Studying during break...

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So i just finished my first semester today and as much as i want to sit back and do nothing for 3 weeks i feel i need to stay on top of it! How many of you cracked a book during vacation?

In my program our dosage calc tests are on the first day of school so I only practice math over breaks. I wouldn't study anything unless you absolutely must. You will burn out too soon. Prior to this semester I asked one of my instructors if there were any reading assignments for the first week and she told me to relax and sit by the pool before I burn out. I think that was excellent advice from her and you should do the same but replace the pool with a fireplace :)

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I always say I'm going to stay on top of it during winter breaks. I'm much more ambitious about it starting off but I never follow through and actually study during breaks lol. It helps I'm going on vacation for two weeks though so I can fiiiinally relax.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Our med-surg prof already assigned 4 chapters over the break. We also have to take our required dosage calculation test the 1st day of class, so will need to work on practice problems over break. We also have to do a head-to-toe assessment with no prompts. Definitely will need to practice so I don't forget anything :)

I plan on taking a few weeks off to decompress first :)

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Specializes in LAD.

I have no choice but to study! My last day of semester was today and we have already been assigned chapters to read in our pharm and foundations book! I'm staying positive though. I'm going to start over the weekend and try to finish before christmas so I can enjoy my family. Merry Christmas/Hanukkah!

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Specializes in CVICU.

I just finished first semester as well and I don't plan to open a single book this break (which is like 4 or 5 weeks). Apparently I'm in the minority here, but c'mon.. we worked our butts off for 4 months straight and made it through the semester. We're gonna do it again, at an even faster pace, for med/surg, pediatrics, and OB (which is what my 2nd semester consists of). The least we can do is let ourselves enjoy the break. I did well this semester so I'm thinking it won't kill me if I don't do the reviewing reading recommended for 2nd semester.

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Specializes in psych/dementia.

I've been pre-reading for all my classes since undergrad and don't plan on changing. I pre-read everything for the first semester over the summer and it definitely helped and plan on doing it again over winter break. This may be harder though as I have a lot more reading to do and a lot less time to do it. I also like the material so it's not a big deal. I don't read to retain so much as to get an idea of what's coming so it's not new when I get there.

I have 2.5 weeks before my winter class starts and have 5 classes to read for. I aim for ~100 pages of school reading a day and the rest of the day is mine. I should be able to read for other classes during my winter class so that takes some of the load off the 2.5 weeks of break also.

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

Well, being that I'll be doing clinicals over break and taking my boards in 6 months (if all goes according to plan), *I* will most definitely be studying. But not during the week of Christmas. We ALL need a break if only for a week. :)

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I'll practice dosage calculations right before classes start back but other than that, I don't study at all. I MUST have a break from school. However, I'll be working 50+ hours next week so I won't really have that much time to study anyway.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I'm studying. I took about a day off. It's kind of nice studying without a deadline of an exam hanging over my head. Taking it slow, learning and enjoying it.

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I mostly plan on enjoying the break, but I do plan to do some practice nclex questions here and there to keep things fresh.

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I always worked a little over breaks. (I'm graduating Summa next week). I would look at past syllabi for the course I was scheduled to take the next term to get an idea of what to start with and then tried to read most of the material for the 1st exam. In my program all the syllabi are posted on a common website so you can see them several semesters back. I also did practice questions from review books over what I just finished (I like the Success series of review guides). I made sure to take time with family also though.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I always enjoyed my breaks and I worked also. Sometimes I took beach vacations. However, I still made time to study at least 3-4 days during an extended break. There are always areas to review and you can start planning future assignments.

This is your career, not just school. Even as a working nurse, I still make time for review and research.

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