Is it really as bad as they say?

U.S.A. Delaware

Published

I have become just a little discouraged with the nursing school, everywhere I read people say how hard it is and how demanding, my question is I work full time can I do it? Is it really as bad as people make it out to be, any relpies would be great.

The only thing demanding about nursing school is that it is taught by nurses and they don't have any idea how to teach. The lectures are baffling and the test questions are stupid. Usually there is one instructor who knows what she/he is doing and you have that to lean on. If you have an average IQ,there is nothing to it. Nursing is not an intellectually demanding subject. Read your text books and try to find a competent nurse to guide and explain.

Everybody stay calm -- I am not saying there are no areas of nursing that are intellectually challenging and I'm not saying that nursing itself is easy.

I really appreciate your response and it gave me something to hold onto especially now that I found out I am pregnant, go figure I register for school to better myself and what happens....................a man!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for the time you took out to help me out.:)

Specializes in Critical Care, ER.

First of all, do you have kids? If yes, then I think it would be pretty difficult, epsecially if you don't have good family support to help you with childcare. If not, I personally think it's very, very do-able, especially if you take it easy on yourself and maybe space the non clinical theory crap out (i.e. take an extra semester and fewer classes so as to lighten the workload). Remember everyone is different, has different strengths and weaknesses, different tolerance for stress, etc. Please don't give up based on the second hand experience of others. :)

Specializes in Critical Care, ER.

Ooooops. I just saw the message about the pregnancy. Well, that complicates things for sure. I mean I'm sure you could do it if you had someone to take care of the baby while you were at work/school, but you may later regret not having spent much time with the baby.

I have 2 girls ages 9 and 4 and my husband and everyone else is very supportive I actually work 3rd shift so childcare is not a problem, I appreciate your input and will take all of what you are saying into consideration, I am going to try my hardest to achieve this and just like you said "everyone's different". Thanks so much for your advice.

Don't worry.........I have been in school since Aug 2002. I just got accepted into clinicals in Jan 05. I have 3 kids ages 5,3,1, and I lost a baby at 5 months into the pregnancy in Jan 04, and now I just found out also I'm pregnant again and have to injection Fragmin (anticoagulant) eveyday. So trust me when I say if your heart is into it you will succeed!!! No matter what comes your way stay your course and look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Good luck,

Catherine

I really appreciate your response and it gave me something to hold onto especially now that I found out I am pregnant, go figure I register for school to better myself and what happens....................a man!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for the time you took out to help me out.:)
Specializes in Critical Care, ER.
I have 2 girls ages 9 and 4 and my husband and everyone else is very supportive I actually work 3rd shift so childcare is not a problem, I appreciate your input and will take all of what you are saying into consideration, I am going to try my hardest to achieve this and just like you said "everyone's different". Thanks so much for your advice.

If you have a great support network then that will make it a whole lot easier. You know, something I found useful was the realization that I could skip lecture (often) and still do well. There are some very, how shall I say, disciplined types on this board who will blaspheme me for saying this... BUT I missed many, many, many lectures (Psych and Peds never saw me) and still graduated with honors (top 20% of my class) and a BSN from a top 10 nationally ranked school (UMD). I realized early on that if I started thinking out of the box and asked the professor what was important, I usually managed to escape the long hours of studying textbooks suffered by my fellow students.

I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors (not the least of which being a parent of multiple kids- my 2 1/2 yr old son is just about all I can handle).

Lexi

Thank you so much this has really helped me because I wanted to pull out to honest but I will keep on, and whenever I need to be inspired I will read these responses to my chaotic mess. Thanks!

If you have a great support network then that will make it a whole lot easier. You know, something I found useful was the realization that I could skip lecture (often) and still do well. There are some very, how shall I say, disciplined types on this board who will blaspheme me for saying this... BUT I missed many, many, many lectures (Psych and Peds never saw me) and still graduated with honors (top 20% of my class) and a BSN from a top 10 nationally ranked school (UMD). I realized early on that if I started thinking out of the box and asked the professor what was important, I usually managed to escape the long hours of studying textbooks suffered by my fellow students.

I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors (not the least of which being a parent of multiple kids- my 2 1/2 yr old son is just about all I can handle).

Lexi

You know I am glad that you have shared your experience with me and that and the others have made me realize the true meaning of "you can do whatever you put your mind to". You should be really proud of yourself and should I pull this off I will be patting myself on the back for a long time and all thanks to you. Many blessings and good luck in all your endevours. Thanks sooooo much.

Don't worry.........I have been in school since Aug 2002. I just got accepted into clinicals in Jan 05. I have 3 kids ages 5,3,1, and I lost a baby at 5 months into the pregnancy in Jan 04, and now I just found out also I'm pregnant again and have to injection Fragmin (anticoagulant) eveyday. So trust me when I say if your heart is into it you will succeed!!! No matter what comes your way stay your course and look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Good luck,

Catherine

I'm a nursing instructor so I have a different outlook. Yes, you will need a support system, family, etc....Are you going to an ADN or BSN program? Our program is an ADN and very intense. We have an absentee policy so our students have to attend. In fact, if they didn't I'm not sure how they would make it. You need to set aside time to read and do homework assignments. I used to put my 1 yr old daughter in my lap and read my book aloud to her like it was one of her books. :) You may want to talk to your nursing instructors and see what answers they give you. Anyway, I hope all goes well and look forward to having another nurse....

After re-reading your posts, are you going to work full-time and go to school? Just want to clarify.

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