HI, what's the latest you've stayed up studying for a test or exam?

shanyone · May 3, 2007

I stayed up until 2AM on Sunday night and I'm still beat today! I am too old to be pulling "all-nighter" study sessions :) I am done until May 24th now!! I am so happy about that.

Oh well, what else do we do? I want to be a nurse and I'm finally doing it. Have a good cry and then get back on the horse. That's all you can do.

Shanyone

Race Mom, ASN, RN · May 3, 2007

1am is pretty normal for me. I have kids/husband and sometimes have to wait until they've gone to bed. Although last week I had to pull an all-nighter. Yup, stayed up all night studying for the "hardest" test of the semester, showered and went to school. Scored a 98%!

RN28MD · May 3, 2007

When I was in nursing school I had to care for nieces and nephews;) so I would have to wait to put them to bed. I would stay up a lot up to 2am. But if I had clinicals and a test the next day I would stay up from 4'30am or 530am and get in the shower and go to school. I was very sleep deprived when I was in nursing school. But it is all worth it. You just have to find what works for you. Some people go to bed at their regular time for example 10pm and set their timer for 2am and study for a couple of hours. Or get up two hrs before class and study. Just keep in mind that someone like me who hates getting up in the AM I would never get up that early and if I did I probably wouldn't retain anything. You have to see what works b/c not everyone is a morning or night person. Good luck.

AddyRN07 · May 3, 2007

I never stayed up the night before a test. Actually, I never studied the night before a test. I worked hard to learn the material beforehand and attended every lecture. I have scored successfully on all my tests. I graduate in 9 days from the RN program. And even though I have never had any medical experience I was able to complete nursing school with minimal stress. I am a mother of 3 (which 2 are teenagers) so I had obstacles. I chose not to let those affect my schooling and found ways to work around them. I hope you can too. But remember, you do need your sleep the night before a test. You will recall things much easier - even if it isn't something you read and only heard in lecture. Best of luck to ya.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 3, 2007

All night, but then I found that getting about 4 hours of sleep cements the knowledge in my brain, and I do better with a little sleep.

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · May 3, 2007

1:00 am is a standard for me before the test. It is the only time when I can study uninterupted because the family is sleeping. My latest was 4:00am and then waking up at 7 :smilecoffeeIlovecof .

Only one more week of school and I am done :yeah: .

BeccaznRN, RN · May 3, 2007

It was rare for me to get to bed anytime before 1a during school. I hated it. Clinical prep was the worst though - I would routinely be up until 2-3a finishing up my 15+ pages of prep. I would come home the next day after clinical and just pass out! :sleep:

TazziRN, RN · May 3, 2007

I've always made midnight my cut-off. I knew that if I stayed up later than that I wouldn't be any good the next day, so I made myself stop at midnight.

swatch007 · May 3, 2007

I was up until 1 AM studying for a test last night! And this is just my first semester. I just started crying. I know it will all pay off in the long run, but I just wondering how long you've all stayed up to study. Thanks.

I wish I could laugh here, but I sincerely don't want to minimize your feelings. Instead, let me say this to you: It must have been hard subjecting yourself to this physically and mentally stressful situation. Are you worried that you might not be able to keep up with the demand of school work? Go on, you can ventilate here. Many people here are willing to listen and offer their insightful advices. Their personal experiences when they were/are struggling in nursing schools might inspire you to keep going courageously.

Humbly, mine was difficult too. I usually stayed up until 4:00 am to finish my papers, care plans and review for the next day test. Often times, I had three exams in different classes on the same day--no exaggeration. I learned to adapt because there was no other choice. There were also days that I only got 30 minutes sleep because I had clinical that morning and my mean clinical instructor would be collecting our research paper, reflective journal and would be giving medication test before assigning each of us with two patients on our regular 12-hour clinical day. Most of us in my group appeared to be sicker than our patients, and I really envied my patients because their beds looked so cozy to me. Oh, I would trade everything just to get an hour sleep as long as I would not fail a single class. I tried to keep up with my everyday reading and HW, but it was like running on a treadmill while somebody was continously turning up its knob to increase the speed to the max. I had to keep up with the pace , so I would not be thrown out. There was no room for mistake because one strike and I would be out of the program. It was really a test of will and wit.

You mentioned that this is your first semester. I strongly suggest that you reorganize your priorities and have some new strategies that would help you tackle your course work. Specific situation requires specific strategy, so find one that will work for you.

I wish you the best on your journey to this rewarding profession!

MalAngel · May 3, 2007

I stay up different times every night depending on what I have the next day. I have learned not to wait until the night before to study a majority of the material because it just does not work. But sometimes you have no other choice when you have a lot going on. Good luck with everything!

StrwbryblndRN · May 3, 2007

My kids (3 and 5 years) prevented alot of studying time. But I found that if I went to bed early and woke up early before the kids to study worked well for me.

When night comes and I am beat, no matter how much I study it will not sink in. At that point I would just go to sleep because I knew it would be worse to force it.

Don't worry about how late you stay up. Just make sure that you can function the next day. If you find you are tired and whiny, then maybe you should find a different way to study. Some people need lots a sleep and some don't.