Prepared byMargaret Polly Claborn, RN, MSN, PNPFall 2009

Nursing School SuccessIs About Jumping Hoops! Hoop 1 Your personal desire to be a professional nurse Hoop 2 You like to interact with people Hoop 3 You determine where to go to school Hoop 4 You are accepted to a nursing program! Hoop 5 You successfully meet course outcomes each quarter Hoop 6 You meet all program requirements & graduate Hoop 7 You prepare, take, and pass the NCLEX-RN Hoop 8 You obtain licensure from CBN Hoop 9 You find employmentYou must complete the hoop jumps in order, no skipping around!

Are You Ready ToChange Your Life?Immediate Goals to meet 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month from today reading homework, study for tests, write care plans, attend laboratories and clinicals, prepare for clinicals, time for your family, time for work, and dont forget time for YOU!

Every decision you make will affect your future and the future of your loved ones.

Are You Ready ToChange Your Life?Short Term Goals to meet 1 month to 3 years from today Successful completion of each quarter, looking ahead by transferring knowledge from one quarter to the next quarterNursing school must be your life priority to achieve your goals. You will need all the support you can get from your family and friends so prepare them!

Are You Ready ToChange Your Life?Long Term Goals to meet 5 to 10 years from today Ongoing development of your proficient nursing practice role to expert nursing practice role

You are here because you made difficult decisions to do the right thing to get here. Let your family and friends who supported you be a part of your success!

How Do You Swallow An Elephant?

One bite at a time

Think what do I need to do today, tomorrow, next week, next month, by the end of the quarter.Develop a formal calendar plan and follow itDont overextend yourself with commitments, nursing school continues whether you are ready or not.

What You Need To Master ImmediatelyEvery class syllabusYou will need a time plan to manage multiple courses, this will be different from prior educational experiences.Every class textbook and referencesHow will these assist you to meet your class objectivesEvery resource offered by the school and your communityControlling your anxietyChange provokes anxiety

Essential Time ManagementHow to plan time for nursing school: 1 credit hour of didactic = 1 clock hour 1 credit hour of lab = 2 clock hours 1 credit hour of clinical = 3 clock hours

Pathophysiology didactic = 5 creditsHealth Assessment didactic = 3 creditsHealth Assessment lab = 1 creditPharmacology didactic = 5 creditsPharmacology lab = 1 creditTopics didactic = 2 credits

Essential Time ManagementDid your time add up to 19 clock hours per week for being at school?

You will need more practice time with your Health Assessment and Pharmacology laboratories add another 2-4 hours to be here at school.

You now have 21-23 hours per week to be at school, a part-time job.

Your not done yet!

Essential Time ManagementHow much study time will you need to achieve meaningful learning?

Evidence-based rule of thumb formost college courses is 2 hours ofstudy for every credit hour (2:1). Nursing school is closer to 3:1.

You are enrolled in 15 didactic credithours, what is the minimum number of study hours needed?

Essential Time ManagementDid you calculate 30 hours as the minimum recommended?

For difficult topics you may need to plan for 45 hours.

Going to nursing school is a full-time job in itself. This is why no nursing program ever recommends a student try to manage a full time job, school, and family.

Essential Time Management

Your Calendar, YOUR NEW & BEST BFF!