Nursing school schedule-vent !

Lifeofanurse · Jul 31, 2011

Inconvienent to say the least but....you knew that nursing school is difficult. They recommend you DON'T work. So they really aren't concerned about your work schedule. I know you need to...but I'm just saying....this was something that you were aware could happen when you began...so...stay flexible, talk to your employer...even take that entire week off rather than leave them in a bind if there is a conflict...because bottom line is your school takes priority.

Good luck!

allnurses Guide · Jul 31, 2011

Here's what we liked to say when we were in our last class, "I can endure anything to get this over in 8 weeks!"

In other words, bring it on so I can get this crap over with!

We never knew what our clinical schedule was until after class started.

This used to cause severe stress with me, not because of work, but because my ex-husband is an ass and thought I was "manipulating" our kids' schedule just to be difficult... he always thought I was lying about the strictness of nursing school...

*****!!!

Enjoy your 30 days!

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

Inconvienent to say the least but....you knew that nursing school is difficult. They recommend you DON'T work. So they really aren't concerned about your work schedule. I know you need to...but I'm just saying....this was something that you were aware could happen when you began...so...stay flexible, talk to your employer...even take that entire week off rather than leave them in a bind if there is a conflict...because bottom line is your school takes priority.
Good luck!

I know that. This was just a vent. School does take priority.

allnurses Guide · Jul 31, 2011

Right, everybody knows it's a ton of sacrifice, but it gets stressful when you have work breathing down your neck for a schedule, people who think you're exaggerating about the confines of the program and a world that keeps spinning when you just wish it would stop so you can just get done!

You feel like a potato in the microwave ready to explode and you will if you don't vent!

Lorelei525 · Jul 31, 2011

As pre-nursing student I wonder if I will be able to get my kids to school. I looked ahead to see what kind of schedule the program has and it looks like the clinicals start at 7am and a lot of the classes start at 8am. Hoping I am reading it wrong or missing something. My pre-reqs are very flexible with morning, afternoon, evening, weekend and online classes. Guess we have to wait and see. LOL I don't even know if I will get into the program so I guess it doesn't really matter. But makes you wonder. For now and this year I can manage

bloodlikefire · Jul 31, 2011

as pre-nursing student i wonder if i will be able to get my kids to school. i looked ahead to see what kind of schedule the program has and it looks like the clinicals start at 7am and a lot of the classes start at 8am. hoping i am reading it wrong or missing something. my pre-reqs are very flexible with morning, afternoon, evening, weekend and online classes. guess we have to wait and see. lol i don't even know if i will get into the program so i guess it doesn't really matter. but makes you wonder. for now and this year i can manage

sorry to say it,

as a nursing student in a traditional nursing school, brick and mortar, it is expected that you will be a full time student and work very little or around school. clinical's starts at 0700 are likely, but more likely you will need to be their 15-30 minutes early to get your assignment and be at the right nurses station for report. classes starting at 0800 are also common and don't expect to be out of school until at least 1500 or later. make sure to have a good support system if you get into nursing school and have a reliably babysitter and back up, just in case.

good luck in your pre-requisites.

allnurses Guide · Jul 31, 2011

As pre-nursing student I wonder if I will be able to get my kids to school. I looked ahead to see what kind of schedule the program has and it looks like the clinicals start at 7am and a lot of the classes start at 8am. Hoping I am reading it wrong or missing something. My pre-reqs are very flexible with morning, afternoon, evening, weekend and online classes. Guess we have to wait and see. LOL I don't even know if I will get into the program so I guess it doesn't really matter. But makes you wonder. For now and this year I can manage

Nope, you are not misreading it. Clinicals and class start early. You likely won't be able to pick them up from school either. You'll need plan A, B and C for them for pretty much all their activities and in case they get sick. It is a rough couple of years for the whole family. That being said, plenty do it and make it work. In the end, all of you benefit.

Lorelei525 · Aug 1, 2011

I have begun speaking to family members about needing help possibly next year and also looking into ymca programs. I am trying to just take things a day at a time. If not I will get overwhelmed. My children will be at 2 different school after this year so I didn't pick the easiest time to go back to school. But it was not possible until my twins went to kindergarten. Right now I am just concentrating on the year ahead of me. Not loving the idea that I might be jammed up at school from 6am to 3pm. Is that every day??? Doesn't seem possible with only like 11 credits. By the time I get into program I will be done with all my pre-reqs and only have nursing classes.

bloodlikefire · Aug 1, 2011

hi,

during my first semester of cc nursing school (lvn), i had 21 clinical hours a week mon-wed-fri 0630 to 1330. also be aware that some clinical’s will make you switch your clinical times half way through the semester. we had to switch from am to pm clinicals which ran from 1330 to 2030. classes where tuesday-thursday from 0800 to 1600 with a couple of breaks including an hour for lunch. make sure to talk with the nursing program director at your school to get all the details so that you are aware of what you’re walking into.

make plans and as rn2bdfw said make plan b, c, d, and e as well to be safe.

good luck in your schooling.

p.s. their is no easy or good time to start nursing school.

Lorelei525 · Aug 1, 2011

Thanks all for the info. I am trying to connect with a couple people on the boards that attended Holyoke Community college but they haven't responded yet. Part of the issue is I am an overprotective parent. If I get into nursing school next year my oldest daughter will be starting middle school and it's a mile and a half walk from our home. I am sure many other parent would just have their kid walk to and from school and give them a cell phone and a key. I really don't want to do that. Especially having her siblings picked up and dropped off. Don't want her to feel abandoned. So I need a relative who is willing to do 2 drop offs and pick ups. Maybe by the time she is in 7th or 8th grade and walking with other neighborhood kids it wouldn't bother me as much. But when she starts 6th it will be another year before kids on our block start at the same school.

allnurses Guide · Aug 2, 2011

I have begun speaking to family members about needing help possibly next year and also looking into ymca programs. I am trying to just take things a day at a time. If not I will get overwhelmed. My children will be at 2 different school after this year so I didn't pick the easiest time to go back to school. But it was not possible until my twins went to kindergarten. Right now I am just concentrating on the year ahead of me. Not loving the idea that I might be jammed up at school from 6am to 3pm. Is that every day??? Doesn't seem possible with only like 11 credits. By the time I get into program I will be done with all my pre-reqs and only have nursing classes.

You will find time constrains ebb and flow, but for the most part your days are going to be full. They never recommend taking pre-reqs or co-reqs along with nursing classes - even though it may only add up to 11 hours, it is not the same kind of 11 hours as an unsynchronized regular college schedule of separate classes. The program is considered full time and it is, even though 11 hours isn't technically "full time" by common college standards. What you have to realize is that there is more than just class and clinical time. You will have care plans, which can take hours, especially at first. Group projects. Meetings. Lab practice time outside of class time. In our program, we have to do 16 hours per semester of service learning (volunteer work in a nursing capacity) and write papers about the experience - not an uncommon requirement. And, of course, there is the needed time to study.

It is do-able and some weeks you will have more free time than others, but for the most part you just aren't in Kansas anymore. Nursing school pretty much is set up under the expectation that it be the #1 focus in your life and is a different experience than "regular" college. People with jobs and families handle nursing school and do fine all the time. Don't be intimidated. Just be realistic. And that means having good childcare arrangements in place so that your own stress level is less and thus, by default, so is the rest of your family's. If your family isn't willing to do two drop-offs and pick-ups, you may find another young mother who lives in your neighborhood and has kids at that school would enjoy earning some extra money by having your daughter come home with them a few days a week.