Balancing Studying With A Full Time Job | 5 Helpful Tips For Nursing Students
![](https://www.sumnercollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/newsimg_0_773932947.jpg)
Between rising educational costs and high costs of living, it’s almost impossible to go to school without working at the same time. Whether you’re working as an RN while you get your Master’s degree, or you’re an undergrad student getting your bachelor’s while working a fast food or retail job, it can be challenging to balance a full-time or even part-time work schedule with the need to study for your classes. These 5 tips can help you study on the job, retaining information effectively without compromising the quality of your work.
Plan Your Time in Advance
This can be difficult if your work schedule is uncertain and inconsistent. If you’re paying your rent with retail or food service while getting your bachelor’s, what can you do when you get called in at the last minute to cover a shift? Not much. But overall, if you can plan and schedule your available time in advance, it’s much easier to balance your schoolwork with your job.
To do this, you can divide your days into “blocks.” They don’t have to be in the same sizes, but each “block” can be used for a different purpose. For example, if you know for a fact that you’re working your part-time job from 8 to 6 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, you may still have a 6 AM to 8 AM block available, or a 6 PM to 9 PM block, depending on your circadian rhythms and personal preferences. This can create a two- or three-hour block you can use to study.
When you’re working and going to school at the same time, you don’t have a lot of truly free time. But ideally, this is a temporary sacrifice you’re making for a couple of years so that in the future, you can enjoy higher earnings with a more stable, consistent, and forgiving schedule.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
When I was in high school, my Algebra II teacher had a mantra: “Work smarter, not harder.” What he meant by this was that finding faster, more effective ways to get things done was more important than simply “working harder,” or putting more raw effort into it.
Here’s an example. Carefully planning your time over a month-long period to make sure you’ve studied effectively for a midterm exam is “working smarter.” Cramming at the last minute is “working harder.” One of these things is more effective than the other, and I’m sure you know which one we’re talking about here
Consider Creating a Study Group
While being in a group can sometimes get distracting, many students benefit from studying together with other students from their class. Setting up a study group is a great way to make sure that certain blocks of time are scheduled for studying, and working together can help you and the other members of your study group collaborate to master difficult course material. If you’re having trouble understanding a particular concept, someone else in your group may be able to explain it to you better than the lectures or textbook.
Make Sure You Complete Assignments On Time
Missing homework assignments is a great way to damage your grade accidentally, even if you understand the material well and you do well in exams and long-term assignments. Consult your professor’s rubric ahead of time, and make sure homework is completed in a timely manner. In many cases, it may simply be a completion grade, but it needs to get done.
Set Realistic Goals For Yourself
You’re only human, and you can’t always be a superhero. Sometimes you have to make choices about what you want to prioritize. There’s no shame in dropping a class because you just can’t balance it with your other courses and your job. However, these are decisions that need to be made sooner rather than later. At most universities, you can drop a course within a certain time frame without being penalized for it, but you need to make your final decision on time.
Working and Studying is Hard, But Possible
Setting realistic goals is one of the most important parts of successfully balancing university coursework with a full-time or part-time job. By scheduling your time effectively, collaborating with other students, and knowing your own limits, you can slog through a few years of this before earning your degree and enjoying the rewards that it brings.
Tips and content from an article shared from Scrubs Magazine.
Learn more:
BSN Info Sessions – July
In preparation for the September classes, please plan to attend either of these informative hour long presentations to learn more about the program, the requirements…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Meet The RN Advocating For Disabled Candidates
Applying for a new job can be overwhelming and stressful. For candidates with disabilities, the hiring process can be a disheartening experience. According to the CDC,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
NCLEX Study Strategies
Expert Test-Taking Strategies One of the first things you should do when you begin preparing for the NCLEX is to determine your learning style to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College: an excellent choice for those wishing to pursue a career in the health care field
In a message from our College President, Joanna S. Russell, she touches on how one of the strengths Sumner has is student engagement; focussing on…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing Specialty Quiz
Unsure of what nursing specialty suits you best? Take this quiz to see what options align with you best! Content shared from J&J Nursing …
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Happy 4th of July! Office is closed
Sumner college is celebrating our nation's independence! Our offices will be closed Thursday 7/4 and Friday 7/5.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
BSN Info Sessions – Register for July
We've opened up a few more seats to the BSN Info Sessions in July. In preparation for the September classes, please plan to attend this…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing School Study Tips
Our Career Services Department has a number of great resources for students, including study tips for nursing school. Visit Career Services Study Tips …
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
The Pulse | Summer 2024
Sumner College Newsletter | Summer 2024…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Dream It! Do It! @SumnerCollege
Are you dreaming of becoming a Registered Nurse, but worried about the hurdles of prerequisite courses? Look no further! Sumner College offers a unique and…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Is nursing your passion?
If you've always dreamed of making a difference in people's lives through compassionate care, then it's time to take the next step! Enrollment is now…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Welcome New Students – June Classes Start Today!
Today is the day that our new BSN, LPN and RN to BSN June 10th students embark on their nursing career. They've dreamed about it…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Bachelor of Science Nursing | Start June 10th
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Program at Sumner College is the only program in Oregon and Washington State that does not require students…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Practical Nursing | June 10th Classes Start
The Practical Nursing Program at Sumner College can fast-track you to a new career as an LPN in just 13 months. If you are compassionate…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Remember & Honor
On Memorial Day, we take a moment to remember and honor all who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RNs Advance your Nursing Career
If advancing your nursing education is part of your plans, you cannot miss this opportunity to meet Lois Hine, Sumner College RN to BSN Program…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
June BSN Info Sessions Now Open
…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
How Much Do Oregon’s Registered Nurses Earn? 2023 Oregon Wage Study
According to the survey results, RNs in Oregon earn an average hourly wage of $55.14, equating to an annual salary of $114,694. The Oregon Center…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Caregivers & Trailblazers: Four Nurse Innovators Redefining Healthcare
Johnson & Johnson has proudly championed the nursing profession for over 125 years because we know that for healthcare to work, it takes nurses. This National…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RN Self-Care RX
Graphic provided by OCN | Oregon Center for Nursing…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Best Gift Ideas for Nurses
Whether it be a friend, family member, or acquaintance, you probably know a nurse or someone who works in healthcare. You could look at gifts…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Best Nursing Shoes for Men and Women
As a nurse, finding the perfect pair of shoes is crucial for long shifts filled with constant movement. But with so many options available, it…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
National Nurse Week
National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6-12 ending on Florence Nightingale's birthday. The American Nurses Association (ANA) first recognized the week in 1990, and in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Psychiatric Nursing
While physical health is undoubtedly important, so is Mental Health. Millions of Americans are affected by mental illness each year. Psychiatric Nurses have the specialized…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
New BSN Info Sessions – Register
The on-campus Information Session aims to offer valuable insights to individuals considering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Reserve a Spot…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RNs ready to pursue more?
Are you a Registered Nurse wondering what the next step is in your career? Considered your BSN? Sumner College's RN to BSN program can get…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nurses Influence the Health and Wellbeing of Patients Every Day
As individuals, nurses directly influence the health and wellbeing of patients every day. Through frequent contact, nurses are best placed to encourage lifestyle changes in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Changes in Nursing
Changes in nursing involve a major shift in higher education standards, requiring more nurses to hold a 4-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). The…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Trades make a comeback with Gen Z Workers
America’s skilled trades — from nursing and plumbing to welding to construction — need more workers as boomers retire. Gen Z-ers are stepping up to fill…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Congratulations, Sumner College Graduates: Embracing New Beginnings
Congratulations to the new Sumner College nursing graduates. As the tassels are flipped and mortarboards soar into the sky, a chapter closes, and another begins.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn