Is Nursing School Like Joining A Sorority?

linzz · May 20, 2009

I would say it was like boot camp, however I found that the teachers, when they saw that you were serious about your work, were very supportive.

As for other students, I did not find it a bonding experience at all, very cut throat environment in which you had to really keep your back up. Not surprising given we are all wanting the same jobs.

sahm02 · May 20, 2009

Not even close. I saw this somewhere, but nursing school is boot camp for the mind. Hardest thing you will ever do and if you are in it purely for the money get out now. Nursing school is the most intensive, emotionally draining thing you will ever do. I cried pretty much thru my entire graduation because the sense of relief and accomplisment mixed together. So glad to be done!

ohmeowzer RN, RN · May 20, 2009

like being in the army !!

eriksoln, BSN, RN · May 21, 2009

I would say it was like boot camp, however I found that the teachers, when they saw that you were serious about your work, were very supportive.
As for other students, I did not find it a bonding experience at all, very cut throat environment in which you had to really keep your back up. Not surprising given we are all wanting the same jobs.

Under stress, people show their true colors. The majority of students in my class that fit the same mold had no idea how poorly they were coming off, but I guess its all they knew how to do.

Makes you wonder how they manage the stress of nursing, when the real pressure got applied.

Whispera, MSN, RN · May 21, 2009

Wow, I must have gone to nursing school on Mars! My experience in both my bachelor's and master's schooling was one where the other students were positively bonded and helpful to each other, and the instructors, though academically tough, were supportive in helping us graduate. It saddens me that other people haven't had this good experience.

Of course, that doesn't mean that nursing school isn't brain-crunchingly difficult!

StNeotser, ASN, RN · May 21, 2009

No not really in my experience. I had a group of three others that I studied with and socialized with. However, since leaving school every time I come across one of my classmates whether we were friends or not, there is a sort of bond there.

HippyGreenPeaceChick · May 21, 2009

I belonged to a sorority in University, not like nursing school at all.

Certainly not like the military, where was basic training. Its just studying and classes like anything else.

beachbutterfly · May 21, 2009

Hello everyone! I start my accelerated nursing program on Tuesday, so I have been spending a lot of time on these boards and for some reason I am comparing nursing school to pledging a sorority.
When i graduated with my BS i was in a sorority (probably one of the most fun times of my life!) and all i hear about is nurses eating their young and picking on the weak. I'm sure this doesn't happen all the time but I feel like it's going to be like the sorority all over again, just not fun! The older have the power over the younger, blah blah.
Does anyone else feel like it was like that? I may be WAY off base, my imagination is running wild!

No not at all,you will make some awsome friends however this will be a very busy and stressful time in your life.Majority of the people just dont have the time for parties and extracuriculum activitities and the party animals usually fail out of nursing schools.

Tait, MSN, RN · May 21, 2009

Nursing is like...nursing.

I have never experienced anything like it.

:)

Tait

RNperdiem, RN · May 21, 2009

I'm not in any contact with the people I went to nursing school with.

Sorority sisters tend to be younger women in four year schools who have more time to spend together on social activities.

The students I went to nursing school with were generally a little older and more diverse.

Most of us had at least a part time job and we didn't all live in the same geographic area. About a third of the class was married, and several had small children.

Many of us will never have as active a social life as we did in college with the sorority again for our busy adult lives. (at least until retirement)

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 21, 2009

For a while it was everything was with my nursing school buddies. That whole brotherhood/sisterhood thing but after nursing school I stopped talking to all of them except two and they are on the almost never talk to list. Why? Because I have a life. Not to be rude or anything but all they want to talk about is nursing! I want to have fun when I am away from work. I never go out with my coworkers because all they do is complain about is the floor. While the sisterhood was needed at some point during NS, right now its a like splinter in my foot. Annoying.

I also have antisocial tendencies, so that could be it too.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · May 21, 2009

Wow, I must have gone to nursing school on Mars! My experience in both my bachelor's and master's schooling was one where the other students were positively bonded and helpful to each other, and the instructors, though academically tough, were supportive in helping us graduate. It saddens me that other people haven't had this good experience.
Of course, that doesn't mean that nursing school isn't brain-crunchingly difficult!

Actually, I went to a RN 2 BSN program for one semester. I ended up having to leave because my employer at the time was VERY short handed and was resorting to telling people "school schedules are a personal problem, if we need you, you'll have to be here" mentality. I decided going into travel nursing was my best option at that point.

Anyway, during that one semester going for my BSN, I did notice a huge difference in the politics/social norms of the class.

Way less...............inferiority complex floating around. When I got my ADN, my class was FLOODED with it......absolutely infected with it. People would lie about their grades and strut around with this "roster of the hour" thing going on. It was..........sad and laughable at the same time.