Need some encouragement for study time!

[ashemson]

I graduated last May with my LPN. I decided that with three kids, and needing to work FT, I decided to go with Excelsior. My problem is studying! After working all day, my three girls and all of their activities, I just can't force myself to study. Just wondering how everyone else makes time for Excelsior???

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

this is what i plan to do ... i am going to take nc1 then register pay my outrageous fee then pay for them in advance all of them at once... about 1 month apart. t hat way i have to study or lose all that money...i have 6 kids working on my bachelors in a non nursing area and using my extra fa money from that to fund my ec cost...

[Mudwoman]

THe first thing you do is look carefully at how you currently use your time. Do you watch TV? Are the kids in sports? What do you do on your days off? etc. Then you have to be very critical and decide what you are going to spend your extra time on. You should allow 40-80 hours of study time for each NC test. It may be that you only can study 30 min a day and it has to count. YOu also have to keep all this in perspective. You have 7 years to do this degree once you have enrolled. I had all my prereq's and it took me 3 years to do this just for the reason that you are experiencing. Life gets in the way. I allowed myself 3-4 months for each NC test. Some weeks I couldn't study at all and others I could study quite a bit.

Make getting this degree important. Think of the extra money you will make and how much easier it will be to get a job.

[knittwhit]

If you want this bad enough, you will find the time. I agree with mudwoman, assess where you have time to spare and make an appointment with yourself, I work second shift. 10am-noon is my study time, booked like an appointment daily. Some days I need the entire 2 hours, other days I do not. I am in the UOP program so am not sure how it differs from the program you are in. My classes run 6 weeks, with assignments due at regular intervals, that helps to provide some motivation to get things done. If your program isn't that structured, you may want to structure it by giving yourself due dates. I will be completing my Masters in Nursing Education, 42 credits, in October, just 2 years after starting my program. Hang in there you can do this.

Congratulations on furthering your education!