Is nursing school everyday or just two days a week?

Herrington · Mar 30, 2014

I'm not in nursing school yet, but from what I gather, you don't have classes/clinicals every single day (at least, most schools don't), but with the amount of time and effort involved for the coursework, you may as well be there every day. See if you can find a schedule of past semesters/years of those schools to sort of gauge how much time you'll need to be out there (I found one for the school I want to go to on their website, and it's a pretty brutal schedule). If it's multiple times a week, then it may be advisable to perhaps move closer to them.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 30, 2014

It depends on how your school runs your program. No, you don't have lecture every day. However, you do have skills labs, physical assessment labs, clinicals, etc. Our first semester, we were in school Monday through Thursday for the first 10 weeks of a 16 week semester. Clinicals are obviously off-site, at the hospital, but it's still time out of your day. Our school also offered supplemental courses for 1st semester nursing students (e.g. study skills, clinical documentation, med math, etc.) If you took those supplemental courses, you ended up being on campus every single day for the first 4 weeks of school. It was a LOT of time on campus.

I will also say, I found it easier to stay on campus to study after class was over, rather than go home. I was able to get more work done without the distractions that are at home.

guest699183 · Mar 30, 2014

For the first semester at my program everyone is on campus 3-4 days a week. Then one day of the week is for clinical. And as SopranoKris pointed out even on your *off* day there may be other miscellaneous stuff scheduled.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 30, 2014

On days you don't have lectures, you have labs. When you don't have labs, you have skill labs. When you don't have them, you have clinicals. And when you aren't in clinicals....you're at the school for yet something else. Rinse, repeat

loriangel14, RN · Mar 30, 2014

Schools vary but I would count on having something going on 4-5 days a week.

Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2014

It depends on the type of program, college, and semester. Sometimes I have lecture 4 times a week and clinical once a week. Others I have lecture twice and have 3 clinical days.

HatTrickHero11 · Mar 30, 2014

Thank you for all of your help everyone! I really appreciate the comments. From what everyone is saying, I can expect to be spending most of the week at the school, whether I am in lecture, lab, meetings, or at a clinical off campus. This answers my question of how far is "too far" to make the drive on a daily basis.

PNW0212 · Mar 30, 2014

From my understanding, it's almost everyday. With clinicals and class, it's definitely about 4-5 days a week. If I were you I would move, I would hate the commute and it would be so helpful to live just a few miles away! Imagine if you forgot something and needed to turn around or just go to school to drop something off... Good luck!!

RunBabyRN · Mar 30, 2014

Thank you for all of your help everyone! I really appreciate the comments. From what everyone is saying, I can expect to be spending most of the week at the school, whether I am in lecture, lab, meetings, or at a clinical off campus. This answers my question of how far is "too far" to make the drive on a daily basis.

Yeah, that gas money can really add up, especially at CA prices! I have a few classmates that commutes at least an hour each way, and right now with preceptorship, they can be up this way 7 days a week! If you can move closer to your school, wonderful, but I know living situations aren't always flexible. My master's program will be over an hour away (and in the direction of traffic, no less), but it'll be worthwhile. Or at least that's what I tell myself! :yes:

FutureNurseK · Mar 30, 2014

I too am 6 classes for applying for my schools bsn program. My school program runs mon thru fri so contact a nursing advisor and find out. Best of wishes

ambitiousBSN · Mar 30, 2014

It varies by program. In my first semester, I had lectures(s) once a week with two days of lab and two days of clinical. I had Friday off, but not really off considering the amount of reading plus clinical assignments that were due. I'm in my second semester, so it's similar, but now I'm all week whether it's clinical (two days a week), lecture (three days a week), or open lab opportunities. Next semester, I'll have something every day of the week again, except I'll have two clinicals going on (Monday, Thursday and Friday) plus lecture and lab. For my program, it gets a little more intense each semester, I'm assuming as it should.