What is the best way to balance Nursing School and time with family/friends???
Asked by MissUnderstood
I recently found out I got accepted into Nursing School. I am excited because they only let in 88 people per summer and fall terms(176 per yr).Now i'm very nervous and worried about doing well and handling the stresses of nursing school, a parttime workstudy job, and finding time to spend with my loved ones. I want to be a good nursing student but not let studying consume my life to the point where I isolate myself from usual activities like working out at the gym or going out with family and my fiance whom I love very much. Fortunately,my fiance and I are moving into an apartment to finish out our last 2 years of school,however, we'll also both be working part time and going to school full time.Also,my family lives an hour away and want me to see them every weekend.I know I'm fortunate to get this opportunity many didn't get.So how should I go about finding time to study and be a good nursing student, handle a part time job, and find the necessary &needed time I need with loved ones?? The program is at the University of Alabama (4-yr university). I guess I'm confused that if I study during most of the week, shouldn't it be ok depending on tests,etc. to enjoy the weekends for the most part with my family/myself??

Best Answer:
Nursing school, in my opinion, is not difficult to understand, which is good. But it is difficult from the volume of work standpoint. The classes will require a reasonable amount of studying, which you should be able to manage without difficulty. The clinicals, and preparing care plans, and being ready for clinicals, especially when you need to make new care plans when your first patient is discharged and you need to work with a replacement. You may be able to handle all of the different aspects of your life as you have in the past, or you may need to adjust some of the plans. You will need excellent organization, and very good study skills. It is best to set up study groups early, so you can share the amount of information to be processed. Beyond that, you will need support and understanding from family, significant others, and friends. You may not be able to give them as much time as you currently plan, especially as the semesters get close to the end. Consider asking your family to come to visit you for lunch every other weekend, rather than you making a 2 hour round trip drive, and several hours devoted to them. You may need to focus work hours on the weekends to allow time for clinicals during the week. You may need to alter your gym schedule to meet your needs also. This you will have to play by ear, and will depend on many factors. Some days your exercise may be sitting up in bed and running to class. I wish you luck, but you can do it. The hardest part is getting in the program. EDIT: I received my BSN and my MSN from Bama and the answer is no, your whole week will be full, and if you intend to work, then you will need some of the time on the weekends. I managed to get home once a month and I lived an hour north. Of course I was on athletic scholarship, so instead of working, I was working out.
RN, Ph.D, FNP
Answered by US_DR_JD

I get a desk calender...schedule everything from classes, clinical, tests....etc..the more organized you are the less chance you'll feel overwhelmed....but I gotta tell you the truth nursing school is hard and you won't have time for much else...you will study 10 hours a day...I attended a university...so I'm not sure how it differs from a tech school..but its hard.......YOU'LL DO GREAT...and congratulations...
Answered by asking

Nursing school is intense and you'll quickly find that out. However, you do need to balance out your life. Try setting aside one day every weekend where you'll set aside your studies and just go and have fun with your family. When I was in college, it was pretty notorious that the nursing students had no life (but we still were able to squeak out a good time). Same thing with my daughter. You'll study WAY more then students in alot of other majors-- and people in non nursing majors simply can't appreciate what you are going through. But just really apply yourself during the week and you'll be able to do it. There will be times, especially as you get further into the nursing program that you'll just have to (or at least really want to ) pass on social activities as you'll have so much to do, but that too will pass. Just get through one semester at a time and especially enjoy your time in between. You can do it.
Answered by Anne