Homework? How much in 1st year?

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jun 11, 2010

I wish my school offered a seperate Dosage Calculations class - I feel like I have to brush up on certain things before I take every math test. Luckily my school is also more lenient with our math tests - they usually give us two tries before we fail the course. For critical care (because the math is more complex) they gave us two tries and if you failed the second time, you would go through a remediation period where you would meet with your instructor and they would give you extra problems to do for 6 weeks...then you have to take a paper/pencil version of the exam. if you failed the third time, then you're out!

Zookeeper44, RN · Jun 11, 2010

Well, here's my $.02. Last year I finished my first year of nursing in an ASN program, and I figured I spent at LEAST 40 hrs. a week between reading/studying, papers, service learning, clinicals, care plans, etc. That was for just one 5 hr. nursing class plus a 1 or 2 hr. class, i.e. nutrition and pharmacology.

I did make 96-99 averages in all classes and scored really high on all ATI sections. I'm sure I'm near the top of my class. And I am good at "doing" school, have 2 other degrees including a Master's degree and made 4.0's in those.

So it does depend on your program, but also how well you want to do. Many of my classmates are content to keep their social lives intact and to make C's.

CBsMommy · Jun 11, 2010

We were in school for 11 hours/week, clinicals for 16 hours/week and I spent on average 30 hours/week studying. More towards the end of the semester and when we had pharm tests coming up. At the beginning of the semester I got away with about 5 hours of studying/week. I got really good grades as well.

Not only does it depend on your instructor but how you study. I had classmates that studied many more hours than me but couldn't test worth a darn and I do think one of them failed last semester, which is a shame. I would focus on your study skills and spend time finding what works for you before starting the nursing program, if possible. Good luck!!!