Refocusing for final semester of NS

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Specializes in Public Health.

Hi everyone,

In three weeks, I will begin my last semester as a nursing student. I was wondering if anyone had any particular tips for working full time while doing a full time program? Here is my schedule:

Sunday: off day, will gather patient info and study in the mornings

Monday: clinical from 645 to 445

Tuesday: off day, will relax and have date night

Wednesday: lab 10am to 1pm, lecture 3 to 5 pm

Thursday: lecture 3 to 5 pm and work 7pm to 7am

Friday and Saturday: work night shift again

I plan on studying on non work days and doing practice questions and reviewing notes during down time at work. Last semester I worked and took my cousin to work 5x per week plus did OB and peds. Needless to say I got two high C's but I PASSED! I don't want to have another semester like that and thankfully my cousins car is fixed and she got a promotion so things are better now.

So...ANY TIPS?

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Study on Tuesday. It's only a semester.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Do you have any specific tips unrelated to abandoning my life? I would literally lose my mind if all I did was go to class, work and study.

Maybe some techniques for understanding or learning concepts?

Ps I work in a hospital med surg so I have downtime for a few hours each night.

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It's my last semester, too, and I've accepted the fact that I have to abandon my life. I refuse to let anything stand in my way of graduating.

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OP, I refuse to abandon my life in nursing school, I am starting my final year in a few weeks. But please consider that you had two Cs last semester, this semester you may not be so lucky as to pass them, and do you really want to be set back. I think everyone deserves a little time off but do you need an entire day a week? What if you made plans on Tuesday say for a movie or dinner out. Thats a few hours, is there a reason you cant at least study for 2-3 hours in the morning or before bed? My suggestion is to reread your notes (or re-listen to lectures if you record) within 24 hours of class. It is proven to improve your memory and learning schemes of the information. I take notes in class, read through the chapter and take notes on anything I find important or anything I had issues understanding, only takes a few hours of time for each test. That way you can take those to work and just pull them out and review when you have down time.

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Specializes in Public Health.

@loveneverdies good point, I wasn't planning to take the whole day to do nothing. However, I had such a lack of motivation by the end of last semester bc of burnout and I do not want to do that to myself again. I need balance, I think.

It helps to know that I'm not concerned with papers, assignments, care plans, or ATI test bc I am really good at those. I need help retaining info and recalling it so that I may apply it in test situations. I usually get Bs on exams with average study skills during times that are tough responsibility wise, however I would like to find a good balance between studying, class time, work and personal time.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

Damn, you're working night shift two days in a row? Don't exhaust yourself.

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@loveneverdies good point, I wasn't planning to take the whole day to do nothing. However, I had such a lack of motivation by the end of last semester bc of burnout and I do not want to do that to myself again. I need balance, I think.

Sorry, I thought by the relax part you meant doing nothing all day! It's great that you have all those strengths, I personally only study 2-3 hours a week also. I think you will do well in your last semester, working and school shows your dedication. Maybe you could use a disease process chart. One piece of paper that you design that covers the most important information in one place.

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Last semester for me was tough. I had Advance Med/Surg and my teacher usually incorporate Critical Care Nursing in her lecture. Also had Nursing Trends and NCLEX review once a week. By this time, we lost around 15 people from the original batch. Scared. Did not work. Was fortunate enough to lived with my parents.

Basically my life was school, hospital and home. Oh well..had to make some sacrifices.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Sorry, I thought by the relax part you meant doing nothing all day! It's great that you have all those strengths, I personally only study 2-3 hours a week also. I think you will do well in your last semester, working and school shows your dedication. Maybe you could use a disease process chart. One piece of paper that you design that covers the most important information in one place.

That's sounds like a great idea! Especially with EKGs and the major diseases in med surg 2. Unfortunately I have to work full time, I think I'm gonna do that on flash cards of the rhythms and symptoms and nursing actions for the different diagnosis.

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Thanks SlinkyheadCNA for that wonderful information about ATI and congratualtions! I take it soon, If you could email me at [email protected]. I will greatly appreciate it!

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Thanks SlinkyheadCNA for that wonderful information about ATI and congratualtions! I take it soon, If you could email me at [email protected]. I will greatly appreciate it! I cant send private message yet!

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