starting out, mother of 3

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2014

Good day, trp03

I found https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/how-get-any-846733.html to be helpful for every class I've taken. Get to know your learning style, and try to adapt each class to fit your style. Ask professors in advance if you can record their lectures; if they allow it, and your learning style includes auditory, then do record and listen often. For the above mentioned link, ask the professors in advance for the upcoming syllabus so you can start planning early. Part of being a successful student is planning, monitoring the plan, adjusting as necessary, and following the plan as carefully as possible.

]Here are some links that may be useful in terms of improving overall study skills, taking notes, reading text books, etc.

]SQ4R Study Method

Note Taking Systems - Academic Skills Center: Study Skills Library - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Cornell Notetaking System Explained--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

Google Image Result for http://kenpitts.net/images/cornell_note_how_to.jpg

Time management

Reading University Level Materials--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Read Effectively in the Sciences--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Read and Study Medical Texts--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

More About Effective Textbook Study--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

An Effective Textbook Study Strategy--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Mark a Section of a Textbook Chapter--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

Thank you.

FutureRNToya · Aug 11, 2014

You can do it, just put your mind to it and stay focused. I am too 30 years old. I have two sons, one 10 years old and one 2 years old. At times I doubt myself. I havent been in school since 2008 but I am so driven and so motivated that I dont allow those negative thoughts to consume me. You just have to learn to mange your time..I used to go out alot with my friends when I had spear time and I was free from kids. Now I study when I have free time, study when the kids are sleep. You can do it!!!

TLizS · Aug 11, 2014

You can do it....but I agree....at times it is VERY overwhelming! I am 29 and mama to 2 very busy kids (7 and 5). There are days that I wonder if all of the time I have given up with my kids.....all the things around the house that have been left undone....all the take out meals.....etc are worth it. But those are the times I need to step back.....take a deep breath and a break. Do something fun with the kids, or have a date night, or ANYTHING relaxing (You know....all those things that take the back seat when you get busy) and put things back in perspective.

My biggest suggestion.....STAY AHEAD on your reading/homework. As long as I stay ahead and don't leave things til the last minute I am ok. That allows for the times when anything crazy happens and our schedule gets thrown off, it allows for the days you have a sick kid that just needs to be rocked and held. My other suggestion is to loosen up on your idea of perfection. If my house is a wreck for a couple more days so I can cram for a test...or we have another take out meal....or I have to accept my husbands standards of having the kids clean their rooms, I just have to do it. (That was a hard one for me....I am used to being the one who gets things done around here and getting them done MY way. So letting go and accepting other people's way of doing things was HARD).

Take advantage of downtime. I downloaded some anatomy drill apps on my phone that I could use to study anytime I was waiting somewhere.....school pick up, drs office, grocery check out. If your professor provides exam reviews start working on them as soon as you get them. I always answered all of mine while I was doing my reading. It helped to make sure I was catching the important information. It also gave me something physical to study that I could throw in my bag and study wherever/whenever.

Buy stock in index cards. I made flash cards like it was going out of style in a&p......

for me the most important thing in making sure I retained the information was writing it out. I retain things better if I write them instead of just reading. I took a TON of notes (notes while I was reading....the actual exam reviews...notes in class...recopying my notes from class). I was fairly certain I would have arthritis by the time I finished my prepreqs

Know that there may be times when you wonder if it's worth it, times when your confidence is shaken because you didn't do as well as you wanted, or times that you feel extremely guilty for the time taken away from your family to study/go to class/whatever. But it WILL be worth it in the end......sometimes you just need to hear someone say that.....I am so thankful that my husband is my biggest cheerleader and always around when I need to hear that. Find yourself a cheerleader...someone that you can unload all of the stress on and they will remind you why you are doing it and that it is worth it.

I'm sure I'll think of more but these were big ones for me

Sizzline · Aug 11, 2014

I'm 33 with two girls, ages 5 and 17 months. It's definitely a struggle sometimes, but I just put my mind to it and exist on less sleep than I thought possible. Learning how you personally study most efficiently, and making time management a priority, will go a long way!

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Aug 11, 2014

I'm 38. Single mom. 1 boy who is 8. Did my prereqs for the past year and am starting the program in about 2 weeks. Plus trying to maintain a relationship. You must be very organized. I have a good support system in place. I have good friends who help me tons. I also make sure I do not forget to spend quality time with my son but he is also old enough to understand what I am doing. But I keep a detailed calendar in my phone and a written one. I'm always on the go, but cannot wait until May 2016 to graduate!! Keep your eye on the prize.

PC0229 · Aug 11, 2014

I started my pre-reqs in the fall of 2011 after having completed high school in 2005. I had a 5 yo, 4 yo (stepchildren of which my DH and I have full custody), and a 13 months old. I worked full time as well. During my sophomore year, my father finally passed away after a 6 year battle with cancer, and due to marital issues, I moved in with my disabled mother who lived over an hour away from my school. Following an amazing experience with my father's hospice care, I changed my major to nursing. My point, throughout all that, I had my priorities straight and found college easier than most younger students because I knew how important it was and that my effort was directly related to my grades. I maintained a 4.0 GPA until the semester my father passed because he passed away the Friday before finals week and I take full responsibility for the fact I did not study at all for those finals. Still, after my husband and I reconciled our differences, I moved back home, continued to go to school full time, work evenings full time, and still found time to study, clean, play with the kids, run errands, and relax all while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. If you are committed, you can do it. The experience will be as difficult as you let it be. I view it as a blessing and an opportunity because after the economy crashed in 2009 and I was laid off, I had nothing to offer my children... and now I do, or will. I think my attitude has helped my journey. Form good study habits, ask for more help around the house, and apply those mommy time management skills and you will succeed. Good luck and congratulations!

nlitened · Aug 11, 2014

It can be done! I am a single mom and started out doing just one pre req at a time when my daughter was little. And I know a single mother of 4 (ages 1-9) who just finished her pre req's and is looking to start the program in the spring. It's going to get challenging at times, but it is doable. I wish you the best of luck!!

TLizS · Aug 11, 2014

oh yea....thats a good one...BE ORGANIZED. I have a physical paper planner devoted to school assignments/events only. Each class has it's own color of washi tape (or you could use different colored pens). I write my assignments on the tape and stick it on the day that it's due. It's so much easier for me to make sure I don't miss anything if I have EVERYTHING in one place that I can just grab and see what I need to be working on. You can also mark things off when you finish....that helps me to make sure I'm being productive. Physically showing what is finished and what still needs to be done keeps me on track

RunBabyRN · Aug 11, 2014

I'm 34 with a 5 year old, and I just graduated with my BSN. You can do this! The nice thing is that with nursing, you'll find yourself surrounded by other students in similar situations at the same age or older.

Time management and stress management are my top tips. Find what works for you. I also agree about prioritizing- my house basically fell to you-know-what while I was in nursing school, but I graduated and have my RN and have been getting things back in order. Plus, now, I can hopefully soon afford a housekeeper to come in to tackle some of the bigger stuff a couple of times a month! (the dream!!) Make time for your kids where you can. If you have half a day available, go to the park, to the beach, to the indoor play place, whatever is fun for them where you can spend time together. During Spring Break, we made the time count. We went to Seattle the first year, and camping the second.

Remember the example you are setting for your kids. Inevitably, mom guilt will settle in at some point, and you need to keep this in mind. Remember you are doing this for your family, and you are showing them that education is important, and that hard work pays off. Share with them what you're learning! Break it down to their level- I swear my son knows more about fetal development than most adults! LOL It's a great way to learn to educate patients- you have to be able to explain things to them on their level when they don't understand what's happening to their bodies.

Make sure to do something for yourself. Aka stress management! For me, it's running. What will you do regularly to manage your stress?

Figure out what works for you, as far as studying goes. Figure out your learning style, and figure out if you're able to study at home, or if you need to leave the house. I found that studying at home was the best way to get the house cleaned- it was a good distraction from studying! Then no schoolwork would get done. Starbucks got to know me VERY well!

Good luck!

TLizS · Aug 11, 2014

Share with them what you're learning! Break it down to their level- I swear my son knows more about fetal development than most adults! LOL It's a great way to learn to educate patients- you have to be able to explain things to them on their level when they don't understand what's happening to their bodies.

another good one....my youngest was home with me all day this past year....he knows more about anatomy and physiology than a lot of adults. Breaking it down in terms he understood ensured that I would have a good fundamental understanding of whatever it was I was studying at the time. Then I could build on that. He loved being involved too sooo even when i was studying he didn't feel like he was being ignored

jstx5, ADN, BSN · Aug 11, 2014

Hi! I know exactly how you feel. I started my pre requisites back in 2010. I have 3 children. They are now 11, 9, and 6. When I begin back to school at age 34, my youngest was about 1 and a half. I took it slow, 2 classes a semester. At times, even 2 classes was a challenge when I got into my Biology 101 and Anatomy and Physiology, etc. It's not going to be easy, but you can do it! I just finished the practical nursing program and had all A's and B's. I was accepted into the Transition RN program and I start August 18th. In addition, I homeschool all three of my kids. We didn't start that way, but for us it made life more doable for many reasons that I won't bore you with. My best advice to you is to stay organized. I always wake up at 5:30 every morning during the week. That is my first study/homework time of each day. That way, no matter what the rest of the day throws at me I've gotten at least 3 hours of my schoolwork in. It may take time to get everyone adjusted to your schedule, but believe me, it will happen. You may have to try a variety of schedules until you find one that works. Just don't give up. You can do it!