How many extra credits should I take?!

caliotter3 · Jul 8, 2010

I would limit it to one extra class per term. I took extra classes for my minor and found it to be almost too much, not because of the workload so much, but because of the extra trips to class as I commuted an hour and a half. Now, if you take online courses, maybe two. But see how the nursing classes go. You don't want a big care plan due for clinical the day before your big research project is due for one class as well as a midterm for another class. Sometimes nursing school itself is just too much with nothing added. And we haven't discussed time for your family or your job.

caliotter3 · Jul 8, 2010

In short terms, I'm trying to warn you not to sabotage yourself!

ziggysgal,RN · Jul 8, 2010

12 is 'full time'... 15 is considered maximum allowed at my CC... but a lot of it depends on subject load and distractions like work and such.. A good rule of thumb I recently heard about any nursing program is to be prepared for 3 hours of study for every 1 in class... (if you wind up not needing it, it's a bonus, but if you do need it and are prepared... well, that's a different kind of bonus)

If you are not working, and have few distractions outside of school (kids, spouse, etc), you can successfully commit to 15 hours with no problems... but I would recommend taking a close look at the subject load of additional courses to make sure you will have time to do appropriate study without sacrificing study time for your nursing coursework...

Kamdyn · Jul 8, 2010

Thanks guys! Self-sabotage is exactly what I am concerned about. Mostly for my GPA because I want to go on and get my masters. The english class would be online and I know the teacher and she is fantastic. The math class would be 3 days a week in the morning and again, I've had the teacher and he is good. The only hole in my vision is the nursing classes. I'm just not sure what to expect...

Kamdyn · Jul 8, 2010

Oh, and I'm not working. But I do have two kiddos (5 yrs and 8 yrs).

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 8, 2010

I think you should err on the side of caution until you know what nursing school will be like. If you find that it is really easy for you and you have plenty of extra time on your hands, you can add a course the next semester with no harm to your career. But if you get in over your head by taking on too much, you can hurt your career long term by doing really badly.

Take it slow and focus on doing a great job. Don't take on too much and end up burned out with a bad academic record.

Aurora77 · Jul 8, 2010

Depends on what you can handle. In my first semester (fundamentals), I took 8 hours of nursing classes and 11 hours of additional classes (pre-reqs for my RN programs). I took phys, micro, and algebra. I was busy and had to be very organized. By the time finals week came around, I was pretty burnt out. But, I made it through with all As, so it can be done.

Do what's best for you and your family.

racquetmom · Jul 8, 2010

Thanks guys! Self-sabotage is exactly what I am concerned about. Mostly for my GPA because I want to go on and get my masters. The english class would be online and I know the teacher and she is fantastic. The math class would be 3 days a week in the morning and again, I've had the teacher and he is good. The only hole in my vision is the nursing classes. I'm just not sure what to expect...

My schedule is 4 days/wk for block 1 with two of them starting at 6:30 and going til 3:30. (W/TH) which leaves out the MWF class option and the T/TH option of the traditional classes. I am curious how you can fit in an extra class 3/times a week in the a.m. that isn't online?

I applaud your energy with wanting extra classes and having a family. I am stressing about the nursing classes with managing time for my kids and their homework, activities, and then all the household things etc. They will be 6th grade and 2nd.

Kamdyn · Jul 12, 2010

I am curious how you can fit in an extra class 3/times a week in the a.m. that isn't online?

Our program is designed so we have Mon/Wed/Fri mornings off in case people have other non-nursing classes that need to be taken. We have clincial on Tuesdays mornings from 6:30-3:30.

choc0late · Jul 13, 2010

Personally I wouldn't take stats with nursing. Keep in mind though this is from a stat hater! My entire 105 credits worth of classes on my transcripts are all A's and B's with ONE C+, can you guess what that was in?? lol, at that it was a mercy pass! Horrid course I say, horrid! But if you don't mind it as much as I do it may be okay. But in my BSN program there are quite a few gen ed's you need like histories and foriegn languages, I'd look and see what your transfer school requires and pick an easier one for during nursing and the harder ones over summer or winter breaks. But 15 credits is fine, mine have been between 14-16 just in the nursing portion.

starmickey03, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2010

Im in the same boat you're in. I start my nursing program this fall too and my nursing classes total 9 credits. I already have a BS though so I dont have any other classes to take other than nursing. But I also have 2 kids as well and I dont think you should take any gen eds while you take your nursing courses. I think you should save your gen ed courses for the summer semesters if you dont have any nursing courses scheduled for summer.

Im not sure if youre a single mom or not, but I am and my kids absolutely drive me crazy! Im taking Pharm and Patho right now and its just SO much work (especially Patho). I seriously spend my entire day working on Patho that sometimes I feel bad for not spending time with my kids so I put off my work until theyre sleep and stay up all night finishing my assignments/readings (which is not good since I work full time).

Im starting to ramble, LOL. But basically what Im saying is that I know the nursing courses are going to take up enough of your time so adding extra classes may make you crazy especially with kids. If I were you I'd just save those classes for the summer and focus strictly on your nursing courses.