Need Advice on Time Management

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 23, 2014

Managing your study time will probably be the hardest part of getting through the semester. I suggest that you budget about 1.5 hours for each class hour per week for studying. Get a calendar and use it. That's the hard part... using it and sticking to it. Give yourself some deadlines to have stuff done each step along the way and hold yourself accountable for it.

I've been known to procrastinate and I do well under pressure for certain kinds of things... like writing papers. I already went through a Bachelors of Science program so I know how to write papers well so I don't have to revise my papers often. The bad news is that your brain doesn't often retain information well when you cram for exams. Often you'll find that the information is held until you've dumped it onto paper and then it's gone.

Here's one way I learned to keep things fresh and whatnot... I read ahead about a week or so per class and stay ahead about that far. For the first 2 weeks or so, I'm very busy doing about double the reading load. Then I can slow way down and just "stay ahead" of the assigned reading and writing. I also park my butt in class every day, every class. If something is due on a specific day, I make sure that I set my own deadline to a few days earlier just so that I have it done and I can let it "sit" for a couple days and then I can review my work with fresh eyes and make sure I did the work the right way. Then all I have to do is make sure I turn it in on time.

This strategy also allowed me to take the time to spruce up some of my papers with relevant photos that I'd taken of experiments or appropriate tables because the writing itself was done. It allowed me the ability to ensure that I'd properly cited the material with appropriate footnotes or endnotes.

Because this semester is going to be a challenge for you, you're just going to have to be much more proactive about getting your work done and actually doing the work. There's going to be a LOT of reading and the volume of reading for each science course can be quite considerable and it'll be very difficult to get it all done if you put it off until the last minute... or even the last hour. This whole semester is going to have to be treated as if it's "last minute" because there's going to be that much information presented to you. This is doable... but only if you manage your time effectively and on a schedule.

That will be invaluable when you start nursing school because you'll have to do much the same thing... manage your time effectively to get as much done as you can because it's not always going to be possible to get it all done.

dorkypanda · Aug 23, 2014

I agree with the poster above it's important to be on top of your game. Reading ahead is the smart thing to do. If you can try to study on a daily basis it will help you out in the long run. Set out some time each day to study for different classes. Go over your notes on the same day you had class. Micro and physiology will require lots of reading so be prepared for that. You can't afford to read multiple chapters at the last minute. One test in those courses are often combined chapters. You want to read things ahead of time before class starts.Good luck on your courses.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2014

I think the only way to really change this is you need the fear of God put into you a little bit. When it comes to nursing school, you will be flabbergasted at how long some assignments (i.e. care plans) take. It simply is not feasible to do things the way you've been doing them and be successful. I was really shocked at how long some of my care plans have taken even when I started early enough in order to avoid having everything right on the edge of a deadline. The joy you may get from meeting the challenge is going to be replaced with a warning that should you do this again, you might end up with a grade that prevents you from moving forward in your program. So, seriously, you must stop this now and develop good habits. It will take a little experimentation but you must start now and find what works for you.

Haybah · Aug 23, 2014

Thank you so much everyone for the advice! It is so encouraging to have people who are willing to help.

I appreciate your advice la_chica_suerta85! You sounded intimidating; I hope this will help me into changing. :yes:

stunurse2015 · Aug 27, 2014

If you can study/read/do homework at school. Math and I do not get along. When I started stats I told myself I wasn't allowed to go home until my homework for the day was done. This prevented me from procrastinating! I would actually rather clean my house than do stats hw, so this was my way of fixing the problem! Hope this helps! GL!

Ps. I took micro and a&p in the same quarter and lived! So will you!!

dorkypanda · Aug 27, 2014

@stunurse2015

Stats homework was fun wasn't it :bookworm: :up: ? Just kidding, doing so many problems did eventually bore me out since I was doing hw in advance. My prof had us do optional homework just in case we did bad on tests and hw would help the grade. I'm also glad stats is over with although it was not difficult.

stunurse2015 · Aug 27, 2014

Stats is one of those classes that you either get or don't get. Believe it or not it was the one math class in my entire life that made sense to me!! I agree it wasn't hard but also glad it's over!

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Aug 28, 2014

stunurse2015

If you can study/read/do homework at school. Math and I do not get along. When I started stats I told myself I wasn't allowed to go home until my homework for the day was done. This prevented me from procrastinating! I would actually rather clean my house than do stats hw, so this was my way of fixing the problem! Hope this helps! GL!
Ps. I took micro and a&p in the same quarter and lived! So will you!![/QUOTE]
I am taking all three classes all this semester and I'm a bit nervous. I do procrastinate as well and liked your idea of staying on the school campus until homework is complete. What are your study methods for A&P and Microbiology? How did you learn to understand and comprehend the material?
The courses I am taking are fast track and are only five weeks long for each class.

dorkypanda · Aug 29, 2014

Ahahaha. I second that stunurse2015, stats was not too hard to understand granted time and effort was put in. I think calculus and elementary differential equations math class was a whole different world( I took those before I was thinking about nursing school). I can't believe some people sighed during stats class or even during the exam and final exam when I took it :wideyed:

dorkypanda · Aug 29, 2014

Tasha92337,

If you're taking micro and anatomy and physiology at the same time and those are 5 weeks long, get ready for a whole lot of devotion. There's a lot to read, study and learn in both micro and a and p. A voice recorder would be a huge help for better detailed notes. I liked to test my knowledge in quizzing myself online. I used getbodysmart.com and for a picture of veins and etc. I used Innerbody.com

I think drawing pictures are helpful in a and p especially when learning about the heart and blood flow. I'd draw a big heart and label the parts in detail and color in the whole thing too. I did it in my notebook for anatomy, physiology and even still when studying for the teas :geek: those courses in 5 weeks will require daily studying and review, you cannot fall behind schedule.

Hoping for the best in your semester.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Aug 29, 2014

Thank you. I am very nervous but once i understand the format of the first exam , i will have an idea of how the professor creates exams/quizzes.