schedules

Mostly I study after my son is in bed or in school. He is just finishing kindergarten so before he was in school all day I would do ALL the studying after he was in bed, or my husband would take him and they'd go to the park, or I'd go to the coffee house etc.

It makes for some late nights depending on when your child(ren) go to bed but I've always been pretty strict about bedtime for him so he's used to it.

thank you, and did you take pharmacology with your fundamentals or foudations in your first semester

I took pharmacology, fundamentals, a skills class, and a clinical my first semester (ADN program).

how did you manage to study and do well in classes

There just isn't another option. You just have to do it. Remember you WANT to be here, you WANT to do this. That means you have to keep your eye on the prize and know that you're going to have short term sacrifices for long term goals. There are people that would give their left eye to be here.

I give up a lot of things during school time to get my stuff done, and sometimes it means my family doesn't see me much, or they eat a lot of mac/cheese BUT I also know that sometimes I gotta put the stuff away and do family stuff too.

You'll learn to read and study what is important. Reading EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. is not usually necessary. The first semester is the most crazy in my opinion because you have to learn how to read/think again, because it's different from all other schooling you've ever done.

I work part time 2 nights a week 7p-7:30a, nursing school full time, and 5 kids. I will get less than normal sleep because I study the most once they are in bed. You need to set yourself a schedule and stick to it!

I seem to find time to study with 2 kids pretty simple most days. I always keep my books nearby and I create flash cards on the computer that I can look at through an app on my phone. I look at the flashcards all the time. If I notice my kids are playing well without much need for my entertainment I grab my book and read. I may not get but a page or 2 read before interruption, but its progress. I also take advantage of naptime/bedtime to get lots of reading done. If you want to get it done you will find a way.

I am a big fan of studying at night after everyone is asleep, I get some of the best studying done during this time. Every night after class (while it is still fresh in my mind) I go home, review my notes and make any changes. I also compare the lecture to the study objective in the textbook and make sure that I understand the concepts.

My school fees also purchased us access to a text bank of questions on the computer (PrepU). MINIMUM I do 30 questions a day on random subjects just to get practice with NCLEX questions.

I can't study at night unless there's a ton of pressure on me, especially at home. If I'm at home I'm ready to crawl in bed at 9pm. Very unproductive.

So I stay at school and study/do assignment after classes and most days before classes, as well. If I'm really under the gun, I'll pop home for dinner and then head out back to campus to study until the library closes or go to a 24 hour restaurant and work there.

I'm going to be completely honest and admit that the vast majority of my studying is cramming for a few days before the test. I do go to class and do as much reading as I can, so I'm rarely seeing info for the first time at that point, but I'm the queen of marathon study sessions for the two or three days before a test.

Two of my kids are school age and one isn't, so the older two go to an after school program and the littlest is in daycare, so I fit the vast majority of my work into their school hours and the rest has to be done on the weekends.

I study after they go to bed also. I make sure my homework for the week is done on the weekend. I have 4 kids, I'm not working, I don't have a choice I have to finish. I'm doing really well in school so I guess my strategy is working.

I stay late or go early to school to have quiet time in the library. On the days that my husband is home, I shut my bedroom door and let him handle things. I spend a lot of time studying and I need it. Of course, my son is 13, so he doesn't require that much anymore. I had to wait until he was in middle school before I started this journey, otherwise, I don't know how I would have done it with all the distractions.

Good day:

If it helps, I've been taking free workshops offered by the nursing school I'm attending to prepare for the summer classes. Several of the work shops got into making the point we learn best when we study in small chucks where we rinse and repeat as necessary. If you can add in other senses --

* read out loud your book and notes while you record it; then listen to your own notes.

* get a study buddy to discuss and share notes; even a family member can help if it is just reviewing flash cards.

As it was shared, get very organized, and stay that way.

You can do it.

Thank you.