I Bomb Out!!! Need Advice

[Born2BAnurse]

HI, Kids-R-Fun thanks for your advice... My duaghter the 9year does help me alot and she likes to play with her younger sister. I dont want her to miss out on being a child so I limit what I ask her to do for me.. and my 13 year old son is severly disabled so there is nothing he can do to help me.. My husband works long hours so by the time he gets home the kids are in the bed...Im just going to have to tough it out... I really want this and Ihave 12 more months to go... I just have to do it... I know its going to getting harder..

Its funny that you mentioned the grade point average situation because everyone that was striving for that 4.0 is now happy with the B- that they received.. Its a funny thing...

[FarmgrrlRN]

One more thing about study groups. I know that the class ahead of ours does this in one of their study groups. Most of the women have kids and especially around here, they have husbands that are deployed. They will have their study groups and bring all of their kids. That way, the kids can play and be entertained by your classmates' children too! (ie older ones watching the little ones). Maybe this would help.

[PJMommy]

You can do this!! I have four kiddos ranging from 11 years old down to 2 years old. My 2 y/o thinks sleep is optional and my 11 year old is pre-teen hormonal. The middle two are the only sane ones in the house.

Get support and help from others -- share babysitting time. Go to the library or the coffee shop or whereever -- you HAVE to set time aside to do studying otherwise you'll find it keeps dropping lower and lower on the list.

I personally get up at 5 AM every morning and study for a couple of hours before I have to be anywhere. It can be done. You can be a great mom and a great nurse at the same time.

[TeresaRN2b]

There are quite a few moms here with 4 or more kids. I have 5 so I totally hear you. I think you really have to set specific goals for yourself as far as studying goes. I find myself taking a nap in the afternoon a lot so I can stay up after my kids go to bed to study. I also try and do as much as I can on the weekends. The other thing that has been really hard for me is letting my house go. I know if you have 4 kids keeping up with the bare minimum is a lot of work, but you kind of have to just let certain things go. The laundry is behind here big time. I plan to catch up this weekend. I have froze up meals ahead of time. This has helped me a lot. I have dumped a lot on my husband. At first I felt guilty about it because he works a lot, but then I stopped and realized I shouldn't be the only one exhausted. I try to do a lot of my studying on the weekends too. I think getting your baby on a schedule is a good idea as well. That was one that has been hard for me too because I am not a cry it out kind of mom. Now don't get me wrong when my kids are older I am pretty tough, but as babies I think they do need to be held a lot. I think by 8 months though you really should be able to start to work on a schedule. Study when you can as much as you can and get yourself a support system (as best you can). It is totally and completely overwhelming some days, but remind yourself why you're doing this and stay focused on the goal.

Teresa

[TeresaRN2b]

Originally posted by John Coxey

Born2BAnurse:

- Onto the hubby thing. Men are driven by three things. Sex, Money and Food. All you have to do is hit one of the three and the old boy will be happy. So, call Domino's Pizza -- they should be on your speed dial -- and get him a pizza...don't forget the Crazy Bread.

Oh my God dying laughing here. Ain't that the truth. My hubby is my hero as long as he gets one of the three he will keep up with all the kids for me (and 2 out of the 3 he will clean my house too, lol).

Teresa

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I thank the Good Lord for my wonderful hubby. He stepped right in and assumed more (much more) than his share of household duties. He even switched shifts so he could get the kids up for school and pick them up after school. I only had two but they were 6 & 4 at the time. They're grown now, but my hubby is still taking care of me and all my problems. For better, for worse, FOREVER!

[irishrose53]

One of the most important things a nurse learns is how to prioritize. Might as well learn it now. A&P is a bear. 3 hours is right. Not to mention the lab. I couldn't have done it if my kids were little. No way. I admire your grit!

[SirJohnny]

Born2BAnurse:

- For A&P 102 .., which I am taking now:

I study around 2 to 3 hours a day. Usually, I put in an hour or so before work and then an hour or so after work.

I do NOT cram for A&P exams -- just way too much material.

- I am also studying for a Java (software) certification exam, and spend another 1 to 2 hours a day on that.

- I work full time (software) and teach (2 nites/week) and go to A&P102 class (2 nites/week). Also take care of two persian cats -- which need shampooed/nails clipped/etc at least once every 3 weeks.

- I actually keep a log of my study time -- something to show my kids someday (when/if I ever get around to having them).

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- So, to answer your question. For A&P class - definitely 2 to 3 hours per day is not out of the norm. For a 3 credit nursing class - I would have to venture and say that would take 2 or 3 hours per day. So 5 hours per day studying is not out of the realm.

- What you need to do is break it up. I would say 1.5 hours of A&P before kids get up. Then 1.5 hours of nursing for lunch. Then 1.5 hours of A&P for evening and wrap up with another 0.5 hours for nursing. Can change around as course load adjusts.

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- If you think this is bad. Go to Grad School for Computer Science. I taught at the school (Lehigh Univ), worked on project (Osh-Kosh Children's Clothing), worked at fly-fishing shop (Little Lehigh - tying flies), and went to school full-time (4 classes). Was nuts - but got through.

At least I speak English -- can't imagine how tough it is for someone to re-locate 10,000 miles from home and have English as a 2nd language --- and still try to get through grad school.

- Like I mentioned before, you'll have to set some priorities with kids & hubby.

John Coxey

[SirJohnny]

Born2BAnurse:

- On the weekends...make sure you get up early and study hard. Then sleep in the afternoon -- this is how I get caught up on my sleep.

- After the semester is over -- ship the kids to Grandma's. Grab the hubby and party like crazy for a few days.

John Coxey

[nurse2be in ny]

I don't think you necessarily have to block out big chunks of time to study. I know I would drive myself insane if I tried to study for 1 1/2 hours at a time, so I do little bits here and there. It's working for me so far.

[TeresaRN2b]

Originally posted by nurse2be in ny

I don't think you necessarily have to block out big chunks of time to study. I know I would drive myself insane if I tried to study for 1 1/2 hours at a time, so I do little bits here and there. It's working for me so far.

I have to say I agree. I can't study longer than 30 minutes at a time. I just try and break it up into smaller study sessions.

Teresa

[SirJohnny]

Nurse2be in ny & TeresaRN2b:

- I study in 1 to 1.5 hour blocks of time -- because that's how my "free time" is allocated.

- I have an hour or two before work - then some time around lunch - then time either before or after class. On Mondays, I have no classes and teach no classes, so I have even more time.

- On the weekends, I just want to get the studying over with. So up at 4:30AM -- in the office by 5AM and home and in bed again by 10AMish. Repeat the cycle again in the evenings.

John Coxey