Will I have any time as a nursing student?

Edina · Feb 22, 2016

I'm currently in my second semester. I also have a husband & 2 children. They are the only people I spend time with besides my 2 "study buddies." I've had to put my non-nursing friends on hold & I barely get the time to even chat with them on Facebook or through texting.

I haven't touched any of my hobbies since I started school in Sept. When I do have some free time I tend to veg out in front of the TV watching Netflix as it requires no brain power. I would have time for my hobby but it is really time consuming & I just don't have the energy for it.

I'm really enjoying my classes though & doing well so I consider it a worthwhile sacrifice. Short term pain for long term gain.

Good luck with your decision.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

Okay, I hope this is alright to post. So. I'm 17 and will be starting college later this year. Since I was...9? 10? I was 100% sure I wanted to do something in the medical field. After a few years I pretty much settled on some type of nurse. That's all fine, until I got to 17 and realized maybe I don't want to be a nurse. Maybe I won't be able to deal with the stress. Maybe I won't enjoy it the way I thought I would. The main issue, though, is not having any free time.
Everything I've seen says nursing school is extremely demanding and you have to focus completely on it. I can't imagine being a nurse is any less demanding. I'm also a musician and absolutely don't want to have give up playing music because I have to focus on school. I can't let music be my only career path, it's too risky and unpredictable. I know nursing is a pretty stable and decent job, but...would I really have to give everything else up if I chose that? I've always thought I'd enjoy nursing and I love taking care of people, but again, I don't want to get stuck in a situation where it's all I'm able to do/focus on. The only other thing I've been considering is accounting, but that doesn't seem as stable.
What do you think? How was your experience? Did you have any free time for hobbies, or did you have to focus on school? How is your life balanced after you graduate and start work?

My personal opinion is that you do need to be prepared to put a lot of time and energy into getting accepted to and completing nursing school.

My personal opinion is that working as a nurse was less taxing to my time than school.

I may not know it all, but I went through an accelerated LVN program which took up a lot of time and was stressful!

Prereqs took a lot of time and caused a lot of stress/change also.

I worked an an LVN and work was stressful, sure. But mostly a good type of stress and the fact that I was paid a decent wage made me happy to go to work!

I'm in RN school, now and it's stressful and time consuming!

I believe that work will not be as brutal as school. At least I'll be "off" 2-4 days per week! School is very very time consuming!

calivianya, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

I had plenty of time while I was in nursing school to do other things. I didn't think it was significantly more difficult than my previous bachelor's, but there was more material to cover. I think the shock people associate with nursing school is more shock about taking junior and senior level courses in a major than just nursing school in particular. In general, upper level courses are hard. Among my nursing school classmates, I observed that the people who seemed to struggle and complain about not having time the most were the people who did not have previous degrees, so had not been previously exposed to the amount of work that high level college courses require.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

I got married, had a baby, worked part time, sang with my church's worship band, played piano for fun, went on dates with my husband, and met my sister for lunch -- all while in nursing school. It is demanding, but not all-consuming. In fact, I believe that taking time for your own hobbies and loved ones makes school LESS stressful.

Nursing can be stressful, but at the end of your shift you're done. You don't have to spend all day at the hospital while your instructor quizzes you, come home and study for tomorrow's pharmacology exam.

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

In school, I worked three PRN jobs, played video games competitively ($$), kept up a long-distance relationship half way across the country and still had time to sleep, eat, bathe and graduate with a respectable GPA. I've noticed that my friends who went to a traditional/direct entry 4-year BSN program had similar experiences, whereas friends who did the 2 year pre-nursing/2 year nursing program deal were pretty miserable.

My life as an RN is extremely flexible. I'm going on a 10 day tropical vacation next month, and working a ton of overtime this week.

Alicee · Feb 22, 2016

Thanks for all of your replies so far. I definitely have more to think about now. I was considering just going for a 2 year degree at first to see how I feel, but based on Luckyyou's response, I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. My main concern is having no time. If I'd have at least a decent amount (obviously not expecting to have tons of time to just do whatever), I think I could deal with the other things.

RunBabyRN · Feb 22, 2016

During my 2 year BSN program, life was pretty crazy, but I was also having to care for a needy husband and a small child. I did, however, manage to run two Tough Mudders, a marathon, and a few other shorter races during that time, which also means training during school.

Now working as a nurse, I don't feel I have any less time than I would with a different career, and I LOOOOOOOVE what I do. I've wanted to do it since I was 5.

Mini2544, ASN, RN · Feb 27, 2016

I am starting my nursing classes this summer which is a accelerated ASN program (4 semesters instead of the more standard 5) They told us at the beginning we would not be able to work so don't even try. haha However, I think still being involved with your music would be reasonable. Once you start the classes, I think you would just find a balance that works for you. If all these people are married, and have kids and make it through..You will be fine. :)

Sarah

CaseyKRN · Feb 27, 2016

Alicee, being in the medical profession will be stressful no matter what so please don't let that keep you from nursing. Nursing has been the most rewarding thing I have done in my life. I have met and served thousands of people which have enriched my life. I have learned invaluable lessons of life being a nurse. I have brought patients into the world at birth and held their hand and prayed with them as their body passed away. I have laughed and cried with families and coworkers. Nursing, TRULY is the most rewarding profession a lady can have!! Yes, nursing is hard work, but I can't imagine any other way to live! You have the same amount of time, 24 hours a day, as everyone else on this earth does. Use your time wisely and pursue your dreams!