Two weeks in-not sure I can do this!

[Piper98]

Hello, I am two weeks into my first semester of my ASN program, and I am not sure I can do this!!! I KNEW it was going to be hard, but I guess I didn’t realize how time consuming and complex it would be on day one. I am significantly behind on the reading (wasn’t prepared for the quantity assigned the first week) and feel so lost already. I have 3 kids and a husband, so cannot devote every waking moment to this, but feel like I need to. I would love any tips or advice you may have. I am still debating dropping out, as I can still get a refund on my tuition at this point. Also, at this point, I am just reading and highlighting, but I am told for MedSurg you have to take notes as you read. But what do you take notes on?? Help!!!

[OwlNP]

I think you have been given some great advice. It’s all about finding what works for you. If you are already feeling behind try and pick up where you are now and don’t let what you have not done weigh you down too much, otherwise you are always going to feel like you are drowning. I found it helpful to take simple notes in class then go back and copy them down while color coding my notes. Not only did the colors help me remember, but the copying down the information again also helped me remember the content. Reading every word before lecture was also not very helpful for me. I skimmed and read the main points then returned to the book after lecture. Nursing school is very different and tests are also different. It’s hard at first but NCLEX style questions really do help when it’s time for the big test. Take a deep breath. You can do this. You will find your groove and you will do great!

[Iwillsurvive]

it doesnt get any easier from here. but you will get way better. it's worth it.

[NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN]

The first several weeks are the worst as your family adjusts to living life without you helping out as much as they are used to. I'm not going to lie, it's rough when you have kids, BUT, you can use this time to help your kids foster their own independence as well. My kids were 6, 9, and 11 when I was in nursing school, and I had to force them to be responsible for their own laundry, make their own school lunches in the morning, do dishes, finish homework independently, I even had them take turns making dinner (which sometimes was just opening a can of chili and warming it up, but whatever), etc.

There is no way I could have completed nursing school if I had continued doing everything at home that they were used to me doing (and I worked full time and took pre-reqs part-time before nursing school, and still managed to run my home smoothly with a homemade dinner on the table every night and a clean home, but RN school was an entirely new all-consuming beast)

Everyone needs to be on board with your new life goals. Even your kiddos.

Good luck!