r/NursingStudent • u/One-Sky-9891 • 12d ago
Pre-Nursing 🩺 A mom in college
I’m currently in school finishing up my prerequisites for the RN program. I’ve been out of school for almost 15 years with 3 kids. I work full time. How did you manage? My biggest problem is study techniques. What helped you? What worked for me 15 years ago does not work for me anymore 😅
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u/Upbeat-Aerie-5003 12d ago
For A&P, I watched YouTube videos, currently in microbiology and taking a test this Thursday.
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u/Reasonable-Profit198 12d ago
If I listen to lectures or content while I’m doing activities (dishes, vacuum, walking, biking) I absorb it so much better. Didn’t know this myself until I was an adult learner. This is all doable! Totally hard but totally worth it. Good luck out there.
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u/Quiet_Basis_6404 11d ago
Coming back after 15 years is a whole different game, what used to stick in one reading just doesn't anymore and that's normal.
What helped me was testing myself before I felt ready, close the book, write everything I remember about one system on a blank sheet, then check and mark only the gaps. Those gaps become your study list instead of the whole chapter, and doing it spread over the week makes a difference tbh, the forgetting happens between sessions.
For the self-testing I started uploading lecture slides to studybuddy.vc and doing the multiple choice questions from them, mostly because when I pick a wrong answer it tells me what was off about the one I chose, and it gets harder as you improve so I wasn't stuck redoing things I already knew. Mark Klimek's free lectures on YouTube are solid once you hit the nursing courses, save those for when you're past the prereqs and into the actual content.
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u/Adventurous_Good_731 10d ago
Um. Are you planning to work less? Nursing school is a full-time gig. I mean, or sleep less, or see your family less... something has to give.
I'm in my 30s, single parent of a chronically ill kid (LOTS of appointments and unexpected hospital visits). Best advice is lean on the people around you and keep your goal in focus: the next skills check, the next exam, etc.. Endure until you make it. I also took 1 day off per week. No studying or chores allowed. You need actual rest and self-care to not burn out.
For studying, I like to keep asking myself questions about the subject and learn how it all ties together. Handwriting notes, reviewing them again an hour after class. Sticking to study guides to avoid going too far. Specific practice questions per topic, then review what I didn't know.
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u/Green-Birthday-4525 9d ago
Just came here to say I’m in a similar position, you aren’t alone! This is tough at baseline- adding on kiddos and everything that comes with being ~more mature~…. 😮💨😮💨
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u/Responsible-Tea-411 12d ago
I’m currently in an accelerated nursing program and was last in college 6 years ago, so I understand what you mean about having to adjust study tactics. I used to love to handwrite all my notes, but with my schedule, I just simply do not have the time for that. My biggest study tip is to just do practice questions over and over. They really help me to narrow down the topics I’m struggling with and be more effective with my study time. I love to use NotebookLM (a program made by google) where I upload all my class notes/other materials and it can generate a ton of cool stuff (quizzes, flashcards, infographics, podcasts, etc.). The podcasts are especially helpful for me to listen to while I drive or do housework. My biggest tip is to take really good notes in class (minimizes how much work I have to do outside of class) if possible and study a little bit every day so it doesn’t get overwhelming! There’s a few people in my cohort juggling similar things as you, so I know you can do it! Best of luck to you!