Managing your time and how do you do it!

lisabeth · Oct 15, 2006

I know it will take a lot more time than what I spend now. I spend a few hours looking over material for each class most days. I do take a day or two off from time to time, but not many. I have seen some posts in here where someone said about 5 hours a day/evening is what they do in nursing school. That is pretty much all day considering you are in school about 8 hours. I know each person is different. For me, it may be 10 hours. Whatever it takes. I heard this one guy who was in the program last Spring say "I told my wife I would see her next May." :eek:

Hi everyone,
I am going to start the LPN program Fall 2007. I have heard pointers on how much work someone may be able to handle with going to school full-time. I know that I am going to be going full-time and only working part-time but has anyone else heard any other recommendations for how to manage your study time, work time and class time so that you can get all of the knowledge you need to become a nurse?? I know right now it's hard to keep up with homework sometimes, I'm working full-time and taking 2 classes. I am used to managing my time this way but I'm a little nervous about having more classes to study for. I know I've heard the program can be very rigorous. Any pointers or ideas anyone has would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

BSNtobe2009 · Oct 15, 2006

The best way I manage my time, is to work more on keeping other things from being a distraction, such as going to the grocery store (1 trip per week, no matter what), cleaning, laundry. I have a system for keeping these tasks to a minimum (I'll be happy to share), and pre-prep meals to where it won't take more than 10 minutes to get a very healthy dinner on the table. I noticed very quickly that these tasks can take up my entire day if I didn't stay on top of them.

lisabeth · Oct 15, 2006

Good tips on cooking. I usually do things really quick. I try to be healthy, but who has time to cook every night. Maybe cook really big twice on Sunday, and then eat leftovers some the next week.:wink2:

The best way I manage my time, is to work more on keeping other things from being a distraction, such as going to the grocery store (1 trip per week, no matter what), cleaning, laundry. I have a system for keeping these tasks to a minimum (I'll be happy to share), and pre-prep meals to where it won't take more than 10 minutes to get a very healthy dinner on the table. I noticed very quickly that these tasks can take up my entire day if I didn't stay on top of them.

BSNtobe2009 · Oct 15, 2006

There are two things that I make and keep in my freezer at all times. Spaghetti and a chicken stew.

I freeze the spaghetti sauce in individual Gladware cups..defrosts in about 2 minutes in the microwave, and you can do angel-hair pasta to cut down on cook time. Make extra spaghetti....it will keep about 3 days in the fridge in a zip lock bag..the next day you can take leftover pasta, add zesty italian dressing, parm cheese, BAM pasta salad. Great with garlic bread or rolls.

The chicken stew is easy: Buy a WHOLE chicken, discard entrails, cut off the legs and wings (save these in the freezer for fried chicken another day), into the crock pot...add one can of cream of chicken, one can of cream of celery, one can of water. Stir until combined, and then drop the whole chicken in. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8. Lift the chicken out and debone..shred chicken with a fork and disgard bones. Mix about 2 T of cornstarch and 1/3 cup of hot water until no lumps..gradually add about 1/2 this mixture until the "soup" left in the crockpot starts to thicken. Then add shredded chicken.

This makes about 10 serviings..yup 10 servings in individual cups. Again, thaws in 2 minutes in the microwave, spoon over minute rice or egg noodles. Really great with black pepper and a salad or rolls.

Also, I buy frozen chicken breasts from the freezer section...I pour a marinade in a zip lock bag before I leave for the day and toss one chicken breast in..by the time I get home from work it's thawed and marinated. Grill on George Forman's, fry, or grill outside, cut up over a salad, minute rice, or serve with a veggie steam pack.

I have NAILED cooking for one :)

NRSNFL · Oct 16, 2006

Hi there...I would say the first piece of crucial time management is a SCHEDULE. And stick to it. Laundry the same day of the week every week, a well used dayplanner to review on an hourly basis if you have to...and yes keep your grocery store trips to a minimum. Premade meals...I have something to add to that too....at least here in the Tampa area, there are places you can go to where you literally prep 5-7 meals (or minimeals) and bring them home in big oven ready containers. You pop them in the freezer....pick one out the night before and cook it the day you want it. That way you aren't literally creating meals but you get variety. My friends did it (and I plan on doing it to keep my contribution to the household function going) while I'm in nursing school starting this spring.

AmericanChai · Oct 16, 2006

I'm in a slightly different situation, but I have to really watch my time or I get behind with studies. I have two young children and one stays home with me full time. It's very hard to study with a 2yo around! I have doctor visits to take her two (she has special needs) and have to still drop off/pick up 5yo from school and make dinner, clean the house, etc.

I schedule study time: during her nap, and for about one hour in the evening between dinner and their bedtimes. On the weekends I study from 2-4 and again between dinner and bedtime. My husband has been nice enough to take the day off before major tests so I can have extra study time.

MB37 · Oct 16, 2006

Consolidate everything you can. Do you have any down time at work? Even if you just go through a few note cards or read 8 pages, it's less to do at home. If you have a long commute, a lot of people, esp. audio learners, record their teachers' lectures and play them in the car. Do your laundry on a day you can hopefully devote entirely to study, and take a short break every time a load needs to be moved. I don't know how many people you cook for, but it's just my husband and me at home. I try to eat as healthy as possible, and I cook 4-6 servings of certain dinners that reheat well a few times a week. We both take them to work for lunches and there are always leftovers if I need a night out of the kitchen. Easy soup bases, like real chicken stock or cream of one vegetable can be modified by changing veggies the next night, or adding rice or pasta or potatoes. I get a lot of dinner ideas from the allrecipes.com website. Then, the night after you just worked 8 hours and you have an exam at 8 the next morning, you won't feel guilty if you decide to order a pizza. That's how I feel about it. Good luck with everything!