How much do you study?

I just ended my first semester in an ADN program with 2 A's and a B. I studied about 10 hours a week, give or take a few hours. There were others in my class who studied 30 hours a week, and then some. There were some who didn't study at all. I think it depends on the person and the material. This next semester, I will probably have to study a bit more because we will be doing Med-Surg and I don't have a lot of exposure to that.

I also have 2 children (4 and 7) and a husband who works at night and sleeps during the day. I'm pretty much responsible for the kids, except on my H's day off from work. I'm not sure if this will change once I begin working at the hospital (hopefully in January).

I understand about not wanting to ignore the kids...that's why I gave in a little with the studying time. I tried to do any studying and homework after they were in bed or on the weekends when they were at their mother's (they live with us full time and every other weekend are gone at mom's). It worked out well this semester, but I'm not sure how things will go in the spring. My husband also goes to class full time so that's hard too. But I keep reminding myself it's only 16 more months!

That's tough to answer. It's probably different for everyone.

I find I do a lot of studying at the beginning, but once I get a handle on the course, I get more efficient and it takes less study time --- if that makes any sense.

I devote 4 hours a day every day to schoolwork and studying. I want the 4.0 and i want to remember what i've learned.

I was taking some of my non-nursing courses online A&P I, History, Trig, and Nutrition. I also sat in school one night a week doing a computer programing course. I have 2 kids (1 & 3) and a husband that's gone from 7am till about 8pm, I was able to get a 4.0 for this semester, but I worked my tail end off to get it. I currently do not work, I think the kids are a big enough job though. But I can remember many late nights till around 3 or 4am just trying to get my work done! (This was really the only time I could do anything) Then my little ones would be up at the crack of dawn and I'd have to start all over again!!

I'm not in nursing school yet (cross my fingers) but I hope that I can manage to keep myself sane while taking those classes and tending to the house as well! I hear nursing school can be tough, but I think as long as you can put your mind to it, and if you really have the passion to become a nurse you'll overcome anything that gets in your way..... There will be times you may have to sacrafice though, But you have to remember "What you will gain in the end" will be worth every sacrafice you make to get there!!

(Let's hope)

Just read you material, listen to your instructors and you should do fine!! I do believe, that it all depends on the student as well (the mentallity of the student I should say) For me I take to books really well, I read it once and it's set in my mind, I don't get nervous with tests (just entrance essay ) whereas, my sister always feels that no matter what she does she will fail (She received her BSN 2 years ago) I can remember many days she would come home and read a book over and over again and still tell herself that she didn't understand it, I think she stressed herself out so much that she couldn't understand it because of the fact that she already assumed she was going to fail!!

Just keep in mind that you can do it, and you'll be fine

I guess it depends on how little sleep you can get by on. I did not do any school work until the kids went to bed. My average bed time was 3 a.m., 5 nights a week and getting up as early as 6 a.m. on clinical days and 7 a.m. on normal weekdays. My DH was great, I would go to bed early on Friday nights and sleep until noon while he kept the kids busy every Saturday morning. That was first year. Second year was no better. I'm just finishing the first semester of third year and it does get easier. I don't know that the work gets any less but, your ability to do the work and juggle kids and clinicals and everything else becomes a little more honed. I am REALLY looking forward to next semester. Preceptorship. I'll work 48 hours one week, 36 hours the next (twelve hour shifts) for sixteen weeks. Nights will be an adjustment but, a "full-time" job seems like dream hours to me... it will be a third of the work I am used to. LOL - says I. Watch how tired I am after I realize that clinicals and the "real world" are nothing alike.

meredith, your plan is what I wanted to do this semester but somehow my dh figured out when my classes got out and the cell would be ringing for me to hurry home shortly after that. I want to try harder to do that in the future though, I think it would be better to just get everything done there at school so that I can leave it there so when I go home I'm not stressing about doing school stuff with the kids and dh climbing all over me. I ended up doing alot of work after the kids were in bed at night and in 10 minute sessions here and there this semester, but I'm so tired by the kids bedtime lately that I don't feel it's a good option, plus that's the only time dh and I have in peace. I'm not one of those people that can study late on a regular basis, I can't function without a fairly good night's sleep (LOL... I've been up with kids just about every night for the past 6 years). So anyway, my point was that I think your plan is a good plan if you and your family are on board with the idea. :)

This is really helpful! It is encouraging for the most part. I am a good student, have a 3.3 from a good school in Accounting. The only thing is I can't do the 3 AM thing, I can't keep my eyes open past about 11:00. But it sounds like if I can discipline myself to use my days for school, I won't have TOO much creeping into home. My kids will be 8 and 11 when I start this, so I think that helps too.

Meredith