Work and Nursing School

Kyla.ann · May 12, 2009

Hi there! I am in a somewhat similar position. I have a 5 year old, and an 8 month old, and I also work full time. I haven't started my classes yet (First pre-req class starts in June) but I have been offered some great advice from several people here, with the most popular responses being "study at night" and "time management" LOL!

My plan is to get everyone on a pretty strict schedule (as impossible as that sounds). I am planning meals and hopefully going to start making freezer meals so I won't have to worry too much about dinner after work. That will give me time to play with the girls before bed. I plan on making sure they are in bed no later than 8:00 every night. (My 5 year old has been a pain about this lately) and once they are in bed, that will be my study time. I am also able to get some studying done during my lunch break at work so that should be helpful.

My husband has also been told that he is going to have to step it up while I am in school. Meaning, if I need to leave the house, or lock myself in a closet to get some studying done, he is going to have to fend for himself with the girls.

Don't give up. If this is something you really want, there are ways to get it. You really have to set your mindframe up right and don't let anything stand in your way. Plan out your days/nights/weeks. Things can always be changed if needed but I know, for me, it helps having a schedule in front of me so my husband and I know what comes next and what is expected of the coming days. It helps keep us all on the same page.

Hope that helps...I feet like I just rambled on incoherently. :chuckle

Ceeceenumber3 · May 12, 2009

Wow...

I went to work and school full time a couple semesters when I was finishing up my pre-reqs. I got up at 6am to go to class, went to work at 2pm, came home at 8pm (worked some on weekends to make up time), studied and did supper/etc. til 11pm and then tried to go to sleep. it sucked but i knew it would be just for a little while and i would make it through. i can't imagine throwing kids and all the responsibilites that entails along with it... i was lucky to have a man that worked and helped out around the house a lot when i needed it, plus my job was very flexible, understanding and supportive!

i know i'm not really giving helpful advice, but don't give up! you've come this far...

PreRNliz · May 13, 2009

Thanks you for all your support

Now I have more confidence in making it through nursing any study buddies ?

Adams_Mommy_07 · May 13, 2009

i work full-time (38-40 hours/week); go to school full time (try to keep right at 12 hours since i do work); and have a 21 month old. i also live about 40 minutes from town where i go to class and work as well. i usually leave the house around 715 am and don't get home until nearly 8 pm 3-4 days out of the week (the rest i have either class or work so i am not out as many hours). fortunately my fiance's parents live next door to us and watch our son while we work and i go to class. my son has a bedtime of 8pm sharp every night. what i try to do is keep studying limited to 8pm-11 pm that gives me three hours of solid study time, completely uninterrupted. i find if i try to study during the day all i do is get frustrated with all the interruptions and i lose ambition for studying later. so if you can find a bracket of study time that will really help you. on my days off from work i get my housecleaning done after class; i tend to my gardens in the mornings before i leave and on my days off from work; and if all that is done i relax and worry about homework at night.

JQ_RN · May 16, 2009

wow it sounds very complicated but understandable. I am also in the same situation and get frustrated very quickly but i am glad that i am not alone in reaching a major goal.

coffeeaftermidnight · May 17, 2009

Hi, I work full time in a management position for a corporation and have three small children (7, 2 and 8 months). Right now I'm carrying 9 hours during summer term.

Here are some of the things I'm doing that make it work:

1. Prepare meals early, use the crock pot, cook on the weekends, etc. This relieves the need to do it during the week. HUGE task reduction there.

2. Stay prepared. I pack bags and lay out clothes the night before. I set my coffee to come on in the mornings rather than wasting time in the mornings to make the coffee. I know all these things sound trivial but it's these little things that make things much, much easier and it's the little things added up that can make things seem overwhelming at times.

3. Pre-read for your classes. I do all my week's reading/chapter notes on the weekends. Sunday's are my reading days. This makes it so much easier to retain the knowledge during lecture. It also opens up my time during the week for strictly homework.

4. Do your homework on the same day it was assigned. You already have the reading done, right? So after I come home from school at night (typically home by 10pm) I start in on the homework assignment while it's fresh. This not only helps with my knowledge retention but also time management as I'm always current on assignments.

5. Start projects early! You'll need all the time you can get. I have a project due on June 30th with an extra credit deadline of June 16th. I've already started the project. To the extent of having all my place holder pages printed and in the report cover. I have my document already typed with place holders for the information that needs inputed. Each day I add to the project. Once it's complete all I'll have to do is print and go - my organization/structure is ready to go. Which leads me to the next point.

6. Keep organized! I use Microsoft OneNote to keep track of all my classes. I take notes in the application. I have to do lists included in my course sections. I have an excel formulated spreadsheet that I record all my grades in. All of these things keep me on track. I use post it note tabs to mark important pages in my textbook. I have yellow tabs I place in the textbook to mark my current homework assignment.

7. Last but not least, schedule downtime. With going at such an intense, fast pace you really must take time for yourself. I currently am in class Monday-Thursday nights. I work Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Friday nights I don't do homework (I did it Monday-Thursday evenings after class), so I spend that time with my family. I will do some studying on Saturday but limit the time away from my children. I read on Sundays but that's the extent of the work I do then.

Overall, this is working really well for me. I hope you're able to grab some bits and pieces from it and come up with something that works great for you, also! :)

Kyla.ann · May 18, 2009

coffeeaftermidnight - thank you so much! that was really helpful!

Natny23 · May 18, 2009

I am also in the work full time and go to school full time boat. I have a 3 year old and a 1 1/2 year old. I agree with everything that has already been said, but the cooking ahead thing is a lifesaver. I don't have to worry that my husband is feeding them pizza rolls and fries three days a week. All he has to do is warm up whatever I made the weekend before and dinner is done. It also makes things easier on him and I feel like he is helping and stepping up so I should make it a little easy on him. We do have the boys on a very tight schedule. They are both in bed by 8pm every night. That started before I started back to school and it helps sooooo much now. I'm so glad to hear that I am not the only one in this boat of school, kids, husband, and work.

missybear88 · May 18, 2009

Wow, you are all amazing! I just had to say that. I work and go to school, but both aren't quite FT and I still want to pull my hair out sometimes! I can't imagine going to work/school FT and having time for the family, that seems like so much work! Kudos to all of you!!

mrsb04 · May 19, 2009

When I was in school a year a go, I felt that when I worked less, I managed my time worse...but when I know I HAVE to squeeze study time in, I think I do it more. I am taking A&P I, Chem 121 and English (online) Fall quarter, do you think 4 days of working would be too much? I am a server/bartender, so I work nights generally, 6 hour shifts...would it be a bad idea??? I am trying to figure out what the best schedule would be for me. BTW...I have no babies now, just my doggies and my hubby. :)

mrsb04 · May 19, 2009

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6. Keep organized! I use Microsoft OneNote to keep track of all my classes. I take notes in the application. I have to do lists included in my course sections. I have an excel formulated spreadsheet that I record all my grades in. All of these things keep me on track. I use post it note tabs to mark important pages in my textbook. I have yellow tabs I place in the textbook to mark my current homework assignment.

Would it be advisable to get a laptop to bring to lecture? My hubby said he'd get me one if I would use it. Also, I always feel like I can type faster than write and possibly organize my info better if it's on my computer. And save some trees...I had a professor who did everything online and everyone was printing the slides off and taking them to class...what a waste of paper!!!