Resources
You may be thinking about where to go for advice on the inevitable changes in your life during the time you would be back in school. Colleagues and friends who have negotiated similar situations are good sources of insight and advice. In addition, there is a wide variety of information available online. The following list introduces some of the self-help resources that may be helpful to you.
Especially for Nurses
Allnurses.com claims to be: “. . . the largest and most active online nursing forum community where you can join 200,000+ nurses from around the world discussing all things related to nursing.” Those interested must register for a free account. Members do indeed discuss such “real world” issues as RNs with families seeking BSN and other nursing degrees in forums, including one on distance learning/independent study.
Managing your time
Mindtools.com offers well-organized links about time management subjects ranging from
Taking Control of Your Time and Bringing Your Workload under Control to Planning to Live Your life Your Way. In addition, you can subscribe to a free Mind Tools Newsletter delivered to your email address every two weeks.
You may also want to visit Localcareers.com for 13 Time Management Tips that are brief and to the point.
Dealing with Additional Stress
Effective stress management can also help you with time management and better performance. Holistic online addresses stress from a holistic health perspective with a series of online tips.
If you have Children
PBS Kids is primarily for kids but they do have a parents/teachers link that may be useful in preparing your children for a more structured access to family/individual time when you return to school. .
Considering Others
The ability to negotiate the details of what you need from others to return to school often goes hand in hand with assertively making yourself heard and understood. Understanding some facets of the art and skill of successful negotiation is essential for returning adult students who must seek out and maintain flexible arrangements with employers, co-workers, family, and friends.
A short practical piece from Career Education on “Tips to Successful Negotiation” recommends using targeted questions to find out the concerns and needs of others when negotiating, such as: “What are your concerns about what I am suggesting / asking?”
Mindtools.com offers a free PDF chart download called a “Win-Win Negotiation Preparation Sheet” that can be helpful when planning for almost all back-to-school negotiation situations that might occur with employers and family.
Texas Woman’s University has a short list of assertiveness tips especially relevant to students who need to clearly communicate their needs when asking for the support of others as they pursue a degree.
Returning to Coursework
When you take the all-important step of actually applying to the Carolina RN to BSN or another BSN program, you will need to prepare yourself for how you will study and learn the coursework material. The dynamics of learning may have changed for you since you last were a student, and there are resources that will help you adjust to your role as an adult learner. Following are some online options for more information.
The Norman Davies Group has developed The Adult Student Center focusing on specific issues facing adult learners who are considering formal coursework. They also have an online newsletter.
About.com has a section of their site devoted entirely on adult learning with links to other useful information for online students. Here you will find student success tips for adults, such as What is Your Learning Style? and Learning from Successful Adult Learners. A Student Motivation article provides a helpful overview for identifying and dealing with flagging initiative as coursework proceeds. This site also provides a Top 10 Adult Student Books list with a purchase option links.
The Association of Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE) is, according to its mission statement, “. . . an international partnership of students, academic professionals, institutions, and organizations whose mission is to encourage and coordinate support, education, and advocacy for the adult learner.” It also holds an annual national conference
You can find a good exercise in time management at Study Guides & Strategies that shows you how much time you spend on individual tasks adds up relative your total available time. This site also provides template links for completing a typical week schedule, setting and writing down priorities, and a flash exercise on managing by exception.
