

Lori

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I haven't started my nursing classes yet, but I know that the way it is at our school is the way Lori mentioned above. I know most of our nursing courses are *only* 8 credit hours, but then you have 4 or so hours lecture and 12 hours clinicals, so you really are spending a lot of time on the class.

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I average about 25 hours of "real" time for a 10 credit hour class. That is actual time spent in lecture, and clinical. That doesn't include any time spent studying outside of class at all. This semester it was 16 hours of clinical per week and up to 10 hours of lecture per week, depending on what they needed to cover. Don't let the credit hours fool ya' I don't know where they come up with that number but it means nothing as far as actual time spent.

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Specializes in Peds, Pre and post op.

I think they give you 10 credits for 18 units worth of work in an ADN program because only 70 credits can pass on/transfer to BSN credits. BLEch, I only get 10 units so I must get 2 other units else where (to keep my health insurnace & car insurance discount). The most I;ve ever taken is 16 units and my RN program feel like much more

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Now that you all are talking about how much time you spend with these classes, I'm a little worried now. Marilyn and I go to the same school and I've already applied to the program (waiting for my letter still) and I need to have 12 full credits to get my full financial aid. So I'll have to take additional classes to make it 12. I'm worried I will be struggling with the extra class while doing the nursing classes. For example, I'm planning on taking Microbiology the 2nd semester where the nursing classes are already 7 credits. Well whatever it takes, I'll do it.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
Originally posted by Cynthiann

Now that you all are talking about how much time you spend with these classes, I'm a little worried now. Marilyn and I go to the same school and I've already applied to the program (waiting for my letter still) and I need to have 12 full credits to get my full financial aid. So I'll have to take additional classes to make it 12. I'm worried I will be struggling with the extra class while doing the nursing classes. For example, I'm planning on taking Microbiology the 2nd semester where the nursing classes are already 7 credits. Well whatever it takes, I'll do it.

Cynthia oviously that is my concern as well. I guess we would need to actually talk with someone from the Rose state program and see what its like. I think I am going to make an appointment with the Nursing director (or whoever it is I need to talk to).

Marilyn

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Specializes in LDRP.

Hm, is that counting your non nursing courses? I am in an ADN program that breaks down like this:

pre reqs 7 hours

Sem 1: 18 hrs

Sem 2: 16 hrs

Sem 3: 15 hrs

Sem 4: 15 hrs

Total is 70-72 hrs. I am not sure how many accumulated clinical hours are in there, but we have a full, rigorous program.

:)Amy

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Specializes in Med Surg, Post partum, peds, newborn nur.

nursing1.jpg

I am in a ADN program and here is our hours. I have to keep 12 hours in order to get full financial aid also, so I know where you are coming from. Is there anyway you could take some easier classes to up your credit hours, but not interfere with your study time for the nursing program.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Ya the credit hours I listed is not counting pre reqs, I will have those all finished so all I would have left is Nursing classes, nothing else.

Susie our program looks just about the same as yours, I guess most people take their pre reqs WITH nursing classes and not before? Looks like your first semester is only 8 credit hours of Nursing classes, secind semester is 10 creidt hours, etc.

I guess they are all similar then.

Marilyn

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Specializes in Med Surg, Post partum, peds, newborn nur.

I took most of my Pre req, but I still have Anatomy 1 & 2 and Micro to take, so I will still have my 12 hours per semester.

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