Too much? 16.5 credits

[erint91DC]

I know credit hours aren't the most realistic thing to judge the difficulty of a program, but isn't 16.5 credit hours per semester really unreasonable?

This is my first semester and I haven't really done anything other than school. I read on my bus rides to/from school and clinical. Classes are from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Tuesday/Wednesday, clinical from 6:30am to 2:30pm on Thursday/Friday. I'm pretty much studying every single moment that I'm not at school, but I still can't finish all of the pre-readings! I'm able to finish assignments on time, but it's still pretty stressful.

I'm overwhelmed, but not too much. Most of my concern is regarding my health (sitting so much) and wondering how I'll do 5 more semesters of this while giving myself a bit of balance. I have started some exercise. Mainly yoga and moves to get my heart pumping (i.e., burpees!). However, I still sit on my butt minimum 12 hours a day when I have days off from school. This includes mini-breaks, where I get up and walk around the house, talk with mom, play with the dog, etc.

Is this typical NS? 16.5 credit hours? I know this is probably quite common, having a first-semester student complain, but does anyone have advice?

[Jaykalkyn, BSN, RN]

I'm in my first semester in a BSN program and I have 16 hours including an online class and one that was supposed to be ITV (they changed it because of dosage calc). I thought that was a bit much for a beginning nursing student but I guess not. I look forward to the remaining 3 semesters in my program where the hours decrease but i'm sure not the workload.

I, too, find it difficult to keep up with the reading. I mean, my God, how am I to read seven chapters from three books for one class while studying, reviewing PowerPoint's, and practicing dosage calc? One would think that the instructors, who have been in our shoes, would try to make it better for the ones to follow. I guess its the weeding out process; we've already lost one and its only a month in.

Good luck in your program. I think you'll need it.

[maj0079]

I am in an accelerated BSN program and we have 26 credits our first semester, plus clinical days which are at least 8hours too. Not to mention sim lab and observations thought the semester. I would feel so free if I had 16 credits!

[BusiestBSN]

I am in an accelerated BSN program and we have 26 credits our first semester, plus clinical days which are at least 8hours too. Not to mention sim lab and observations thought the semester. I would feel so free if I had 16 credits!

I have had my share of hectic semesters. But how are you getting anything done with 26 credits? That is an astonishing amount.

[maj0079]

All I do is read and study. I take breaks (like now), but it is tough. After this we go to 12-15 credits/semester. They also divided this semester into three small ones, so currently our classes will be done mid-march and then we move to the next section. I will admit it is crazy and scary and stressful, but I currently have a 3.25 GPA, so I am not complaining to much. We will see after this next "interim".