Hardest class in nursing school

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What was THE hardest class you've ever taken in nursing school. Some people tell me "med surge", some say "pathophysiology was the hardest", some say "OB", some say "pediatrics"...

Is there one that tries and weeds out students the most?

What was your hardest nursing class you've EVER taken. Is there one that reminds you of that everyday?

Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

For most people in my program, it was one called "acute care." It was ICU and ED nursing. The other two were probably pharm and chronic.

Specializes in ED, psych.

I don't think any one nursing class "weeds" out students at all -- those classes are typically the prerequisites imho that "weed" one out.

I think the first class was a challenge only because of the culture shock of it all. However, as for other classes, it seems to be student-specific. Maternity-newborn bored me to tears, and was also shorter, so this was a tougher class *for me.* Some classmates thought Peds was tougher because they didn't like working with children; I loved it. I loved my med-surgical classes/rotation, but the class the year before loathed it because of the professor (who resigned before I got there). So, you'll hear "some say ..." a ton.

Atomic, your posts appear almost to try to psych yourself out of nursing?

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

None of the nursing courses were particularly difficult, in my estimation.

On the other hand, I found some of the science prerequisite courses (A&P and microbiology) to be far more difficult than the nursing classes.

I'm in my 3rd semester and so far Pharm has been the hardest class. I cried almost every day and just prayed I would pass! (I did)

TheCommuter said:
None of the nursing courses were particularly difficult, in my estimation.

On the other hand, I found some of the science prerequisite courses (A&P and microbiology) to be far more difficult than the nursing classes.

I hope to be that student :D

pixierose said:
Some classmates thought Peds was tougher because they didn't like working with children; Atomic, your posts appear almost to try to psych yourself out of nursing?

I took CNA school last semester(separate school from the school I'm doing prereqs) and the instructor who came by to teach us and license us to be CPR certified said that most people are very afraid of handling children and seniors because they're afraid they'll break their lower rib cage. She actually kinda broke the ice of fear when she said that the bones are pretty tough so don't be afraid but don't handle a child like you do an adult. You have to do the 2 finger method thing I think.

pixierose said:

Atomic, your posts appear almost to try to psych yourself out of nursing?

I kinda am that way. I don't do it on purpose for attention. I just want to really do it and I've heard it's hard to get into, hard to stay in, and hard to keep a job. I really want to get in and maybe I will I don't know. The school I want to apply in, the people that graduate or fail from there, they don't tell you anything.

So, you're familiar with some of my posts? Did you see the one about the time I failed to understand why a girl who was in the school I wanted to get in wouldn't talk to me for any reason even after she graduated? She wasn't a nice girl like "Hey, I'm down for just being friends" or "I'll share my nursing experience with you, but I don't want to date because...". I got no excuse for any reason about anything. She's very selfish. I've moved on already:sarcastic:. She is an example of the people who graduate from that program that don't tell you anything. So, I have no one to ask questions. That's the idea of winning a war: Knowing is half the battle.

I'm not saying help me with tests because that's lazy and not fair to those who worked hard for it. But things like how many instructors are in each class you take throughout the program(are some easy and some hard), what are ways you could learn materials that might be too much information or because it's an intense accelerated program how you can prioritize what is the most hardest class to study, what is a good way to organize your time, how many hours do you spend in class, how can I be successful in nursing school, are there teachers you could recommend me that maybe offer tutoring on the side, etc. etc. etc. These and many more questions I'd have would have been at her disposal but she took the easy way out in life and chose not to tell me anything.

You can be a decent person and if it's not what you want, at least be nice enough and say,"Hey, I'm sorry, I'm not interested BUT I'll do you a favor! I'll answer any question you want about nursing school. If you really want it that bad, I'm willing to help someone who wants to help themselves." She couldn't even say something like that. I should start my own tutoring program for nursing students or biology students. Selfish people piss me off if I get into a nursing school and graduate. I'll be like the Crash Course on youtube with the guy with glasses, Hank.

nicktexas said:
For most people in my program, it was one called "acute care." It was ICU and ED nursing. The other two were probably pharm and chronic.

What about for you personally? What's ED nursing? Emergency dept? What's chronic? Pharm sounds like pharmacology. I don't know what that is other than you learn about dosage calculations.

TheCommuter said:
None of the nursing courses were particularly difficult, in my estimation.

On the other hand, I found some of the science prerequisite courses (A&P and microbiology) to be far more difficult than the nursing classes.

You're the 2nd nurse I've ever heard that from, out of the maybe few hundred or so that I've encountered and talked with.

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Pharmacology was hardest for me because of the sheer amount of very detailed memorization.

Here.I.Stand said:
Pharmacology was hardest for me because of the sheer amount of very detailed memorization.

Wow! My VA PCP's son, who graduated from the school I'm trying to get into, said pediatrics was hardest for him.

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