Please help ASAP!

trepinCT · Oct 22, 2008

Hi,
I'm getting ready to begin nursing school in the Spring (waiting on my letter now but I'm almost certain I have a spot), however I just got offered a great opportunity that I desperately want to take but I'm not sure that I can
I'll be taking Fundamentals, Pathophysiology, Health Assessment and Theoretical Foundations. What I have been offered, sorta out of the blue yesterday to be honest, is an guaranteed spot with six other students for an independent laboratory research course under my old anatomy professor next spring. I have a lot of reasons I'm interested in doing this. If I turn her down this time, it may hurt my chances for when I actually ask her for a spot later since she's going out on a limb to offer it to me this time. I know for a fact that on paper I have the least biology experience out of everyone who's applied, but I still made it into the top seven spots though - so I don't want to say no! I have to give her an answer soon since other students are waiting for spots that become vacant.
Now, I'm a honors student, I'm used to taking on extra work and I usually take on 6 classes a semester plus summer courses. I can handle a heavy load, but I keep hearing horror stories about the first semester of nursing school. My question: for those of you who went full time, was there any way you felt that you could take on a one credit independent study lab course during that first semester?
Please help! your opinions would be very very very much appreciated!

I am sorry that you heard horror stories about first semester..however, I have to tell you that nursing school is nothing like regular college..6 courses or not. You need to evaluate what this independant study entails because I cannot begin to explain to you the study load that comes with nursing. doesnt matter if you are an honors student, nursing program takes hours of study time, hours of clinical prep work..it was broken down for us just how many hours a week that entailed and , although I cannot remember exactly what it was, i do know that it pretty much matched teh hours per week of a part time job. What will this independent study do for your career, think about the big picture..is it worth taking time away from a nursing degree that may give you more opportunities? I guess it depends on where you want to go from here... good luck....

missjennmb · Oct 22, 2008

I dunno. I would probably do it honestly, but I have really good time management when I'm busy (where as when I have too much free time I tend to hop on to a video game or sit in front of my DVR and suddenly realize I lost 4 hours)

1st semester of nsg school IS a beast. But I am taking 15 credit hrs of school 45 min away (m-w 1pm-5pm, tues/thurs 9-11am, mon/wed 6:30pm-9:30pm), working 4 days a week (56hrs every 2 wks) at a hospital an hour away, AND spending time with my 3 yr old, 1 yr old, husband, and homeschooling/spending time with my 13 yr old. Its tough to have a full schedule, but your independent class doesnt seem any tougher than working while going to school.

How long is the independent study? I don't think I'd commit to a year or two, but I'm sure if you're motivated you can make it work for a semester or so IF you are motivated and IF the schedule works out right for you.

xt1 · Oct 22, 2008

um... nursing is enough to drive anyone insane

Jess_Missouri_RN · Oct 22, 2008

Nursing school is in a league of it's own. Nothing like traditional college classes. My first semester was the most stressful time of my life (and I'm 32 with three kids) and nothing came close to my anxiety level while in that first semester, lol. Once I got past that it settled down a bit. I think, for me, it was putting on my critical thinking cap and not thinking like I did for general studies. It's just not the same.

I have a huge respect for those who work AND do school. I applaud all of you that are able to both successfully. I knew I couldn't do both so I didn't even try to work. Now that I'm further along and have my groove I am going to attempt a PT job in the spring, we shall see.

In my case NOTHING is more important to me (aside from my family) than finishing school, period. I do not have the time to fail or skate by, I'm not getting any younger. I see you're 18 - a young-in (no offense) so in your case if you wanted to wait on school it might not be a horrible thing. Do what you think will benefit you the most. Just remember that time flies by. I put off school at 18 and didn't end up going back until I was 29 because I thought at 18 that I had all the time in the world. In the meantime "life" happened and it happened fast.

Good luck!! :)

jpeters84 · Oct 22, 2008

I'm always use to taking a lot of classes. Because clinical spots at my nursing school are given to people with the most credits, not the highest GPA, I was taking 7-8 pre-requisites at a time and it wasn't that big of a deal. With that being said, my first semester of nursing school we have 6 classes that total 12 units. I took at extra class because I'm trying to major in Anthropology as well (what am I thinking?). Let me tell you, I dropped that extra class within a month and haven't given it a second thought. Nursing school is incredibly different from any other classes. It's not like sciences where the material is tough, it's a combination of so much material to learn and a completely different (not-logical) way of being testing on it that really throws you for a loop, and increases your study time exponentially.

But I have kept up a research project I started with a professor over the summer, I am a member of a board for a non-profit, I still volunteer at a clinic, and I work part-time. So you can fit other things in, but I'm ready to jump off a cliff with how much stress I'm under and how I feel like I'm spending all my time juggling and dropping the ball on things. Your grades and your sanity will probably suffer for it.

I want to be supportive of you and say add the lab since you're so excited about it, but be sure to talk to the professor in charge of the lab and let her know what you have on your plate so the expectation of your workload is understood. I know you probably don't want to scare her into thinking you can't do it, but if you went to her and said I really appreciate this opportunity and I want it more than anything, I just want to to let you know that with starting nursing school I will have an extremely full-plate. What are your expectations of my time and work-load for this lab? That way you have a better idea of just what kind of a commitment this is and that way your professor is aware what is going on with you.

I don't think it's impossible. I just think you're going to be putting yourself through a lot. Good luck to you and congratulations on this amazing opportunity!

Hands&Feet · Oct 23, 2008

I'm only in my first semester of NS, but personally, it has been pretty easy so far. Now, I'm only taking 10hrs (nursing fundamentals & anatomy) and I quit my job to attend school, but I homeschool my son and have a 4 year old & 7 month old to entertain while studying.

I was worried when I first started out too, because everyone said that NS is so much harder than "other college classes." But I think if you are used to science based classes, and you are an honors student, then you will be fine. To me, general studies were always pretty easy. I've taken a lot harder classes than what my nursing and even anatomy classes are. (Physical chemistry, advanced organic, physics, etc.)

Yes, there is a lot of material to read. But, it's pretty common-sense type stuff that you don't really have to study and think through and figure out. So usually reading through it once is enough. And our tests are multiple choice. (I don't ever remember having multiple choice tests in my science courses!) And even though it seems like there's more than one "right" answer, all you have to do is think through what would the priority be. Usually it's pretty clear when you look at it that way.

I imagine that things will get more in-depth and difficult as I go on, but so far it has been pretty easy. (Maybe my program is easier than others though?)

I think you should go for it. Like another poster said though, talk to your research instructor and explain the situation so that if you would need to quit down the road, she might be more understanding. :twocents:

charleston990 · Oct 23, 2008

Thank you everyone for your input, I really appreciate it!

To Jess: lol no offense taken! I'm glad to be a youngin in college; starting at 16 gave me a big boost and I intend to take advantage of that. Also, quite frankly, I can't put anything off really even if I wanted to since my four year scholarships finish in 2011.

jpeters: you school goes by credit hours? Wow I've never heard of a program like that.

scorpiostudent: :yeah: three cheers for the homeschooler! I was one myself, you're child will certainly appreciate it when their older!

Again, thank you all! I did speak with my professor about the time, and we've actually come up with another idea that I think will work out great. I'm going to start doing to prep work in the spring; work a little bit with one of her students in the lab from time to time to start learning the ropes. Then I'll actually sign up for the class for the next fall, but do all of the work minus some basic analysis with her over the summer! In this way I can really take the time to focus on what we're doing, and enjoy it more as well! She also thinks I might be able to get the Magellan Scholar fund for it so that I can get payed to do the research - which would always be a huge help!