How Can I Have The "College Experience" While Attending Nursing School?

RNperdiem, RN · Sep 16, 2016

Another thing to consider- at 21 you will be on the older end of the typical on-campus "college student experience". A person matures a lot in a few years, and it might take some searching to find activities and groups that are compatible with your personality.

I went back to school in my early 20's and the best group I found was a social dance group that was predominantly graduate students. It met once a week, provided a social outlet at reasonable hours and introduced me to a lot of good people.

CCU BSN RN · Sep 16, 2016

Time. Management. Skills.

Luckily for you, you're 21 not 18 and have already taken some classes, so you'll have some of this down. I had a rough time my first 2 years of my BSN program and did well academically, but made almost no time for social activities because I felt like I had to be constantly studying or working in order to do well.

I was essentially wasting a lot of time watching TV, on facebook, talking on the phone to high school friends, taking naps, etc. Also, I was actually completing the assigned reading for all of my classes and taking diligent notes from my textbooks as I did so. Took me a few years to realize I needed to read the science books, but really only needed to study my class notes and glance through my nursing texts. This will differ by program and your learning style, but I wish I'd figured it out earlier.

Biggest things that were helpful to me were:

1. Schedule time to study. 2-3pm study for patho.

2. Schedule events you can't miss, and budget time accordingly for school.

3. Show up to class well-rested, pay attention, take close notes, ask questions. Teachers emphasize what they think is important in lecture, and this is often where test questions come from.

4. Make friends with other nursing majors early on, especially the good students, and study as a group. Example each one of you reads a chapter, and you teach it to each other instead of reading 5 chapters.

5. Find out what kind of tutor services your program offers. There are probably FREE TUTORS. I didn't realize this until they asked me to BE a tutor for a class. SO HELPFUL.

Buyer beware, BSN · Sep 16, 2016

I start clinicals in Jan. and I will also finish all pre and co requisites this fall but I still want to attend college meetings, go to games, and sign up for different organizations. How can I make this possible while going through the rigors of nursing school? Also I'm 21, if that means anything.

OP:

I believe in your situation the fact that you are 21 goes a long way towards having the quintessential "college experience" that you claim to so desire.

So to be specific: (and this is the top-shelf advice)

Never run out of cold 'brewskis." You'll be the life of your study group, and it's legal. With this accomplished all other aspects of college life should fall right into place. Good Luck.

BSN16 · Sep 16, 2016

while i was nursing school (BSN at a regular university) i played a sport, went to parties, had two part time jobs and had lots of time to hang out my friends. Truthfully it's not any different than any major.

SunshineeStudent · Sep 16, 2016

Thank you! I want to make friends with the nursing majors but in terms of working in study groups, I don't think I can. I tried for one or two pre-req classes and I couldn't. I have ADHD and take adderall for it,which only helps with the hyperactive part. I can't study with more than one person. Hopefully I find that one good study buddy that I can get through this program with.

Time. Management. Skills.
Luckily for you, you're 21 not 18 and have already taken some classes, so you'll have some of this down. I had a rough time my first 2 years of my BSN program and did well academically, but made almost no time for social activities because I felt like I had to be constantly studying or working in order to do well.
I was essentially wasting a lot of time watching TV, on facebook, talking on the phone to high school friends, taking naps, etc. Also, I was actually completing the assigned reading for all of my classes and taking diligent notes from my textbooks as I did so. Took me a few years to realize I needed to read the science books, but really only needed to study my class notes and glance through my nursing texts. This will differ by program and your learning style, but I wish I'd figured it out earlier.
Biggest things that were helpful to me were:
1. Schedule time to study. 2-3pm study for patho.
2. Schedule events you can't miss, and budget time accordingly for school.
3. Show up to class well-rested, pay attention, take close notes, ask questions. Teachers emphasize what they think is important in lecture, and this is often where test questions come from.
4. Make friends with other nursing majors early on, especially the good students, and study as a group. Example each one of you reads a chapter, and you teach it to each other instead of reading 5 chapters.
5. Find out what kind of tutor services your program offers. There are probably FREE TUTORS. I didn't realize this until they asked me to BE a tutor for a class. SO HELPFUL.

Buyer beware, BSN · Sep 17, 2016

Another thing to consider- at 21 you will be on the older end of the typical on-campus "college student experience". A person matures a lot in a few years, and it might take some searching to find activities and groups that are compatible with your personality.
I went back to school in my early 20's and the best group I found was a social dance group that was predominantly graduate students. It met once a week, provided a social outlet at reasonable hours and introduced me to a lot of good people.

That's funny. We all should be so old. Anybody up for the "funky chicken?"

SunshineeStudent · Sep 17, 2016

That's funny. We all should be so old. Anybody up for the "funky chicken?"

ED_Murse · Sep 17, 2016

There's a common misconception that nursing school is extremely difficult and you will never have any time to do anything outside of it (it's not and you will!).

Prior to going for my BSN I had been working a job doing 60 hours a week so going to college was like a holiday. Is it difficult? Yes - you won't earn a bachelor of science without working (hard) for it. Sign up for clubs and activities that your interested in doing and make time for socialising. The time management skills that you learn will serve you well after you graduate.

MYSTICOOKIEBEAR · Sep 17, 2016

If you want to have the "College" experience while also achieving top marks and earning a degree in nursing, I highly recommend that you do the following:

Step 1: Buy a planner

Step 2: Use it!

Budgeting your time and meticulous planning is the only realistic way for you to achieve this. Very early on you need to figure out the things that you want to do/experience/be a part and you have to prioritize for the things that you want to accomplish. At the beginning of the semester, I literally made a spread sheet for every hour of every day for the whole semester which included times that I would sleep, go to class, study, work, exercise, and if time allowed, go out and have some fun!

Throughout nursing I worked in the Orientation and First Year Experience office doing tours, I was the president of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club, was an officer on the Fencing Team, managed to still lift 2-3 times/week, and still keep a decent, but honestly minimal, social schedule. I realized that for me, I wanted to stay physically active, and do the activities that I enjoyed while also helping teach people new skills and cultivating them as well.

I realized very early on that getting blasted 2-3 days a week was not something that was in the cards if I wanted to do the things that were important to me and meant something. There is nothing wrong with getting wasted on weekends, but it is much more difficult to stay productive if you do so! :wacky: If it is important to you, budget your time and make room for it in your schedule. Good luck!

SunshineeStudent · Sep 17, 2016

Wow!! You had the full blown experience!! I don't drink or anything like that but hopefully,on the weekends, I can fit in movie time :). Thank you!!!

If you want to have the "College" experience while also achieving top marks and earning a degree in nursing, I highly recommend that you do the following:
Step 1: Buy a planner
Step 2: Use it!
Budgeting your time and meticulous planning is the only realistic way for you to achieve this. Very early on you need to figure out the things that you want to do/experience/be a part and you have to prioritize for the things that you want to accomplish. At the beginning of the semester, I literally made a spread sheet for every hour of every day for the whole semester which included times that I would sleep, go to class, study, work, exercise, and if time allowed, go out and have some fun!
Throughout nursing I worked in the Orientation and First Year Experience office doing tours, I was the president of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club, was an officer on the Fencing Team, managed to still lift 2-3 times/week, and still keep a decent, but honestly minimal, social schedule. I realized that for me, I wanted to stay physically active, and do the activities that I enjoyed while also helping teach people new skills and cultivating them as well.
I realized very early on that getting blasted 2-3 days a week was not something that was in the cards if I wanted to do the things that were important to me and meant something. There is nothing wrong with getting wasted on weekends, but it is much more difficult to stay productive if you do so! If it is important to you, budget your time and make room for it in your schedule. Good luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2016

Moved to the General Nursing Student forum.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2016

Make friends with people who are not in nursing. Do what they do.

I have never, and will never, understand people who say it's impossible to have a normal college experience/life while being a nursing major. I don't feel my college experience was that different than my roommates', none of them were nursing majors. I did have to wake up early for clinicals but, other than that, I did everything they did and then some.