worried about not having a life

dc1994 · Jun 6, 2014

I'm pre-nursing. I've gone two semesters full time, I'm in my third semester part time right now. I currently have a 3.5 GPA and I've managed to work 20-30 hours a week, hang out with friends, and have leisure time in the process. I will apply to my program in January.

Truth be told, it's all about time management, whether you're still in pre-reqs or nursing classes. The people telling you that you "can't have time to yourself" are grossly exaggerating, imo. Yes, it's a lot of hard work, but you HAVE to have time to yourself and time with your friends in order to keep going.

I would suggest making a schedule for yourself, or making conditions for when you do go out. For example, "I can't go out until I read this, work on this, etc." Not only does that give you motivation to work, but it allows you to still have time with your friends and family. You have to treat school like it's your job, but it doesn't mean that you can't go out and enjoy yourself every now and then.

AshleyWhite · Jun 6, 2014

Thank you, I really like your suggestions! I'm spending a lot of the summer making frozen dinners that I can just pop into the crock pot in the morning, that way I don't have to worry about the kids going without a healthy dinner, and I won't have to spend time making dinner a lot of the time. Hopefully it works!!

Unequaledbeauty_30 · Jun 7, 2014

Hi, well each individual's experiences is different and it will require time management as well as discipline.

I started my LPN program on May 5th.... exactly 31 days ago and it has been rigorous since day 1. I've had 12 exams (and 1 was a final exam) and a core project. In addition to studying for exams I am a single Mom of a child with special needs.

I am doing well in my program but outside of class, studying, & mommy duties i haven't had much time for anything else.

Just sharing my experience but yours may be different. Good luck.

Interpolfan89 · Jun 9, 2014

I graduate from my lpn program the end of this month. I totally had a life throughout school. Honestly, I think it boils down to what kind of grades you are ok getting. My whole year average is an 89.7 (frustrating, right?). I didn't kill myself studying for hours every night. I didn't read every chapter in the book. I worked per diem as a home health aide half of the year. If you want straight A's then maybe you won't have a life. I am ok with B's. I spent my weekends having fun with my family and boyfriend. I didn't have to sacrifice anything except the ability to have more income. Because I was in school all day, I could only work a few hours in the evening on weekdays. Don't let people scare you! You can do this!

Nicolanz · Jun 10, 2014

It depends on what you have going on in your life and your program. I go to school an hour away, have 2 kids ages 1 and 5, a husband who works from 5 pm to 5 am, and I don't get home from school until about 4-5:30 pm. So outside of that, I have no life. Your grades pre nursing are no indication of what you'll make in the program. I had a 4.0 before nursing and now struggle to keep B's. It's like the equivalent of taking 3-4 fast track anatomy classes plus all the documentation and care plans you do for clinical. But it is only a year long (for me) and it is flying by! It is so worth putting your life on hold (if you have to)!

shan409, ASN, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 10, 2014

Time management will be key. Study while picking up kids from school, download nursing apps to help study, study while you have down time at work, get creative. Best wishes future :nurse:s. We can do it!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2014

You can have a life during nursing school. Maybe not as much as an active social life but you can still see friends and do things.

Now, that being said...comparing non-nursing classes to nursing classes is like comparing apples to oranges. Nursing classes are a whole different animal. It is not as easy as just skimming the chapters, memorizing the important things and moving on.

I was an older LPN student (started when i was 38), I had a full time job, 2 kids and a husband and a house to run. I had a life. It all boils down to knowing your priorties and time management. Knowing what has to be done when, what takes priority and what can wait can mean having time to go to the movies with a friend or having a dinner date with your SO. But school came first. That paperwork for class came before going to see a movie..that motivated me to not procratsinate and do the darn paperwork ASAP. :)

lpn2B2016 · Jun 10, 2014

You can do it. Hang in there!

qaurius · Jun 10, 2014

I,m 40 getting ready to make that move very scared,,,,,been out school for a long time any suggestions,,,i will not give up,,,lpn is what it will be

AshleyWhite · Jun 15, 2014

Thank you everyone! I am bad at time management so I have been working on that! I think that the thing that scares me the most is suddenly being non-existent for my children. I'll go from being there to not being there very much. I know it will only last a year, that's what I keep telling myself.

teady012002 · Jun 25, 2014

I am more than half way done with my program and I would say that school and my kids came first, then friends. I have went to bday dinners and a movie here and there but mostly I study. I in no way hang out with my friends like I did before nursing school. But that's my experience. I just don't have the time and also thats not a priority to me. Sometimes studying all night only gets you a B. Tests are hard, teachers teach differently and test differently and for some people it takes them a while to figure out the best way to study. 3 classes for me were no joke: pharmacology, med surg and genitourinary. 2 students failed each class, (6 total) and are out of the program. I didn't want that to be me so during those classes I worked really hard =no life. It all depends on you and how well you grasp the info and take test. No matter what remember its only for 1 year and its all worth it in the end!