4.0 GPA people, HOW can you do this?!!!

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I just wondering, how do you study and prepare for the exams, and make all A's? I study all the time (but I also have 2 kids), and I still have some B's. So, what's your secret?

Honestly...it's about accepting that everything doesn't have to be perfect with your children or your house.

1. Yes, it's ok to give them cereal for dinner every once in awhile.

2. McDonald's is your best friend....along with the crockpot and freezer.

3. They don't need a bath every day unless they show physical dirt.

4. They need to learn how to play alone...and with each other.

5. They need to understand that SCHOOL is a JOB...just like anyone else that works outside the home.

6. Yes, the dishes CAN wait until morning.

7. Do one load of laundry every day and you'll never have it pile up on the weekends.

8. If you have all teenagers? Then housework should be 100% their responsibility.

Do my children get all of the attention I would like them to have?

Nope...but do they get what they need? You bet they do.

I know this because when they periodically crawl in my lap and say, "Mommy, I just love you!" That is when I know I do something right.

Man am i a sap!! That made a lil' misty. :crying2:

I have a 17 month old and I am maintianing my 4.0 but it is HARD and anyone who would tell you different is wrong. I have really struggled with balance and not feeling like I am the worst mom on the planet when I let her hang in her jammies for half the day because I'm studying.

I use my "free" time ie: naps and after bedtime to study and work on assignments. I also use the questions at the end of each chapter to make sure that I understand what I am reading before I get so lost that I'm buried. It works for me but it isn't easy.

I've found the hardest part of school is not the studying and test taking it is finding the balance between the person I want to be at home and the person I want to be as a student.

I keep telling myself that it will be better for all of us in the end and truthfully staying in your jammies all day isn't so bad, look at Hugh Hefner. :chuckle

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I consider it a rare and wonderful treat when I get to stay in my jammies! Actually, on a weekend day where I only have to focus on studying, I do stay in my jammies. OK - I lie. I hang around in DH's jammies. They're big and warm and make me happy. The poor guy hasn't seen me in anything slinky since I went back to school!

My kids are grown and on their own, but there's always family stuff and work and marriage and parents and dogs and life in general to fit in. My big secret is exactly what everyone else has said. I make my studying portable. Lectures on CD or my iPod, flashcards are always with me. I color code all my notes. I highlight in my textbooks with about 3 different colors and write outlines from that info. Then I even color code the outline to really fine tune the key points. You will never see me without something to study if/when those spare moments happen.

I have also learned not to waste any time. I don't think I'll see down time until after the NCLEX! But if you have a plan for your day and stick to it, you'll get it all done. Just make sure you don't set yourself up to fail - keep your plan realistic.

Also, don't ever forget that being someone's mommy is your real legacy. Keep it all in perspective.

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Don't worry, it's a rare 4.0 that maintains it in nursing school. Sometimes it's 4.0's that struggle the most because it takes a completely different way of thinking to be successful in nursing school.

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Specializes in ICU.
Don't worry, it's a rare 4.0 that maintains it in nursing school. Sometimes it's 4.0's that struggle the most because it takes a completely different way of thinking to be successful in nursing school.

This is what worries me!! I'm a 4.0 student in my prereqs, but I hear NS is so much harder!! I'm a mom of two, a 2 and 4 yr old. Plus I work part time. It's tough, but I am a night owl, so I just stay up late.

As for study habits, I have to understand the larger picture first (kind of like a broad outline of the topic/chapter), then I have a framework in which to put the details. It's so much easier to remember organized information. Once I understand the big picture, I then will use flash cards (or if I'm in a real hurry, I'll have a piece of paper with a list of vocabulary--definition on one side of the fold and the vocab word on the other).

I agree with previous posters who have said that knowing your learning style is key. I have to write information in order for it to get in my head. Reading from the book won't do it for me. Listening passively to a lecture REALLY won't do it for me (weak oral skills). If I write it, it sticks, so that's what I do.

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
this is what worries me!! i'm a 4.0 student in my prereqs, but i hear ns is so much harder!! i'm a mom of two, a 2 and 4 yr old. plus i work part time. it's tough, but i am a night owl, so i just stay up late.

as for study habits, i have to understand the larger picture first (kind of like a broad outline of the topic/chapter), then i have a framework in which to put the details. it's so much easier to remember organized information. once i understand the big picture, i then will use flash cards (or if i'm in a real hurry, i'll have a piece of paper with a list of vocabulary--definition on one side of the fold and the vocab word on the other).

i agree with previous posters who have said that knowing your learning style is key. i have to write information in order for it to get in my head. reading from the book won't do it for me. listening passively to a lecture really won't do it for me (weak oral skills). if i write it, it sticks, so that's what i do.

and to all of you with muchkins at home--this can be done, cereal and p'nut butter san'wichs are good food, someone will always have better grades and "perfect" kids..so what!!

give it what you've got and stay positive..us old nurses are just darn glad there will be someone around to take care of us in a few years.:bowingpur

and to pp-read wrong, thought your age was 59 with a 2 & 4 year old--that would be really scary!!:bugeyes:

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Specializes in Aspiring BSN/MSN/MBA Candidate.

Your learning style is your first starting point. If you're uncertain take an online test. It will be beneficial. While it is not always possible to balance our schedules in the manner we'd prefer, play to your strengths in all cases. Always handle your most difficult subjects first, and get in the habit of noting vocabulary words and small instances of questions that are usually scattered amongst science text. They reinforce what you've read and help you to digest the material more effectively.

If a particularl subject is giving you trouble feel free to employ different learning methods. Study aids are available in multiple formats to provide assistance to various learning styles. In some instances it is not you, but merely the author's manner of speech and explanation that fails to resonate.

Lastly, I'd recommend grabbing Mortimer Adler's classic 'How to Read A Book'. He pioneered the Great Books program and offers a thorough explanation of the four reading styles and how/when each should be utilized.

Novi

:nurse:

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Specializes in ICU.

One thing I am finding lately is that different classes require different forms of study and so for me, one approach does not fit all. The most imporant thing to me is to really UNDERSTAND the information, not just know it. If I don't "get it" in class I will go and read the text again, if I still don't get it I will go on line and look it up and find something that makes it click in my head. Sometimes it just takes learning it from a different angle for you to have that Ah-ha moment. Once that moment comes, it becomes much easier to remember it.

Of course there are some things in classes like A&P that are strictly memorization in which I think we all have our own little tricks that help us remember things. I make up stories, sentences, relate it to something else. Some of the things just don't even make sense but sometimes that makes it stick in your head more. As an example when we were doing the skull I could NOT remember Lacrimal bone. Just had a mental block. So for some reason the "La" made me think of Nick Lachey and the "crimal" made me think of a crime or a criminal and since it is at the tear duct corner there I would just think of Nick Lachey and someone committing a crime and crying. (or nick comitting a crime and crying...lol) and it is the stupidest thing, but I remembered it for the test..

Take the time and study and study smart, in a way that works for YOU!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Others here have said many of the same things I would have said. I just want to reiterate that you need to find what works best for you. I review my schoolwork almost every day. I wait for the kids to get out of school and every day I pull out the book and notes and look it over. That is what works best for me. I am not a flashcard person. Do that if it is what will help you learn better. In some classes, it is worth buying and using a recorder. Find websites related to the material you are studying and do the sample tests. The more you're exposed to something, the easier it is to understand.

I also try to get into the teachers head. After the first test is usually easy to gauge what they feel will be important enough to put on the test.

And as someone else said. It is crucial that you admit when you don't understand a concept. Ask the teacher for clarification. If you can, compare your notes to others right after class to see what you missed.

I have two kids in travel sports. It's hard to balance school and fun. I often bring along my book so I can flip thru it on the way to events. Nearly every soccer practice you will find me with my Anatomy book in my lap reading.

Don't take on too much at once. Good luck with your grades and studying.

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One thing I am finding lately is that different classes require different forms of study and so for me, one approach does not fit all. The most imporant thing to me is to really UNDERSTAND the information, not just know it. If I don't "get it" in class I will go and read the text again, if I still don't get it I will go on line and look it up and find something that makes it click in my head. Sometimes it just takes learning it from a different angle for you to have that Ah-ha moment. Once that moment comes, it becomes much easier to remember it.

Of course there are some things in classes like A&P that are strictly memorization in which I think we all have our own little tricks that help us remember things. I make up stories, sentences, relate it to something else. Some of the things just don't even make sense but sometimes that makes it stick in your head more. As an example when we were doing the skull I could NOT remember Lacrimal bone. Just had a mental block. So for some reason the "La" made me think of Nick Lachey and the "crimal" made me think of a crime or a criminal and since it is at the tear duct corner there I would just think of Nick Lachey and someone committing a crime and crying. (or nick comitting a crime and crying...lol) and it is the stupidest thing, but I remembered it for the test..

Take the time and study and study smart, in a way that works for YOU!

Hey, I like your "cryinng Nick"! That realy works! :yeah:

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Specializes in Aspiring BSN/MSN/MBA Candidate.

I have two kids in travel sports. It's hard to balance school and fun. I often bring along my book so I can flip thru it on the way to events. Nearly every soccer practice you will find me with my Anatomy book in my lap reading.

Great point about time management. Learning how to steal time and use it effectively will definitely impact your grades in a positive fashion.

Novi

:nurse:

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Specializes in ICU.
Hey, I like your "cryinng Nick"! That realy works! :yeah:

Haha glad I could help! I have a million of these stupid things.

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Specializes in CNA.

Got another scenario foor you , any advice would be appreciated ~

I am also a student taking 17 credit hours this semester with a 3.89 GPA not counting this Spring but it looks to go up just a little(pre-nursing til this Fall)with children at home, 5 actually ..ranging in age from not quite 3 year old twin boys to an 11 year old girl ( thank God for mothers little helper!)and in the midst of this a special needs child 5 years old...school is not as much a challenge as personal time, school is, for me an I know I have to do this RIGHT NOW thing, so personal time especailly with hubby suffers...he has no concept of how much I have to do and how important it is,he is supportive, very much so but I think he just does not get the scope of my world right now..he has never written a 6 page proposal paper to be turned in to a tempermental grader, therefore the pressure I am under is forgien to him! Any advice on how to show him my view , or squeeze in a little US time?!?!

I need a solution in the mean time but This Fall I hope it eases up a little as I will Hopefully be in RN classes and I HAVE TO BE FOCUSED and HE is beginning pre-reqs looking at getting a degree in some area of health care..respiatory tech or radiograpy are his tops right now~ I hope he gets a better perspective and we can compliment each others study styles and schedules...I know it will improve our time together, he has recruited me as tutor(poor james!)

Sorry for the long rant ~feel better now though ..thanks allnurses!

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