Will my social life really be over?

londonflo · Sep 17, 2022

With the two courses your enrolled it, textbooks are the way to go to learn essential knowledge (but I gotta ask are you going part time?) When (if) you go fulltime, It will be world of change to you!

And frankly, a textbook reading assignment combined with lecture will not be enough to learn the complex education in 3 hours of studying!. Prepare your self NOW for what is coming again....You are in the wading pool now but will soon be thrown into the deep end.

3 hours ago, Kennakenna said:

All I hear all day and every day that you will have no social life.

You won't.

3 hours ago, Kennakenna said:

Also my program doesn’t believe in busy work so no homework and no papers.

Synthesizing a concept into a paper is not busywork. You will have major deficits if you want to go onto an advanced Program. As with your Fundamentals and Pharmacology, you may not be actually to synthesize a paper. This are well established courses you have to learn.... Is your English Course helping you (I forgot you don't have one).

Homework is NOT BUSY work. You need to reframe this into your mind, Homework helps you take a nursing clinical concept. experience or organizational practice into something you would like to have implemented.

3 hours ago, Kennakenna said:

I have made an 80 and 94 on 2 exams

As a professor in a nursing program, my first fundamentals and pharmacology (2 separate tests) were relatively easy...Yep, most scored at least a 90). I wanted to provide them with a successful experience. (and those who got less than 90% I strongly suggested to meet with me and go to our Study Skills Professionals. .... (see blow for our Student Success plans) My husband who is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) got over 90 points.

But I afterwards I had to ramp up the testing situation to reflect the difficulty of the content and ensure eventual safe practitioners. We required students who failed the test to meet with us, write a plan how they would improve and what their goals were. These were kept on file. While some students thought this remediation plan was a joke....those that had parents who thought their special student was being picked on, etc soon realized that their 'special' student actually knew all along they were failing but went home to say 'the teacher hates me'.

Don't rest on your laurels for some 2 tests. You have gotta lot of studying to do.

Kennakenna · Sep 17, 2022

@londonflo Wow. That was not up lifting at all. In my program the first 2 tests were actually the hardest and the average was around 78%. I made an 94. I guess the term “busywork” does offended some people but even my profs say that they don't have busy work. In the idea that I need to study more a day. How many hours would you suggest?

londonflo · Sep 17, 2022

5 hours ago, Kennakenna said:

I have made an 80 and 94 on 2 exams

1 hour ago, Kennakenna said:

I made an 94.

I didn't want to make you feel bad but want to give a real taste of reality. If nursing school was so easy, why would the admission standards be so stringent. I want to congratulate you for where you are today....

1 hour ago, Kennakenna said:

In my program the first 2 tests were actually the hardest and the average was around 78%.

These are probably knowledge/comprehension...are they telling what you want to hear ? And your are answering what they want you to say or choose. In our first year, our questions were knowledge questions and choosing that answer.

Let's look at something you may see another test in advanced course...........Baby was just just delivered has a low blood sugar and their temperature is below normal.....Which you address first? Only ONE answer!

Kennakenna · Sep 17, 2022

@londonflo can see where you are coming from. I guess it just that 2hrs a day would equal my course hour x2. So Im having a hard grasp of understanding why it would need to be more. Will the content be harder? Absolutely. So yes it will be harder content to study but I don't see why that would make me have to increase my study time. Also our program already has us doing NCLEX style questions. They arent going to be as hard as med surg 1, but they are definitely critical thinking questions. For the baby with low blood sugar and fever. I guess id say blood sugar since glucose is important for brain development. But that is based on my very little knowledge of it.

londonflo · Sep 17, 2022

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When lactic acid is used instead of oxygen the pH drops and the infant becomes acidotic. When the baby gets cold he uses up more glycogen to keep warm. Then he must utilize his glucose stores to keep warm, then the blood sugar drops and they become hypothermic along with hypoglycemic.

The usual 'rule of thumb' that has not changed for 50 years, is 6 hours for a 3 each hour class minimum when you actually reach some difficult content that is beyond what you learn as a CNA./ Medication administrator..

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As a medication technician (MT), A NON LICENSED PERSON, your job is to prepare and administer the correct dosage of medication to patients You may document all medication you give and perform various administrative tasks in the office.

You are responsible for for any adverse conditions in the patient subsequent to their medication administration. You are responsible for EARLY recognition of these adverse conditions.

you are just beginning - you are kinda like learning some introductory courses. When The courses, start building on previous courses. Each course is not distinct and the knowledge only relating to that course? What books have you bought from your book list. Definitely learn the Dosage and Calculations book, Grapple whole hardily with your Drug Handbook and your Drug Hardback book like Lillie or another test. Take a good look at a patho book like Carol North. Learn, learn, learn! do you really understand how good you have it?

On 9/17/2022 at 2:49 PM, Kennakenna said:

I guess it just that 2hrs a day would equal my course hour x2. So Im having a hard grasp of understanding why it would need to be more.

Did you just start your nursing classes in August?

beachbanana, RN · Sep 19, 2022

It sounds like you have a pretty good start so far, good job and keep it going! Just keep an open mind when it comes to your schedule. It sounds like your classes are not that intense at the moment but that could change next semester. Personally, I switched jobs to in home care because it was less stressful and I could arrange my own schedule with more or less hours and applied for scholarships and loans as needed.

As for going out and social life, after my first semester I went out a lot less and kept in touch with more phone calls, coffee and gym time, keeping visits shorter on average. Some people seem to juggle a social life OK with school and some us need to keep our self a bit more focused. Either way, do not compromise your grades for working more hrs or trying to please your friends social wants.

Good luck with everything! You got this!

Kennakenna · Sep 19, 2022

@beachbanana Thank you for your response! Thankfully I do not have to work! Next semester is Med surg 1 and OB. Schedule is basically the same 2 lecture days and 1 clinical. Would you say that is a heavy course load? Or 2-3 hours a day would be good.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Sep 20, 2022

Two classes a semester is certainly not anywhere near a heavy course load, quite the opposite in fact. Unless you completed all your pre-reqs and gen ED requirements prior to starting the core nursing classes I can't imagine how this light of a schedule could continue. Regardless of how light or heavy your semester course load is a good general rule of thumb is to expect to devote 3-4 hours of work outside the classroom for every hour spent in it. I also can't imagine any nursing degree path where one clinical a week is the standard, there's no way no how that is going to allow completion of enough clinical hours required for sitting the NCLEX in any state

Kennakenna · Sep 20, 2022

@kbrn2002 Hello! Thank you for your response. I have taken all my pre reqs. So I only have to take. Fundamentals,Pharm,OB,Peds, Mental health, Med surg 1-3, and Professional Practice In nursing. (For the entire program)
The clinical hours are 12 hr shifts so 135hrs per semester which is 540hrs for the entire program. 7 hours in total for class time. So 3hrs would be correct for studying?

DaniannaRN, ASN, BSN · Sep 21, 2022

When I was in nursing school about 20 years ago, they told us the same thing about not having a social life. But I found that statement to not be entirely true. Everyone is vastly different. Person A may need 10 hours to study/learn the lessons while person B may need 2 hours for the same thing. It depends on how you learn concepts, retain info, and manage your time.

Many of my classmates (including me) did work fulltime jobs during nursing school. I worked in a group home where I was able to study after the residents went to sleep. We were able to have a social life, mostly consisting of about 5 of us hanging out at a book store or someone's house, having fun, and studying at the same time. I also allotted some time during each week to hang out with my non-nursing/outside of school friends.

Personally, I think that it's healthy to take a bit of time each week for you. You don't want to get sidetracked from school work, but IMO it's better for your mental health to not always be in "nursing school mode". Budget a few hours each week (4 hrs for example) to do something you like that's not related to school-either hang out with some friends or do something by yourself. But just make sure you stick to it, treat it like a financial budget...you wouldn't spend more than you can afford, so don't spend more hours than you can afford. Nursing school is only temporary, and soon you will have much of your free time back.

TheFutureChoice · Sep 23, 2022

As long as you keep getting good grades, you can have a social life.

I just started a program and am a little behind because I work too much. Required to make an appointment with my advisor because I passed ( but barely) my first exam.

It's always easier in the beginning. No one expects you to know anything. Teachers are introducing themselves. Be " anti social" when the semester progresses to midterms and finals.

That being said, I think you will be fine. You make good grades and actually study. A Lot of nursing students work/ have families - too much commitment. Nursing school is really not that bad. so long as you have time.

apply to scholarships, volunteering or pick up extra skills through mentors/ programs. Learn to draw blood!

No leadership positions - only work during Summer.

I wish I could get the courage to say no to my job (s). I also live at home and would rather study, honestly....