Nursing school effect on life?

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Hi all,

I am a Medical Assistant in Urgent Care and have been for 5 years. I want to do more with life in the medical field and have decided to return to school for a BSN. I have to take 1-2 years of pre-reqs and then 2 years in a nursing program.

What I want to know is do you still have a life outside of the nursing program? I hear soo many horror stories of losing friends and relationships over nursing school.

I will be working 10-20 hours a week at my current job (just to pay bills). I have no kids, I'm not a party type, but I do have a loving boyfriend. He's already told me that he will do all he can to support me through these next few years, but with all humans, we need personal time. How do you all manage this while going to school?

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I am in my 20s no kids, not the partying type with a great boyfriend also. But I still have no life!! Nursing school is incredibly intense and will most likely take up most of your time! Just be prepared to give up on a social life while your in school...it won't be easy but it'll be worth it!!

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Nursing school takes up a ton of time, this much is true. But if you lose friends because of the time nursing school takes up, they probably weren't the friends you thought they were. Every person is different, but I still find time to catch a few NFL and NBA games each week, take my wife on a date, and visit my grandfather in the nursing home. I have cut way back on BBQs and bar hopping with friends, but they all understand what I'm doing and don't rag on me too much about declining their invitations. Besides, you'll make new friends in nursing school since you'll be spending so much time with your classmates.

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Specializes in Nursing Management.

I haven't spoken to my friends this entire semester, just my girlfriend. But now that I'm done we will all be hanging out soon. Nursing school is rough but fun at the same time.

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I haven't spoken to my friends this entire semester just my girlfriend. But now that I'm done we will all be hanging out soon. Nursing school is rough but fun at the same time.[/quote']

That's your fault. You have time for your girlfriend but not your friends? I hope they still want to hang out with you...good luck.

When I was in nursing school I partied nearly every weekend. Hung out with my friends on a daily basis too. Graduated summa cum laude. So the whole "I have no time for friends/family/whatever" is BS.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

Your schooling, for the most part, is your life. You do have a life, it is school, study, commuting, and any time remaining for family. See the big picture at the end of the tunnel; it is just a few short years putting you in a position for a deeply changed life. See the positive.

Thank you.

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Specializes in Nursing Management.
That's your fault. You have time for your girlfriend but not your friends? I hope they still want to hang out with you...good luck. When I was in nursing school I partied nearly every weekend. Hung out with my friends on a daily basis too. Graduated summa cum laude. So the whole "I have no time for friends/family/whatever" is BS.

My girlfriend is also in nursing. They are still down to chill, we know life gets in the way, we don't get all butt hurt about it.

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My girlfriend is also in nursing. They are still down to chill, we know life gets in the way, we don't get all butt hurt about it.

Glad your friends are understanding. I would be annoyed if my friend ditched me all semester and then chatted me up later.

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I personally found the "you'll have no life" rumor about nursing school to be mostly hype.

Is there studying? Yes. Is there busy work? Oh yes. Will there be times you feel overwhelmed? Bet on it.

But I (while not the partying type) found time to take walks around the city with my close friends, went swing dancing at least once a week, attended concerts on the weekend, hung out at home on Sundays, and frequently found myself goofing off during down time during the day between classes.

It's not all that bad. Really. If it is, you might be studying too hard.

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In my experience (as a student, grad student, and teaching in nursing programs), a lot of the students who tell horror stories about having no free time and no life while in school are people with poor time management skills. Yes, you can expect nursing school (as a full-time student) to be at least the equivalent (in terms of time and energy) of a full-time job. However, if you are able to focus and manage your time and energy, and use them wisely, you can still manage some time for family, friends, and personal interests. In fact, IMO, it's v. important, for your own well-being, to maintain a personal life outside of school.

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Thank you all for the replies. It's good to hear from actual students that they still have some lives outside of school. This was my biggest concern. I have 2 years before I really have to worry about the nursing school craziness, until then it's pre-reqs.

How many of you worked part time while doing nursing school?

How many of you used student loans to pay for living expenses while in nursing school?

Pros and cons of each appreciated. Minus the whole you'll have to pay back more at the end. I would need less than 10k for 2 years of living expenses if I concentrated on just nursing school (stupid car payment)

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Specializes in General medicine/geriatrics.

Hello! As another poster mentioned, if you have good time management skills, you will easily be able to maintain a social life while in nursing school. I graduated in 2011 magna cum laude, and all four years of nursing school I worked 20-24 hours/week as a CNA, went out almost every weekend with friends, ran or exercised 3-4 days per week, and maintained a relationship with my boyfriend at the time. I used student loans to pay for my books and tuition and worked to pay bills and to have cash for spending. Of course there were weeks I felt overwhelmed, but they were few and far between since I had good time management. You will find the same to be true once you graduate and are working as an RN...time management is key. Good luck in your endeavors!

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