What is a typical nursing school schedule like?

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Hello,

I start the nursing program this fall, and I am curious about the schedule. I know it varies from school to school, but I am sure they are pretty similar. I have completed all of my prerequisites, which will be nursing classes. When did you start doing clinical, and what was that schedule like? How many hours a day did you spend on studying? Hopefully, I will know my schedule soon. Thanks for the response.

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Mon. 8:30-12:30 nursing fund. (16-week course)- 4 tests and one paper, and a final

Tue-Thurs (for the first eight weeks) 8-2 Skills lab- 8 quiz

Fri 9-12:45 Critical Thinking (8-week course)- 4 tests and a final

After that first eight weeks, we had one sim. Lab and then 1 10-hour clinical a week for the last eight weeks

This was the schedule for MY nursing program for the first semester, as studying depends on your study habits and what type of learner you are; if you don't know Google's learning style and there will be many tests to choose from. The first semester I did minimal studying (but I have an eidetic memory and don't take notes and made a 95 in the fund. and a 93 in CT). Many of my peers spent many hours studying. I hope this helps. Good luck!

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Thank you so much for responding :). This helps a lot! I have three children, so I am trying to get an idea of my schedule. On the HESI exam, I had to take, they had us answer questions to see what type of learning style we are in, and I am kinesthetic. That's awesome you can retain so much information! I have to take notes! Thank you again!

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Congratulations on starting your nursing theory and clinical classes this fall. Your best bet for getting a better picture is to see if your school as a nursing facebook (or Google-based) group can set up where you can get example schedules. I've friends in different states, and while there are some similarities, there can be enough differences to cause a confusing picture. There may be differences between day and evening (typically part-time) programs, even at the same school.

In addition to the above, contact each of your professors and ask if you can have a copy of the syllabus and reading schedule in advance; if they don't have the most current one completed, ask politely if you can have a previous version. That way, you can go through and start planning on the calendar what will work for you.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

Generally, expect to spend 40-60 hours per week on school, between in-class time, clinical, pre-clinical, skills lab, clinical paperwork, homework, projects, and studying. If you have young children, expect to need child care. Since they are in school all day and more independent at home, school-age children will probably be fine without additional childcare.

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Thank you all! I did look on facebook and could not find any groups for my school's nursing program. I plan on child care and after-school programs for the kids, but I was unsure if I needed it full-time. It sounds like definite full-time!

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Congratulations on your acceptance! I will not be starting until January, but here is my schedule:

NURS 1871 is nursing fundamentals, and NURS 1104 is a primary care skills course; I am also taking Pharmacology I online.

Monday- 8 AM to 10 AM NURS 1871 Lecture

12 PM-2 PM NURS 1871 Seminar

Tuesday- 7AM-11AM NURS 1871 Clinical

12 PM-1 PM NURC 1104 Lecture

1 PM-4 PM NURC 1104 Lab

Wednesday- 12 PM-2 PM NURC 1871 Lab

I will work the night shift part-time at my current job, probably every Friday and Saturday, and have Thursday and Sunday to study and recuperate.

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Congrats, and good luck! That sounds like a good schedule! Some long days but you have Thursday and Friday off.

mindofmidwifery said:

Congratulations on your acceptance! I will not be starting until January, but here is my schedule:

NURS 1871 is nursing fundamentals, and NURS 1104 is a primary care skills course; I am also taking Pharmacology I online.

Monday- 8 AM to 10 AM NURS 1871 Lecture

12 PM-2 PM NURS 1871 Seminar

Tuesday- 7AM-11AM NURS 1871 Clinical

12 PM-1 PM NURC 1104 Lecture

1 PM-4 PM NURC 1104 Lab

Wednesday- 12 PM-2 PM NURC 1871 Lab

I will work the night shift part-time at my current job, probably every Friday and Saturday, and have Thursday and Sunday to study and recuperate.

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Congrats on getting into a program! I'm entering my last nursing school (BSN) semester and want you to be encouraged. You can do this! Don't get overwhelmed, and always find time to study. Stay positive!

My first-semester schedule was as follows:

Mondays: 8-10 Health Assessment Lecture and 10-12 Health Assessment Lab

Tuesdays: Clinical 6:30 am - 3 pm

Wednesday: Nursing Skills Lab from 1 pm - 4 pm

Thursday: 9-12 pm Nursing Fundamentals and 1-3 pm Population Focused Healthcare

Friday: 9-12 pm Pathophysiology/Pharmacology I

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Thank you :)! Congrats to you as well! You're almost done! So exciting!

teesquared said:

Congrats on getting into a program! I'm entering my last nursing school (BSN) semester and want you to be encouraged. You can do this! Don't get overwhelmed, and always find time to study. Stay positive!

My first-semester schedule was as follows:

Mondays: 8-10 Health Assessment Lecture and 10-12 Health Assessment Lab

Tuesdays: Clinical 6:30 am - 3 pm

Wednesday: Nursing Skills Lab from 1 pm - 4 pm

Thursday: 9-12 pm Nursing Fundamentals and 1-3 pm Population Focused Healthcare

Friday: 9-12 pm Pathophysiology/Pharmacology I

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For my first semester of nursing school:

Monday: 1-3 PM Fundamentals

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday 8-10 AM Lab Practicum, 1-4 PM Fundamentals

Thursday: Clinical Prep at the Hospital after 12PM which would take me about 4 hours to finish.

Friday: 7-1 PM, Clinical at Hospital

I had free time, but it was used to practice skills for checkout, study for my exams and fit in part-time hours for work.

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My schedule for the first semester was this:

Monday: Lecture for 1.5 hours, then 1.5 hours skills lab following.

Tuesday: 0600-1230 Clinical

Wednesday: Lecture 1.5 hours.

This was for Nursing Fundamentals. The upcoming semesters are all more hours than that. But essentially, for my school, the first two semesters, you can only schedule three days a week. In the 3rd and 4th semesters, I am unsure if that is the case.

As far as hours studying, that does depend on you, as a previous poster has said. If you take school seriously (which I'm sure you do, as you have been accepted into a nursing program), school is like a full-time job with MANDATORY overtime every week.

The most critical adjustment is the NCLEX-style questions ("Which is the BEST statement?"; "What is the nurse's FIRST action?").

The questions at the end of the chapters and in the back of the book are beneficial. Read the rationale when you get a question wrong (and even when you get it right). Those rationales are what help you think about the answers and learn.

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