Is Nursing as Stressful as Nursing School?

Register Today!
  1. This is a discussion on Is Nursing as Stressful as Nursing School? in General Nursing Discussion, part of General Nursing ... Okay, I have a question. I am a nursing student. School is very stressful and it doesn't seem like...

    Okay, I have a question. I am a nursing student. School is very stressful and it doesn't seem like it needs to be unless they are trying to teach us the stress of actual nursing practice. So, skilled nurses, please answer my question. Is nursing as stressful as nursing school?
    Read Online


    Print and share with friends and family.
    Compliments of allnurses.com.
    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=785417

    Joe V likes this.
  2. 84 Comments so far...

  3. Well, I am a critical care nurse and nursing for me is MORE stressful than nursing school. It's alot of pressure. In clinicals for nursing school, I wasn't the one ultimately responsible for that pt and I got to leave after 8 hrs. Now I'm there for 12 hrs and I am the one who has to answer for what has/hasn't been done.
    Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE my job!! I guess it's really just a different type of stress.
  4. More so at nursing school not responsible for pt. And hard to get out in time; trying to keep multiple pt.s healthy when to call or not. Are all decisions you make and host of others all night long
    anotherone likes this.
  5. It is more stressful.
    MJB2010, Libitina, roughmatch, and 1 other like this.
  6. Guide
    Nursing school is a breeze compared to the first year or so of being a new nurse.
    Hygiene Queen, MJB2010, bankssarn, and 17 others like this.
  7. Asst. Admin
    Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

    Nursing is stressful. You are dealing with people at their most vulnerable and frightened. I think the most stressful will be your first year after graduation as you begin to assimilate all the information you have learned during your education. Nursing is stressful because mistakes aren't allowed, mistakes are costly and can cost someone their life.

    The stress will get easier to handle but will not go away. You will become more confident and it won't seem so over whelming. Nursing isn't for the weak at heart and your nursing education is preparing you to become the most confident, competent provider you can be. Nursing school is hard because the profession is demanding and difficult......but in the long run, worth the journey.
    Ginger80, VickyRN, CallieNM, and 3 others like this.
  8. My calculation is that in nursing school I learned roughly 50% of what I needed to function competently as a nurse. The other 50% I learned in the first 2 years of practice. And so my answer is definitely yes. Take the always-striving-to-learn component, add the pressure (emotional, intellectual, mental and physical) of responsibility for X number of patients for 8-12 hours and well....you get the picture.
    VickyRN, itsmejuli, roughmatch, and 2 others like this.
  9. It is pretty darn stressful, but not the same stress as nursing school. There is more liability as a nurse and that alone is pretty weighty.
    acerbia and CallieNM like this.
  10. Nursing is about 1,000x more stressful than nursing school.
  11. Guide
    Just graduated in December.

    Being a real nurse is WAY WAY WAY more stressful than school. The downside of mistakes are so much more than a poor grade and embarassment.