So you’re in a front-loaded program, and you THOUGHT that all of your class work was *over* the second you hit clinical… think again As daunting as the title of this post sounds… The good news? It’s doable. The better news? I’ve already made the mistakes, so you don’t have to.
Here is how my program is set up during clinical:
2 online classes
1. One class is dedicated to APEX workbooks and APEX Password Protected Exams (PPE)s. These are spread out across clinical quarters/semesters so they’re not all due in one quarter! If your program has APEX workbooks due at any point in the program, I *highly* recommend integrating them day 1 into your studies!! They are daunting to say the least, and you’ll save yourself soooo many headaches by just incorporating them early on so they’re done well before they’re due (just ask my classmates who waited until the last second)
2. A second class dedicated to Doctoral level concepts (ex: Evidence Based Practice, Healthcare Policy and Advocacy, and our Capstone DNP project to name a few). This class usually consists of 1 Discussion Board a week with at least 2 replies to classmates, and either a paper, PowerPoint, or some other presentation thrown into the mix as well.
Anddd don’t forget about your daily/weekly careplans, preceptor evals, and clinical case logs!
Sound like a lot? Follow these simple steps to stay on top of your school work so you can really immerse yourself in the clinical experience!
1. FIRST Sunday of the Quarter/Semester = Prep Day
Don’t let Sunday just be about iced coffee and doom scrolling. This is the day you:
- — Download all your docs. Yes, all of them.
- — Print/screenshot/save syllabi.
- — Map out due dates for projects, discussion boards, exams.
- — Knock out that first discussion board post before Monday even knows what hit it.Future you will thank you.
2. Front-Load Like Crazy
The first couple weekends are gold. Use them to crush assignments, papers, or discussion responses in advance. I usually try to get alllll of my Discussion Boards done in the first 2-3 weeks. Then, start working on those bigger ticket assignments (papers, PWPTs, etc). Coffee shops are your best friend. Think of it as building a buffer so that when real life (SEE prep, family time, or just needing to stare at a wall for 3 hours) happens, you’re not behind.
3. Don’t Force the Post-Clinical Grind
Clinical is exhausting. Your brain is fried. Forcing yourself to study after a 10-hour day in the OR is like trying to do calculus after running a marathon. If you need sleep, sleep. Write down “review this later” notes in a notepad and revisit them when your neurons are actually firing.
4. Case Logs & Care Plans = Stay Ahead
Keep up with logging. Seriously. Do it throughout the day if your site allows it. And for care plans? If you can’t peek at patients the night before, do one on your very first patient of the day, you’re already knee-deep in their PMH and labs. Then fill in the rest as time allows.
5. Protect Your Sanity with Fun
Put events on the calendar that make you excited! Local concerts, hiking, or even a quick trip home on the weekends. Having something to look forward to keeps you from feeling like your entire life is school, OR, sleep, repeat.
6. Streamline & Give Yourself Grace
Find ways to automate and simplify your life (meal prep, preset alarms, a clinical bag that lives by the door). And above all: GIVE. YOURSELF. GRACE. You’re not lazy if you need a nap, you’re human. This season is tough but temporary.
Final Word
Balancing online classes with 50 hours in the OR isn’t about perfection, it’s about strategy. Prep early, get ahead, protect your time, and don’t forget to live outside of school.
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