Is Nursing School more difficult than working?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Greetings all,

A little more than half a year, and I'm done with nursing school. Nurses often tell me, "Don't worry, school is much much harder than working." Is this true? Please tell me your experiences. Nursing school is one of the most challenging things I've ever done.

Diahni

Specializes in ED.

you mean compared to real life in general or real life as a nurse??? I am a 30 something that has worked as an engineer. I have had a job with a lot of responsibility and stress. I also have 2 kids and lots of responsibility with that, so I wouldn't say going to nursing school is a picnic and not "real life". I find it hard to believe so many are staying in the profession if it is so horrible and so much more difficult than nursing school. I just have had such different opinions from nurses I know that maybe it is a regional thing that so many think working is so difficult. I can see where the first few years may be an extension of school but if I have to look forward to it being so difficult I guess it is kind of a bummer. And for the new students and grads visiting this site, these type of comments with no examples or explanation are kind of depressing!!! i still am holding out hope that I will love my job!

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I found work to be much more challenging and stressful than school, but I had not worked as a tech or anything.

You'll see why there is a nursing shortage when you start work, if you didn't know already- its hard.

But you are getting paid and learning real skills (unlike school learning), which is great. It can be really stressful but also exciting and interesting. You get to do cool stuff like start IV's, restrain confused patients, help people who really need it, get yelled at by psycho docs, etc. And no more careplans and nursing theory!

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

OH MY GOSH!!! I have been out of nursing school for over 8 years and CANNOT imagine going back to the stress. I love being a nurse. I love the autonomy and the hussle/bussle of the units. There are so many options open to you once you have the title "RN" or "LPN." YES, YES, YES working is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much easier than school.

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Specializes in ER.

I think the important thing to remember is that this is all RELATIVE. School was not all that HARD for me.

Also, it's important to understand that just because people say the job is HARD, that doesn't mean they are not happy with it. Hard does NOT equal unhappy. I am very happy with my career choice, love (most:wink2:) of the patients, and my co-workers. But working in the ED is just plain hard work....I run my tail off for 12 hours, and have many challenges. But it's COOL:D

Don't be discouraged because people say its hard.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

No. It is not easier to work as a nurse...but it can be more rewarding.

The key to enjoying your job is to leave it at the door when leaving it and to have a rich personal life too!

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