How much time do you spend studying outside of nursing classes?

[goldenanchor]

I like being prepared and planning each individual hour of my life. As a working mother and student- it's essential to my success!

I start the nursing classes this fall and made up a mock schedule, where I scheduled about 45-50 hours of studying outside of classes/work.

Is this enough? Do you have any idea how much time you spend studying and doing homework outside of class?

[juniper583]

I do not spend a lot of time studying but I know it's a full time job for many in my class. Planning for that much now will serve you well and if you don't need it then consider that time a bonus. I've found that if you have a good grasp of anatomy and physiology you will have a good start. Learning to apply that knowledge to prioritize and delegate just takes practice.

[Friskee, BSN, MSN]

I average a good 15 hours a week study time. I originally tried to get in 40 hour week but that was impossible. Not only was I incredibly burned out, but with all the outside work it is not possible (I spend 10-15 hours a week alone on care plans-not including other assignments, journals, papers, mandatory volunteering or mandatory meetings outside of class.) Combine 40 hours of classes,labs, and clinicals with 15 hours of care plans- then add everything else in, there would be no way to put in 40-50 hours of extra time a week. I am also married with children so I just decided that B's get degrees and to be happy with that now.

[Everline]

I'm not sure how much I study. It's a lot. I know in my first semester, I calculated my study time and I easily studied 50 hours a week. It's kind of hard to wrap my mind around that, but it is what it is. I have to work my bottom off in nursing school. Care plans and charting are another thing that eat up much more time than you might imagine. At least for me, they do. I always think I can knock it out in an hour, maybe two and it NEVER works out that way. Anyway, you will find your way. Important thing, when time gets tight, is to determine what is priority to study.

[Compassion_x]

I study quite a bit. I'm one of the only ones in my class that actually reads most of the chapters we have assigned (at least for med-surg classes). I study throughout the day. I'm out of class and clinical by noon monday through thursday. I read my textbooks for a max of 30 minutes at a time. Usually around the same for going through powerpoints. Papers are my exception to my 30 minute rules. I also never cram. As soon as we start a new unit I'm on reading whatever I can. The night before exams I read though any powerpoints or packets from the instructor. I usually do pretty well.