Question to those getting Associates in Nursing

hpygrl01 · Mar 11, 2009

Kiss any spare time goodbye. We have girls in our class your age with kids, and their husbands, moms, dads take care of the kids. It takes LOADS of time for study, research, and papers. Med. Surg. will be alot of time spent just reading and comprehending. Get ready to spend most of your free time studying because if you don't, you won't pass. I'm not trying to scare you, but it's a reality.

amarilla, RN · Mar 11, 2009

The time commitment will be individual to your school, but taking a peek at the course schedule can tell you the days and times the classes and clinicals are scheduled.

I am in the second semester of an ADN program. The program has day and evening classes; both have one lecture day (3-4 hours) and two clinical days, (4-8 hours each, depending on which semester you're in.) We also have to schedule a half-hour block of time to test off on new skills. It isn't the time commitment I'd anticipated, honestly.

I don't have any children, but I do carry a full courseload for a BS in biochem in addition to nursing classes and also work full-time. I've found that as long as I keep up on the readings and study a little every day, it is very manageable!

Good luck!

Best,

Southern

chevyv, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2009

I did the part time route and have 2 children. I didn't have to do a lot of time juggling, but did see, every semester, the students in the back crying due to stress, family, and having to work. I love part time!

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Mar 11, 2009

My instructors nailed it when they said nursing school is like a 40 hour a week job with a 40 hour a week study requirement. It takes a lot of your free time!

Spotty44 · Mar 11, 2009

I know at least at my school, 12 hours means 12 hours of class time but that does not include clinicals! The weeks I had clinicals I was actually in class/clinicals 17 hours per week and that does not include the fact that I was taking pharm online...so if I were taking a face-to-face pharm class the hours per week would have been more. Then, you spend the majority of your away-from-class time studying and doing homework.

It is doable if you have kids...many of my classmates have kids, however it takes a huge amount of family support and time management.

GeneralJinjur · Mar 12, 2009

I'm in my first semester of an ADN program. I am in class all day Tuesday, Thursday and half of Friday. Clinicals are all day Wednesday. Tests are Monday mornings and so is open lab. Throw in 7-10 chapters of nursing or pharmacology reading and you have my weekly schedule. Strangely, my kids are the exact same ages as yours.

LadyK,RN · Mar 12, 2009

It is doable. You are fortunate to have a nanny and supportive husband. My kids are 13, 11, & 6. My husband works FT and just finished his Masters and is now working on an accelerated online doctorate program. We have to work hard to balance everything and everyone's schedule (football, basketball, dance team, etc. etc.). My husband has to make sure he's home in time to pick my son up from aftercare on the days I have clinical, etc. In addition, we run an internet-based Christian ministry.

My advice is to have realistic expectations on what you can do and the best time to study. Class time and clinical time is non-negotiable. My girls (13 & 11) have had to do extra chores and learn to help get their little brother up and dressed on the mornings I have clinicals because I am not there and my husband leaves just before my son's bus comes. Fortunately the bus picks him up at the end of the driveway, so no one has to stand on the bus stop.

As far as studying, I have learned to study at basketball and football practice and almost anywhere else. Also, I am better in the morning, so I often get up at 4 or 5am on non-class/clinical days to read my text while the house is quiet. Also, know how you learn best. If you must really read the text to grasp the concepts, then spend your time on that (me). If you are a auditory learner then spend extra time listening to recordings of the lectures (not me). If doing practice questions helps you, be sure to schedule in time for that, or study group or whatever. Just know yourself and what works best for others may or may not be what's best for you!

Most of all, it requires faith and prayer. I stand firm on Phillipians 4:13...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Good luck and God Bless!

krenee · Mar 12, 2009

Well, if you have a nanny I don't see what the problem would be . . . I have three kids about the ages of yours and no nanny (or any other kind of "help") and I have done very well & will graduate in 9 weeks. I consider myself fortunate because I haven't had to work while in nursing school. Most people do. There are people with jobs, infants, infants & jobs, pregnant, even a woman with cancer in our program. I think it would be relatively easy for you . . . as easy as it can be, anyway!

soon2bns · Mar 12, 2009

I also have children, ages 12,10,7,6, and a hubby. I don't start the nursing program until May but I have made arrangements for the children. My program will be m,th 9-12 and tw 8-3, on the days I have clinical my sister will take the kids to school because her kids go to the same school as mine. I also work part-time which is going to be challenging, and I may not work as many hours as before. I have also set time aside for studying while the kids are not at home. I think anything is possible and you will do great in the program:yeah:. Good Luck:nurse:

jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN · Mar 12, 2009

I'm in the last semester of my ADN program. Wow, I read some of your posts and I guess I'm lucky I got into a program that doesn't seem as involved We never had open lab or had to have 12 hours a semester for our program. 9 hours was our max for nursing classes each semester.

We have lecture 2 days a week, and a day of clinicals. (12 hour clinicals this semester) However, there are several women in our class that have 2-4 kids, and they seem to juggle it just fine. Something about having kids that makes you responsible I guess, lol. (I'm 24, male, no kids But recently engaged! lol)

This is my philosophy: If you want it bad enough, you will achieve it, no matter how tough!

Be extra nice to that nanny and even nicer to the hubby You can do it!

BMXMom · Mar 15, 2009

I have two children ages 9 and 13. I took a lot of my classes on-line which made studying easier around my children but some classes can't be taken on-line. I have to be at clinicals at 6:00am and we are usually done at 2:30pm, but things always seem to happen before you need to leave. Hopefully, your husband can help out. I study all weekend long because after clinicals and doing care plans I'm exhausted. I schedule every minute of my day and other family members have to help pick up the slack. It is harder with children, but if I can do it anyone can. Time management and organization are the key!! Good luck!!!