How much studying in a day???

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Just wondering how many hours in a day a typical nursing student(that would be us) studies in one day? Im starting nursing school in January and I want to know what I should expect. Thanks

Specializes in Med-Surg.

For me:

M: study for a few hours in the morning, then class, then clinical prep all night

T: clinical only, home by 4:00

W: study for a few hours in the morning, then class, home by 5:00

Th: study for a few hours in the morning, then lab, home by 5:00

F, S, S: study all day

Something extra going on that week might have me hitting the books in the evening too but usually I prefer to avoid this and just get up early and study while I'm fresh.

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For me:

M: study for a few hours in the morning, then class, then clinical prep all night

T: clinical only, home by 4:00

W: study for a few hours in the morning, then class, home by 5:00

Th: study for a few hours in the morning, then lab, home by 5:00

F, S, S: study all day

Something extra going on that week might have me hitting the books in the evening too but usually I prefer to avoid this and just get up early and study while I'm fresh.

Thank you so much for posting this. For me it isn't so much how many hours to study, but when. I seem to get my best studying done at night. The problem is that I get no sleep as a result. My three kids are early risers and it makes it hard to sleep in. they are 6, 8, and 10. I put three cereal bowls out on the table at night for breakfast in the morning, but my bedroom is right next to the kitchen.

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Thank you so much for posting this. For me it isn't so much how many hours to study, but when. I seem to get my best studying done at night. The problem is that I get no sleep as a result. My three kids are early risers and it makes it hard to sleep in. they are 6, 8, and 10. I put three cereal bowls out on the table at night for breakfast in the morning, but my bedroom is right next to the kitchen.

Someone on this board (maybe pre-nursing student board) is a tutor, and posted her thoughts. I thought it made perfect sense.

Think of your schooling as your 9-5 job. If your not in class during those hours, you should be studying. Of course- this works great if your not working full time!...

What my plan is- starting pre-reqs this fall, a/p I and intro to psych, is as follows:

M: a/p Lecture 1030-1150 I will get to school at 9am, and stay there until 2, to get home to pick my girls up at school, study some at night

T: No classes- I will spend this day doing "home things" laundry, cleaning etc. and study at night after the girls are in bed

W: A/P lecture 10-1150- same schedule as monday only

A/P lab 330-550 as well, so I will stay at school straight through to lab (girls go to their fathers on Wednesday afterschool)

Th: Psych- 9-11:50 will stay at school until 2pm and pick up the girls, then study some at night

F: No classes- will try to get in to open lab time on Friday for A/P extra...

I will be working as a waitress every other fri/sat when the girls are at their dads, and every sunday. Sunday I'll be out of work by 4pm, and will have sunday evening to study for the upcoming week as well.

I was a "good" student in highschool, but was very much into sports, so studying was only done to get by so I could stay eligible to play. I am a good "tester", and visual learner. Flash cards will be my savior in A/P I already know it.

I do agree with an above poster, it also depends how well you absorb what you learn, you could spend hours studying and still blow a test, where another student could spend an hour and ace it. You need to find your study style.

I do know that if I dont stay at school after my classes, and study, chances are when Im home I will find something "more important" to do, like load the dishwasher, or wash a floor LOL. I will need to be at the school, in the library or labs to get serious studying done. Too easily distracted.

Brandy

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When I was taking prereqs it seemed so easy for me. I would only have classes two or three days a week and I only worked part-time. Now that I start the program, I will have class three days a week and two days of clinicals, plus work part-time. My dh and I are looking into me quitting my job. That will help a lot because I work every other Fri, Sat, and Sun. So I would have to go 14 days before I get a day off. Plus, I work afternoons and am way too tired to do any studying when I get home. Now I know that some people do it, and it works for them. That is great. I just think that for me working, fulltime student, mom of three 10 and under, and everything else, it is too much. Dh works afternoons and during the week it is very hard to study with the three kids. I usually wait until they are in bed. They are in bed by 8 which is a lifesaver since my best studying seems to be at night. The plan is to try and fit at least 20 hours of study time in, at least. I just have to sit down and figure out when to get those extra hours in.

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When I got into the Nursing Program I gave up TV at night and used that time for studying. So I usually got supper over early and went to my room around 7:00 and studied until about 10:00. Then on weekends I study for about 2 hours in the morning while the house is quiet, then again from about 7:00 until 10:00 at night. But it's like everyone says, it depends on you, but I am sure you should schedule at the very least about 2-4 hours of studying per day, with a few additional hours (4-6) per day for the week before a test. You will figure it out through trial and error. Good Luck.

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Although it seems excessive to me, I'll share some orientation notes with the school's "university formula" (their term).

For lab/clinical courses = 3 hours of study for each 1 credit hour.

For theory courses = 1 hour of study for each 1 credit hour.

Theory course prep time= "Expect" about 3 hours of outside prep time for each credit hour.

Example with 16 credit hours (7 clinical and 9 theory):

For 7 clinical hours = 7*3 = 21 hours of study/week.

For 9 theory hours = 9*1 = 9 hours of study/week.

Theory prep time= 9*3= 27 hours of prep/week.

Total study time = 57 study hours/week.

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4-6 hours a day? I'm already in class from 9 am till 4 pm...I work almost 30 hours a week. I do maybe 4 hours of studying every saturday and sunday...during the week an hour or two a day max unless I have a test coming up. I'm borderline A/B student...I guess I'd be an A student if I studied like everyone else. I sure feel like a slacker now. If I have a test coming up, the three and four days before the test I will study about 6 hours a day. Everybody is so so different, I have classmates that ONLY study the day before a test and never read and make better grades than I do. I guess they absorb a lot more during lecture.

good luck :)

Ginyer

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When I was taking prereqs it seemed so easy for me. I would only have classes two or three days a week and I only worked part-time. Now that I start the program, I will have class three days a week and two days of clinicals, plus work part-time. My dh and I are looking into me quitting my job. That will help a lot because I work every other Fri, Sat, and Sun. So I would have to go 14 days before I get a day off. Plus, I work afternoons and am way too tired to do any studying when I get home. Now I know that some people do it, and it works for them. That is great. I just think that for me working, fulltime student, mom of three 10 and under, and everything else, it is too much. Dh works afternoons and during the week it is very hard to study with the three kids. I usually wait until they are in bed. They are in bed by 8 which is a lifesaver since my best studying seems to be at night. The plan is to try and fit at least 20 hours of study time in, at least. I just have to sit down and figure out when to get those extra hours in.

Whatever you can do to make quitting your job happen, do it. I also have 3 children (8, 6 & 3), and the best thing I EVER did was quit my job. It does put extra pressure on my dh to "bring home the bacon," and things have been a little tight, but so far we haven't starved, and I've had time for my school work, more time for the kids than before, and time to keep my house in order. My kids have an 8 pm bed time also, so I could and sometimes do study at night when my dh is working, but when he get's home, it's our time. I've tried to turn school into my full time job so that I can have that precious time with my family.

I'm not sure what you do, or what you'd be giving up, but we gave up over 40K a year when I quit. But, when you figured in all of the hidden expenses of working, it didn't come to nearly that much.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you! :)

Richele

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Usually about 2 hours a day in my case. Unlimited pre exam of course (until I feel comfortable enought to feel prepared for it).

I think it is a good amount considering that I study before class and after class as well and in between classes. :)

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I am going to be setting aside 3-5 hours a day, however, I have to get all my kids to go to sleep on time!! LOL

Just wondering how many hours in a day a typical nursing student(that would be us) studies in one day? Im starting nursing school in January and I want to know what I should expect. Thanks
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I was a "good" student in highschool, but was very much into sports, so studying was only done to get by so I could stay eligible to play. I am a good "tester", and visual learner. Flash cards will be my savior in A/P I already know it.

Flash cards are a godsend!! Also taping the class helps alot too! :)

Eileen

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I have about 5 hours a night to study and all day on the weekends. I don't have a very hard job (takes me about 2 hours every Sat. and Sun., but get paid for four :) ). I study about 3.5 of those five. I am the type of person who can't study straight and need lots of breaks. I usually watch TV and make notes at the some time. I know that I don't absorb as much info. but at least the notes are already done to go back to later. On nights that I have clinical the next day I am in bed by 2130 (clinical starts at 700 and is at least 45 min. from my house no matter where I go).

Kristen

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