Study Time

RedSox33RN · Feb 15, 2004

Bring pictures of your family to school with you so you don't forget what they look like. Put a picture of yourself on your pillow so your mate doesn't forget what you look like - you'll do fine.

LOL!! This is sooooooo true! I'm not even IN nursing school yet, but have tucked my littlest kids into bed by cell phone many, many times!

I say you have to be your best judge. You may be able to fly through some material with minimal studying, and have to work harder than most at others. If you think you know stuff, but don't do well on a test or quiz, it's back to the drawing board to rethink how you study. It will be trial and error. I've found what works best for me is NOT what worked best in HS, which was 20 years ago. Some courses I need much more time in (math-type) and some are pretty easy (English). Go with your gut. If you don't think you'll get the information quickly, allow more time.

MiaLyse, APRN · Feb 15, 2004

Say goodbye to your life as you know it.
Good luck. :)Wink

Oh most definitely. I had no life while in the LPN program except studies. Now am working on my ADN. But, I LUV what I do so it's worth it.

Kelly

belladelicious · Feb 16, 2004

In pre-nursing classes, you don't have to study all that much.

Once you get into nursing school...well, sorry, 2 hours for every hour is no where near enough for me! For me, it takes me several hours just to read the chapter, to be ready for class. Then studying the chapter for a test takes me many many hours. Not to mention you have really long labs, you have to study for and be prepared for or you get a U for the day....lots of stuff to study for.

But 2 hours for every hour is what all college majors say to do. I think nursing school requires more.

jschut, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2004

I am taking 12 hours this semester, and I really don't study as much as I should, but that's ok. My grades are pretty good too....

My class I am having trouble in is the one I study more of. (Anthropology~just can't seem to sit down and actually enjoy this stuff...and I have a B so far)

Study time? Depends on what I am doing that day....work days, I don't get as much study time in as I do otherwise.

You'll find your niche soon. When you do, stick to it.

sun_chica · Feb 18, 2004

I transfered to another nursing program after two years off, let me tell you I struggled through that second semester. My on teacher enrolled me in a learning-strategies class. At first, i thought this is a waste of my time. But, I figured, I know I'm better than a C student (normally A or B student), so I tried and followed the program..it's true. I learned that I'm a musical adn kinestic(?) learner-basically to learn & retain the info I need to walk or exercise as I listen to music and read aloud b/c I'm an audatory learner. I look like a freak as I pace through my house, listening to classical music & reciting all my notes the night or two before a test. But, I must say, I got an 88% on my first test -best I've done since re-entering the program.

I don't have the time to read ALL the assigned 400pgs+ week, I work pt in an ER as a unit clerk. Best experience, I've learned so much that teachers and books may not say during a lecture. Med Students are more than willing to help explain stuff...I learned the basics of EKG interetation and when to hurry and show the doc. I don't really study daily, I try to pay attention in lecture and take key notes. I've also taped lectures, which free you up to just sit back & listen. We all learn differently, try to find out how you learn best & you'll likely be able to significantly reduce your study time!!!

majicalblue · Feb 18, 2004

I'm a nursing student, in my 2nd semester. I finished all my pre req's before I started taking the nursing course, and thank god I did. I spend an avg of 30-40 hours a week studying. I only work 13 hours a week, because between school and studying I don't have alot of time. I think it all depends on how you study, and if you study to study or try to understand it to study. There is where the difference lies. After your first test you will feel much more in control, but my advice to you is don't take a pre-req with your nursing course. Good luck.

nekhismom · Feb 18, 2004

well, those are the goals, but I doubt that many of us have that much time to study. I think the QUALITY of the study time is much more important than the amount of time.

manna, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2004

I'm not in nursing courses, but throughout all my pre-reqs I'd say I never put in more than 5-10 study hours/week. I now that sounds pathetic and YES, my courses were challenging, but I also have a pretty hectic schedule with school/job/kids/housework. I learn pretty quickly and have managed to make mostly A's and a couple of B's this way... I know that if and when I get into the nursing classes, I'm going to have to hit the books much harder... hopefully I'll be able to quit my job and have a little more free time.

I always heard that you should spend 1-3 hours studying for each hour spent in class. I have a cousin my Dad's age who graduated with an electrical engineering degree who studied 4 hours per hour he spent in class - now that's a dedicated student (of course he didn't have a family or job at the time to take his attention away from studies), he ended up graduating with a 4.0 so I guess he deserved it LOL

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2004

Wait till you start writing care plans with 3 nursing diagnoses apiece. Add that to IRP's, various papers, skills lab packets, drug card preparations and... oh yeah, what about required text readings? We haven't even begun studying for a test. Two hours for every one hour in class is a wished for dream. And then your professor says "don't stress out on the paperwork". LOL. Sure.

HisHands, ASN, RN · Oct 8, 2004

How much time do YOU spend studying each week?

more than I can count

How much time do you spend studying for just nursing classes?

well, I don't recognize my family anymore.... is that an indication

How much time do you spend studying for non-nursing classes?

i'm on the "all nursing, all the time" channel.... no relax classes for me.

Ok, silliness aside... on weeks that I have exams, the studying can be 8 or 9 hours per credit.... otherwise, I think that the 2-3 is pretty realistic. But, one HUGE cut down on study time for me is a very simple, yet novel concept. Go to class prepared. If you have read the material and at least attempted to understand it on your own, you will be prepared to ask any questions you have (I like to write the questions I come up with on an index card and slip it in my book as a bookmark so they will be right there when I need them), lecture is then almost like a review, and you will get the absolute fullest out of every lecture. Plus, you'll be able to ace all those pop quizzes as well as feel like you have a bit of an edge.

Maybe it's not a problem at your school, but where I'm at, NOBODY comes to class prepared, so we spend so much time trying to get everyone on the same page that it makes the few of us that DO prepare rather irriated.

Moral of the story: If it says "due for next class period"... DO IT!