Studying Learning vs A's and Not Learning Fighting Battle

[injured1]

Hi,

Let me briefly introduce and move on topic. Trust me, my writing comes together at the end. I am an aspiring Nurse Practitioner. In order to become a Nurse Practitioner, or N.P, you have to become ...( insert drum roll )..a Nurse. In my case a Murse( male Nurse ).

I didn't wake up with the idea of Nursing, it did not come to me in a dream( although I wish Winning lottery Numbers would ). My road of Medical and sciences would be paved back over 10 years ago. Also, so would what plagues me. I remember entering my senior year in H.S, I had no envisions of college. I was guarranteed to get into the Electrician Union( Cough, being an electrician, in the Union ) at the age of 18. Usually it takes 5-7 years to get Unionized as an electrician, but my family had it's ties in construction. Typically after 5 years one makes $22-30 an hr if in the Union. This was back in the mid 2000s. So in H.S I studied Electrician books, next to my Arnold Schwarzenegger 400 page book, and the latest trends of Justin Timberlake in Various magazines I read, like GQ. I studied electrician bc I knew I ppl would know how I became an electrician so quick, so I wanted to atleast learn.

I went to a Christian School, never drank, nor partied. I weight trained, worked, and went to school. Oh, and sports! In fact, I went on to do some modeling...which is no task at 5ft.8( Yes the women were taller than me ha ). I would train about 5 days a week. I would look in the mirror and see something needed to be changed, so maybe the biceps more vascular, and I would train to that. I would not understand in scientific terms what I was doing, but I would slowly break my homeostasis and get more muscular. I would grab multi dextrin and dextrose( bam sweet tarts ) and toss them into orange juice. I would sip on this, not really realizing I was spiking my insulin....but I knew it gave results. The human body started to become a natural process of thought. The contracting of muscles, and thinking what type of muscle fibers did I have? Fast twitch? Slow twitch? I would learn....example, my biceps grew under heavy loads and smaller reps, as did my hamstrings. However, the quads, more reps less weight. I really thought these things to myself. Funny....Notice I will say funny a few times.

I got a phone call one day from a relative, who knew I was going into electrician, and the brief of the convo was, " Yes you will make money, but you will work in the elements of weather. College, you will get a choice in what environment, and eventually make as much as an electrician." See in order for me to get into the union, I had to have many people put their names on thee line. However, who wouldn't on a kid who was dedicated to a gym, sports, and really never had many problems. However, there was a problem....My sleep.

My sleep, or lack of, plagued me. I went 3 years straight off 2-3 hr nights of zzz. That as with modeling, sports, 2 jobs, weight training, and school...plus church. This stupid thing ( sleep ) everyone gets, I wasn't. So, I went off to college, knowing that my body couldn't get up early anymore. I actually found I sleep fine, if in bed by 3 A.M. However, this has effected me, in taking classes I want by professors who are good. I ride that fine line of..." What is best for my G.P.A." Vs...: What is best for me to learn, retain and feel inspired. In a world, judge by a G.P.A, but not the standard of the individual. You can have a 4.0 G.P.A, who thinks they know it all....but maybe doesn't recognize their strengths or weaknesses...as if you know it all, you have no weaknesses. However, some retain very little info, bc when they rode that fence, for some...they chose G.P.A over learning. I am not here to point, because the system is set that way.

So here is my dilemma, which do you choose, the G.P.A or the actual learning? Also, how do I combat this sleep ...bc it makes me want to take the easy rode. Example online pathophys....looks easy, but I know I would learn more in class, with a certain professor, but he teaches 9 A.M-12:00....Remember my sleep.

[verene, MSN]

In my experience I've found that focusing on learning and retention of knowledge usually yields a higher GPA in the end anyway - because in order to learn and retain I've have to know the information inside and out. Which makes it easier to preform on quizzes, exams, and complete papers and projects resulting in a higher course grade.

As for only sleeping 2 hours a night... have you consulted a medical provider? Or a sleep specialist? If I have misinterpreted your sleep iss and it is just a matter of not going to bed early, and either having to sleep late or run on very little sleep if up early. It *is* possible to shift one's sleep cycle. Either do it all in one dump, getting up early being super exhausted for a long day, and then going to bed at an earlier time. Or work your bed-time and wake-up time a little earlier each day. It can be rough to shift sleep cycles at first, but my own experience is after I've gotten through the first week or two, my body adapts with out major issue.

[injured1]

Thanks for the reply. My sleep, I have tried zero hours one day and then, It's still 3 A.M the next. I have also tried a little each week to set it back slowly, most fail. It's delayed onset sleep. You read it right, I can go to bed and sleep good, just after 3 A.M. Also, this leads through sleeping through alarms at times.

At Patho, would you take it online? I seen the online class and there is no lecture videos and professor written notes, just read the book and do homework and tests. The book looks easy from the first 2 chapters, it seems like it just goes over things learned in Micro and Human Growth and development. Th thing is , would I learn anything in an online format, just reading a book? Also, would you take patho online?

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

In my other life (before nursing) I was a sleep technologist (overnight sleep studies). Your problem is suggestive of Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder which effects teens and college age students. You can't fall asleep until 3 am and then need to get up at 6 am to get ready for classes. I suggest you see a sleep specialist and determine the cause of your insomnia.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

See a medical professional about your sleep. It'll literally change your life.