Not sure if I can handle full time classes

[Daisy nurse]

Last semester I took pre algebra, psych 104 and social science 101, I got two A'S and a C (C in pre algebra). Math is my weak subject. This semester I'm taking college Algebra, Basic Chemistry and Microbiology. My grades are all suffering on account of this Chemistry class. So today I dropped chemistry.

How am I going to handle full time nursing classes next year if I can't even handle 3 classes? Also, I am concerned about me being able to handle nursing in general due to my difficulties processing what we are doing in the labs. I always feel lost in labs. Reading and doing are totally different elements for me.

I got an B in my CNA Class though.. it could've been an A had I not missed one class session. This was 15 yrs ago though.

Now I am back to school (this is my 2nd semester back as an adult). I am married, have 2 young children as well as struggle with some mental health issues, which I have been in therapy for the last 2 yrs and am doing well.

I really enjoy school, though not when I'm struggling being a full time student.

I feel badly because I don't even have a job and I still can't handle school. Honestly, I only have while the kids are in school or sleeping to be in classes, study and do homework. Seriously, being at home with the kids is like having a full time job.

I feel so fortunate to not be working and be able to go to school. My tuition is fully paid for by a sponsorship, but the catch is that I must complete my schooling full time. I have 2 yrs total (exactly the amount of time required of the nursing program anyway). After that, I'd have to pay for school myself..which is fine, I can finish by taking out loans..although to be considered.. if I don't complete my ADN in the two year time requirement, I will lose opportunity to receive further funding upon completing my BRN. That's alot of money!

Everyone that knows me says I would make a fine nurse. I worked as a caregiver before, plus I have taken care of several family members whom were dying. Both my mom and sister, and also my father. I wished so badly at the time that I had more skills and knowledge then to physically care for them as well as I do emotionally. This is the passion that fuels me to want to be a nurse. I think I'd very possibly want to be a hospice nurse. I enjoy working with elderly.

I don't want to give up. But I worry I cannot handle the nursing program at full time.

F.Y.I. i am hearing impaired. I wear hearing aids and was told I shouldn't let that stop me. I speak and read lips exceptionally well. I can be an asset to deaf and hard of hearing patients : )

Should I continue to brush up on my time management skills and keep at it full time?

Can anyone tell me if my 1st semester of nursing school will be more difficult than this semester was for me taking college algebra, chemistry and microbiology?

I was going to start studying for the TEAS as soon as this semester is over in order to hopefully pass the test this fall so I can apply to get in ADN program next spring.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

Everyone is different but I found the science and math courses to be a lot more time consuming and harder to grasp than the nursing courses. You will need to have a good understanding of some of them for nursing as the theory builds off understanding what is normal before learning what is not and what needs to be done regarding nursing practice. The problem is, many programs admissions are based on GPA, so in order to get into the nursing program, you have to excel in those prerequisite classes.

Have you taken a lot of college classes in the past? A lot of times the reason a student struggles has to do with not understanding how to study or how to approach taking a test. Does your college offer tutoring? Maybe sitting down with someone and discussing how you are studying would help as they may be able to help you find a method that is not only more beneficial but less time consuming that what you are using now. A nursing instructor that I had called is studying smarter, not harder. I honestly never opened a book in high school and got all As and Bs. Then I went to LPN school and realized, well heck, I really need to open this book. I worked full time but had no husband or children to worry about. I spent almost every minute reading the book and taking countless pages of notes. I found out when I started the prerequisites towards the RN that the books are a whole lot bigger and I would have to do something to manage my time better, and it wasn't reading while rewriting the textbook. I would listen to the lecture, take notes from the lecture, go through the book and focus on what was emphasized in class, and then study from there.

Labs are repetition. If you have the ability to go to an open lab if one is offered while your kids are at school or can find a sitter, I would highly recommend it. I would not have passed A+P lab without them. Also, this is the one course that I would recommend a study buddy (not group). Quiz each other on the lab info while there. An instructor told me that you really know the material if you can teach it to someone else. If not, then you don't have a full grasp of the content.

I hope some of this helps. It's not easy but try to see if you can find a way to balance it. Also, some nursing programs are part time but obviously they will take longer. I know the funding is limited but you are going to want to excel in the nursing curriculum because the degree won't do much without passing the NCLEX to get the RN license. Community colleges are typically affordable and when needed there are student loans. Yes, they have to be paid back, but at least then you won't be as stressed out while going through the program. However, you may not need it if the material proves less taxing the the prerequisites.

[Daisy nurse]

Thank you, nurse Speedy. I am taking your suggestion about attending open labs. I already emailed instructor to ask.

[BBboy]

Nursing school will definitely be a lot harder for you than the courses you're taking now. I just started pharmacology a few weeks ago alongside med surg and etc, and lemme tell you things will only get harder. Add in the fact that most programs are full time and you will find it even more difficult, though i'm sure you could find a part time program as well but that may take longer and you won't be able to complete the ADN in the required time. I think honestly you just need to keep trudging along, there are so many people that have varying difficult stories as well that succeed in nursing school that you shouldn't count yourself out. Time management, and recall of material (pretty much all of the biology pre-reqs) are really what you need to succeed in the pre-reqs.