What is your schedule?

mrsboots87 · Jan 26, 2014

You are correct that each school will vary, and it will also depend on if you are in an ADN or BSN program. They both have the same/similar nursing core content. The difference is that the BSN degree requires more classes, so you will be taking extra classes along with your nursing core, so expect an extra day or 2 of classes tacked on to the normal nursing schedule. I dont work, but I have 2 young children. My school schedule is Tuesday lecture 8-12:30, thursday lab 8-2:45, and friday clinical 6:30a-3:30 pm with pre and post conference. We also have a test once a month scheduled for monday afternoons, and the fial practicum and HESI exit are scheduled for weds at the end of the month. My class is separated into 2 groups since 90 people cant have lab on the same day because of space and supplies. So the school schedule will show lab on thursday and friday even though its one or the other. And Clinical shows Sunday, wednesday, and friday but really we only have 1 day of clinical. The section numbers are the same for all the groups, but the schedules are different. It can get confusing so I just have it all written in a day planner for better visualization. I als have dance calss for my oldest on mondays and therapy once a week, volunteer at a hospital on monday, study most of the out of class time, and find family time in there somewhere. My girls go to daycare, so once they are home, all they want is mom time so studying is out the window. I plan my days by hours in my planner. It helps me separate out time for school, study, family time, and other misc things. The first week was overwhelmging, but in the thrid things seem to be meshing better and my time i better managed. You just have to plan and manage your time and you will be fine. GL

mrsboots87 · Jan 26, 2014

And it advised to either not work, or cut your hours if you work. Obviously that is not possible for a lot of people, in which case time management will be key, and the ability to function on less than normal sleep. There are plenty of people on here who can attest to the doability of working, school, and family and still pass and graduate. its just tough and no time can be wasted.

arnbsn15 · Jan 26, 2014

I am in my first semester of nursing school. I have a husband and a son at home, and I also hold a part time job at a local hospital. The first week was mind blowing. Now that we are a few weeks in, it's not so bad. I know what to expect and I have been planning everything accordingly. I use all of my time wisely. I think this is really the key here. Make sure you're never wasting time. I work 6am-230pm every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Tuesdays I have class from 9am-350pm. (2 classes) Wednesdays I am off and out of school. I spend that day studying and catching up on housework. Thursdays I have class from 9am-150pm(2 classes) Fridays I have class from 9-1150. I am taking 5 classes total. (BSN program) My son is in elementary school so he gets out of school at 3pm and I will study until it is time to pick him up on those days. On Tuesdays my sister picks him up from school.

All of our tests are scheduled outside of class time so as to not disrupt lectures. Most are scheduled 8-9am before class starts.

I will start clinicals next semester and we will have lecture 2 days a week and clinicals 2 days a week.

goldenanchor · Jan 26, 2014

It's a BSN program, but also offers an ADN halfway through. It's a little different.

The curriculum plan they gave me has a 9 credit Foundations of Nursing course (4 theory/2 lab/2 clinical), a 2 credit Nutrition and Role of the Professional Nurse and A&P II. I'm not sure what those first two classes entail specifically but your explanation of it being split into groups made sense. I think that is how the MThF 6am-11pm thing comes into play.

I work 20 hours a week at a clinic, and I will need to keep my job to cover daycare expenses for both work/school. My son is almost 2, so yeah I do have a lot going on but I know it's possible if I work really hard and I want this so badly that I'm willing to do whatever it takes. Thankfully my job is flexible, and I just need to give them a copy of my school schedule and they work with me to come up with a schedule they meets their staffing needs and my school/family needs.

Lastly, my husband is SO supportive - so weekends, even while just doing pre-reqs, he is on daddy-duty pretty much 24/7.

Hbrmom81 · Jan 26, 2014

Mine is an associate program and I am a mom who works roughly 30 hours a week. I have been told many I time I can't manage both but that is not an option I will and I do! I work days 845-330 the days I have school which are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. I have class Tuesday 4-9 and wed 430-7 and I stay 2 extra hours in our practice and sim lab and then Thursday I have off from work and I go to school around 12 to study out of the house or starbucks after I drop the kids off and then I have class & lab 430-9. My clinical rotation is on Tuesdays. You can always go ask and question your schools nursing department I did! Good Luck!

goldenanchor · Jan 26, 2014

haha! I sent many emails to advising and the nursing dept and no one will give me a straight forward answer. I guess I have to wait until March-April when fall registration begins.

unicoRNurse · Jan 27, 2014

I work 40+ hours a week (standard business hours), have classes in the evenings, and clinical on the weekends (ADN). I'm married with the regular adult responsibilities, but no kids. There are several working moms in my class, as well. When I was on the waiting list I would read books, blogs, etc. in hopes of finding tips on how I was going to manage, and every source said there is no way you can work, especially not FT, in nursing school. Well, I and the vast majority of my classmates beg to differ. You can do it -- with a lot of effort and sacrifice, but it can be done. :yes:

goldenanchor · Jan 27, 2014

I work 40+ hours a week (standard business hours), have classes in the evenings, and clinical on the weekends (ADN). I'm married with the regular adult responsibilities, but no kids. There are several working moms in my class, as well. When I was on the waiting list I would read books, blogs, etc. in hopes of finding tips on how I was going to manage, and every source said there is no way you can work, especially not FT, in nursing school. Well, I and the vast majority of my classmates beg to differ. You can do it -- with a lot of effort and sacrifice, but it can be done.

that at is really cool that your school allows weekend clinicals! That would be ideal.

sjalv · Jan 27, 2014

I'm a 2nd semester RN student in an ASN program (4 semesters), pre-reqs are required to have been done before entering the program so that isn't a factor. I'm a 19-year old male with no boyfriend and I still live with my parents. This is basically my schedule, with work included:

Monday - no school or work

Tuesday - lecture 9am-12pm, work 5pm-10pm

Wednesday - no school or work

Thursday - lecture 9am-12pm, lecture 1pm-3pm, have to go to clinical site to pick out patient and get their list of meds

Friday - clinical from 8:30am-5:30pm

Saturday - work every other Saturday from 10am-5pm

Sunday - work 10am-5pm

Obviously my schedule isn't too intense, but like all nursing students, I have a lot of readings to do which is basically the least fun thing to do.

unicoRNurse · Jan 27, 2014

that at is really cool that your school allows weekend clinicals! That would be ideal.

It's an evening/weekend program. There are some things we have to do during the day, but they really try to minimize that, as all of us work and/or are parents. It's a very well-respected program, and the only one I'm aware of that has a PM/WE option. I feel very fortunate to have had that as an option.

Java_Wench · Jan 27, 2014

I'm in my final semester of an ADN program. Here's my current schedule...

Monday - off (with the exception of community teaching and certain observation days).

Tuesday - Clinicals from 6:30am til 3:30pm.

Wednesday - Clincals from 6:30am til 3:30pm.

Thursday - Lecture from 9am-12pm and 1pm to 2pm.

Friday -Lecture from 9am til 12pm.

Now, in my cohort (there are currently 36 of us) there are four different clinical groups, on different days (some on weekends) and different times (some are second shift). Lecture time is the same for all of us.

One of the reasons it's difficult to try to plan your work/nursing schedule is because often the instructors do not have absolute confirmation on the clinical schedule the facilities they use will allow until the week before class starts. Sometimes it's even the first week of class. So things can be sort of "up in the air". And there are things (classes, observations, flu clinics, community teaching) that aren't part of the normal schedule. It can make the work thing tricky. I only work 10 hours/week. My previous job would not work with me on my schedule so I had to leave before school began. But, several of my fellow students work full or close-to-full time jobs and manage. Because of the large amount of time I spend studying (3-6 hours/night depending), I have mommy-guilt because I feel I'm not spending enough time with my 3 year old daughter, but I try to make up for it when I can. So yeah, that's my schedule. Good luck to you!! :)