alright everyone! i have been told by so many others that the second semester of all adn programs are the meat and potatoes of the program. (like this is the hardest semester) is this true? and if so why?? have many of you experienced the same? i am trying not to believe it but it just hasn't stayed off my mind! any good advice??? would love to hear!!! thanks!

I certainly believe it! I'm in my second term and we've gone from basic care at a long term facility last term to L & D, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Geriatrics and oral and parenteral meds all this term! If I survive this, I'm bound to make it. Good luck!

I am in my second semester of an ADN program too, good luck to you! It seems, according to the "seniors" (the class that will graduate this semester) that the 4th (fall) semester is the hardest in our program. That class lost 5 students after that semester. The courses you take are Advanced Pharmacology, Adult-Child Nursing II, Maternal-Newborn and any academic class that you still need to take, for a total of 14- 15 credit hour(depending on the academic class), 11 of which are nursing classes. So far this semester hasn't been that bad, I have only 2 nursing classes, Psychiatric Nursing and Adult Health Nursing, plus Chemistry 105. I am betting that for my program, the 4th semester will in fact be the hardest. Let me know what you are taking this semester. I am interested in how the different programs seem to have it all set up differently.

In my program the second clinical semester is definitely the most difficult. There is so much content and so many skills to learn. And you have to start putting things together in your mind. We started the semester with 72 people. 37 came back this semester. It was very tough. Not all of those failed...some of them got halfway through and realized that nursing was not for them.

3rd semester in my program is the hard one... 2nd semester was just OB and Surgery.. I didnt think those were that hard..

i have heard this semester [2nd semester] is the "hardest" of the five.

what is the reasoning behind why "they" say this one is the hardest at your school?

Hi all! I think my school is a little different from everyone elses. See, we don't have separate classes. Everything is clumped together-so our readings are like...Iggy, Potter and Perry, and Morris Calculations...there are plenty more books but we have different books each time we go to class and different readings each day from different books.... (get what I am saying?) We don't just have pharm. class then fundamentals class..they put the two together. Kinda makes it more confusing. Gee, I am getting confused just typing it :) I don't know why they say it's the hardest. Maybe because there is a major transistion from 1st semester to 2nd semester...like maybe within the test format?? I don't know but I will find out on Wednesday. It's our first Lab test.

Definitly more reading involved. Not sure will have to wait and see. It's going to be a little tougher this semester because of micro and A&P for me. Just wanted to wish all of us good luck!