Nursing Classes Question

[daft_hands]

So I'm pre nursing school and I'll be starting my pre req's in August. Normally, the pre req's take two semesters, because one science course is a pre req for the other. I have permission to take both of the classes (Chem and Anatomy and Physiology) at the same time, and it equals 12 hours of class time/labs a week. I already have both text books, and I understand the material, but that isn't the issue.

To make a long story short, I had a person who was very close to me die about 6 months ago from self inflicted harm. It almost crushed me and I buried it down for a few months like people normally do after a tragic death, and it's now just surfacing and I'm starting the grieving process. Also, I will be working full time (36 hours) as a PCT while going to school full time.

What do you guys think about all of this? Do you think it's a good idea to cram so much in one semester while I'm so busy with full time work and grieving, or do you think I should take it slow, make sure I get all A's and just take the extra semester? I'm leaning towards taking it slower, my worst fear would be to take this all on my plate and end up with B's or C's and basicly finding out it wasn't worth it.

I am what people would call an overachiever. I've had my own business since the age of 15 and have been fully supporting myself from that age (estranged from parents). I always seem to take on big projects and work myself to death, and start all over again. I guess I'm just trying to find out if I should finally just take it slow, for my own sanity lol.

Oh, and this is my first post, but I have lurked for awhile. Hello everyone!

[futureOBnurse]

Well, Chem and A&P are two hard classes, but it is doable. You know yourself better than anyone and if you see yourself really having a hard time trying to balance it all then I wouldn't take them both.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

And hello, from one over-achiever to another :) :) :)

[SJW]

You're asking an awful lot of yourself just to go to school full time and work full time. Add dealing with grief to all that and you could be heading for trouble. You could start it and drop a class if you had to. In our school, you could drop within a short amount of time and not have it count against you - and you could even be reimbursed for part of the fee. That way, you'd be able to test the waters and see how you feel.

Nursing school is demanding in the best of circumstances, maybe especially so for over-achievers (I am one, too!). Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get all A's. That's just that much more pressure! If you shoot for doing the best that you can at the time, that might be okay, too.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[nanacarol]

It seems that you are hearing from the OVER achievers! When I first entered nursing school I was really attached to the 4.0 thing and then I can face to face with Pharmacology, got a B and nearly lost my mind:) Back to you, only you know what you can handle effectively, it sounds as if you have begun to second guess your resolve. Yes, working fulltime and going to school full time requires a lot of commitment as does dealing with the personal issue of grief, I have found that I function better with a lot on my plate and class will be a diversion, but only you can really decide. As I was completing my BSN I had 2 surgeries during the semester and was unable to work, lost my oldest sister, so it can be done. I wish you well. Oh, I graduated with a 3.80 GPA