What do your schedules look like?

[kk83]

I don't work and only have my dogs, husband and myself of course - to take care of when I get home. I have never been an early morning person and on my 8 am days - 3 per week I am only getting about 4 or so hours of sleep a night. I've never had an early morning routine like this and am naturally a late night type. So when I get home from class - I try to do something housework related, then do about 45 minutes of some studying or note taking or reading - then repeat for about 4 hours.

I still feel like I don't have enough time and I'm not getting everything done and because I'm so tired I'm not absorbing the info well.

I'm taking AP 1 and Lab, Foundations of Nursing and Lab, and Dosage Calculation when it begins soon. My head is already swimming and I see so much coming down the line study wise that it feels impossible to tackle.

What are your guys tips and tricks? Were any of you night owl types before starting the program and how long if ever did it take to adjust? How and when do you study?

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

What helps is getting help! Make a schedule of housework that needs to be done and incorporate your husband in the schedule. I have a great husband who helps out and will help out extra if he knows I have a test or if I'm falling behind on reading. PLUS I have 2 kids, so it's crazy....us nursing students definitely need all the help we can get. Good luck! :)

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Im a night owl and still adjusting to being up at 7 am. Seriously who invented this time of day? Im slowly pushing my bed time up earlier and earlier and working at getting more sleep each night. Today was the first time in a few weeks that I was fine after getting out of class at 330 and being up at 7.

[NursingStudent87]

Well It took me two years to get accepted into the nursing program. I was devastated last year when I was denied and some friends of mine got in... HOWEVER It did end up working in my favor because I was able to get all of my pre and co-reqs completed. All my math's English 1&2 A&P1&2 Gen Psych, Dev. Psych etc. and now that I was accepted for fall 2010 all I have left is 4 semesters of Nursing and a Pharmacology class. My friends have made it to their second year of nursing with a lot of hard work and dedication. It has been much harder for them than it will be for me but they have made it this far and thats all that matters. Ive seen women with 5 (yes I said it FIVE kids) lol if they can do it so can you.... After all you made it this far! Good Luck You'll do great:yeah:

[BSNMomOf6]

Ok, I have to laugh, b/c I AM THE ONE DOING IT WITH 5 KIDS! Sorry, but girl, if you can't hack doing a few classes and being too tired, how are you going to work as a nurse and one day have a family (if you want to)? Wait till clinicals start! Just keep adjusting your bedtime to earlier to get more sleep and up earlier, forget the housework and use your weekends wisely, no more lazy weekends with the hubby. I'm lucky I get to SEE hubby some days. If I can do this, for damn sure anyone can! Good luck!

[cjungen]

After feeling overwhelmed yesterday on my way home I decided to make a detailed study schedule with everything I needed to learn for next week. Instead of trying to learn 11 drug classifications I decided to do 1 a day and have them down by the first test. 1 a day is not as scary as 11 at one time. I kept to the schedule today and finally accomplished all by objectives and I feel alot calmer tonight than I did yesterday. I'll see how this method works and revise as needed.

[ErinRN2B]

I'm a night owl too, and the adjustment has been hard.

Right now I only have three classes. Fundamentals Lecture, Fundamentals Lab, and Pharmacology. In late September, we end Fundamentals and throw in a Med/Surg Clinical and a Med/Surg lecture and lab. My classes right now are Mon-Wed, and run from 7:30 AM to about 3:30 PM. We have an hour and a half break in the middle. Pharm is only on Wednesdays.

It's tough - but I'm pulling through. I have a 14-month-old at home. He isn't much help studying, but he keeps me company while my husband's at work.

[tcgirl]

I'm going to have to get up about two hours before I typically would, so I started two weeks ago. I began getting up at 6am, and laying down by 10pm, and not letting myself take a nap more than once a week. For me, this "shock treatment" is the best method. I have to just jump in and do it. I decided to go ahead and begin getting my system used to it, so that I won't be quite so tired once school starts next week.

Another option, if you simply can't adjust and fall asleep sooner, may be to talk to your doctor about a sleep aid...

[kk83]

Wanttobe - I have total respect for those that work and have families and do it all. I have been a stay at home housewife for basically 5 years - so I've had absolutely no perfect schedule to adhere to. I completely expected to be in for some shock to my system. I am in no way trying to whine or anything :) - just wondering how those w/insomnia or late night types get through those early mornings :)

[kk83]

Cjungen - that's a good idea. I'm going to have to realize breaking it down into mini sessions works out just as well as a long stretch where I lose focus (if not better).

ErinRn2bB - Good for you with a baby and everything!

I try to have a set bedtime but by the time I get home from classes, unwind and study - I get this surge of energy and start something else even though I was exhausted earlier aaah

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

I am a night owl myself, so what I do is take some sleeping pills and get in bed around 10/11 for 7am clinicals. Otherwise I'd be awake in bed til 1am trying to sleep. Adjusting to nursing school is always tough but you'll get there. As you go, you'll get the hang of prioritizing your time. It takes me 2-3 weeks to fully get my brain to focus on all the school work. I'm having summer vacation withdrawals right now :)

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

Mine looks like this: