Organizing for nursing school

Published

I am preparing to start nursing school and am looking for good, practical ideas for being a successful student while also meeting my family's needs. Almost universally I hear, "Be organized." I'm not a naturally organized person and have always done well in school in my own style, but I am really nervous about this undertaking. What are some specific things you have done to get yourself organized for nursing school? What habits have helped you to do well? What kind of schedule do you follow? (I'm especially interested in hearing scheduling ideas from others who have a family.) What other advice can you give to someone who runs kind of ADD-ish?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Make a list of things you are going to "give up" and discuss with your family to figure out how these tasks are going to be re-distributed. Then stick to your guns.

Ideas:

*Give up laundry - Hubs did ours, and each child assumed responsibility for theirs when they turned 12. (LOL - I never took this back)

*Give up cooking - minimize your 'turns' to prepare dinner

*Establish alternatives to the 'mom taxi' - establish alternative transportation for regularly scheduled activities

* Change your standards for what constitutes a 'clean house' & who is supposed to do what

*etc. . .

NOTE: giving up responsibility for grocery shopping did not work out. Hubs was too whimsical (a gallon of pickled sausages -srsly?) and the kids used it as an opportunity to indulge in junk food sprees. But you may have better luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

I'm starting in the fall also, but have been going to school full time for three semesters now. I agree with the above post; delegate now and make sure everyone knows what their part will be. I also have made myself a desk area in my master bedroom that is "MY" space. No one bothers me if I'm there. It's got a door that closes, good light, and I can focus there. I tried to get as much "extra stuff" done as I could, like cleaning the registers, fridge, oven, ceiling fans, etc.... because no matter how good hubby and son are, they'll never think of those things. I also gave up my perfect house. It's still clean, but not like it used to be. In the end, if I clean it every day or once a month, it's still going to get dirty again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Plan your study time. If you study at night then I would find a nice coffee shop so you don't get distracted by family, tv or exhaustion. If you study during the day, go to the library. I find I am so much more focused away from my house. Study everyday so it doesn't ever consume an entire day and you will move that info to long-term memory. Make sure you review previous notes/powerpoints from the week before, not just the new lecture. I always found that I would forget the first week's lecture the day before the test. Buy a planner with lots of room to write. My phone just didn't work well enough.

I found it easier to spot clean my house everyday. Buy some lysol wipes and wipe down the bathrooms. It takes five minutes. I also do one load of laundry a day. It's not as daunting when you don't have as much to put away. My husband took over the cooking. I still did the meal planning for the week over the weekend and would have the recipe ready for him. He would also do the dishes. I'd go behind him at night to clean off counters, the table and sweep because he would always forget. Before bed, the entire family would run around the house and pick up anything that needed to be put away-toys, shoes, etc. I would feel good knowing my house was straightened with a clean kitchen and bathrooms when I went to bed at night.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions, y'all! I'm learning lots. Keep 'em coming! :specs:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had specific room in my house where all of my studying took place. Kept everything I needed in that one room so I didn't have to interrupt my study time going to "find things". My children were young so I had a box fan in room I turned on to drowned out their playing/squeals! Their dad had promised before I started school to help cook/clean, etc, but that didn't last until the water got hot-surprise, surprise! (may be reason he is ex-husband now-lol) I depended on my mom to help me a lot and will forever be grateful to her, because I tell everyone if it had not been for her helping me, I am not sure I would have done as well in school!

I had a large notebook with zipper and I kept EVERYTHING that was handed out to me!! Found out early on that just because it didn't seem important to me did not necessarily mean that it would not be included on a test in the future. Had one of those notebooks for each semester. I am so NOT an organized person, but I worked very hard to stay that way during school!! If you find yourself getting overwhelmed-stop, take 5 and regroup. I always felt guilty for spending so much time studying instead of spending it with my family, but in the end it was worth it. I was proud of myself and they were all proud of me!

O and don't forget to take some time just for yourself. Even if it is just to walk around the block to clear your head, you will be glad you did. Good luck to you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

*figure out childcare, and back-up childcare.

*make a certain place to communicate with your family, and keep kids school notices and things. we put school flyers on the entry way table. so we will see them each morning and won't forget that somebody needs something signed, or extra money that day. (make sure your significant other or whoever else will be picking up kids know your system! we had a couple of mishaps where son went to preschool in red on green shirt day and such at the beginning because my husband would leave papers in his truck after picking up kids. later we had a few more mishaps because of school papers left at the babysitters)

*take advantage of easy to fix groceries you can stock up on. pasta,ragu sauce, and kraft easy mac bought at sam's club help me (or my 11 year old) to keep it together even when it's 6:30 and i have 5 hours worth of care plans to do before bed.

*put a bookshelf in your study area where you can keep all your books and supplies at hand and together. stock up on folders, highlighters, index cards and other supplies. i bought a lot of mine at dollar tree. (also stock up on stuff for kid's school projects that you find out about at the last minute. i keep posterboard, markers, and glue on hand)

*figure out when/where you will be able to study.

* if you can afford it pay for help with housework, if not try to get everyone to pitch in and to some degree just let it go.

* decide what you can buy for easy meals, and if you will be taking your lunch. we have certain "staples" we keep on hand now. some people cook one day a week a double portions and freeze 1/2. i don't really cook but my husband often cooks one or two big pots of soup on the weekends that i can reheat for a few days. we also make use of rotesserie chicken and bagged salad often. my goal is to spend no more than 15 minutes preparing dinner and no more than 5 on breakfast or packing lunch.

*fill your gas tank up on your way home on a regular basis. don't get caught without enough gas at 5:30am on the way to clinicals.

*keep all of your clinical gear together somewhere. put it there as soon as you get home from clinicals. you don't want to be searching for a penlight at 5 in the morning or sent home because you can't find your stethoscope.

*stock up on extra computer paper and ink if you print at home.

*store your notes in a binder as you go so they'll be ready when it's time to study for finals.

*if you're not great at remembering assignments, or writing them down and your school doesn't put everything on blackboard then try to get a facebook group or something started. that way you and your classmates can help remind each other. it's been a lifesaver for me and my classmates.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Relax, do lots of fun things with people you love....

Worry about school when school starts is my best advice....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
*

*if you're not great at remembering assignments, or writing them down and your school doesn't put everything on blackboard then try to get a facebook group or something started. that way you and your classmates can help remind each other. it's been a lifesaver for me and my classmates.

i started a group on fb for my class starting in the fall and have been a part of groups in the previous semester. i have to say it does help a lot. it is a place to vent and to remind and help each other about things, post docs or other things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i started a group on fb for my class starting in the fall and have been a part of groups in the previous semester. i have to say it does help a lot. it is a place to vent and to remind and help each other about things, post docs or other things.

I LOVE this idea!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Relax, do lots of fun things with people you love....

Worry about school when school starts is my best advice....

Worrying about school when school starts would be great if I didn't have assignments due on the first day :/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/hematology.
Worrying about school when school starts would be great if I didn't have assignments due on the first day :/

3 assignments due today on my first day. What's up with that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion