Is being a nursing student actually fun?

Nursing Students General Students

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School in the fall for meeeeee XD !!!! I'm so excited although I am a little nervous about enjoying myself. Will we still have fun as nursing student, or is life as we know it over for the next 4 years?

Specializes in Radiation Oncology.
If you have a sense of humor and can laugh at things, then yes. I noticed a lot of people turned more and more sour as things went on. I'm more of a type B so laid-back. You can't get all worked up over things, especially nursing instructors. They will not change so don't even try with them (unless they are being absolutely ridiculous).

I can't agree with this more! I graduate in December and I am a pretty laid back person also and I witnessed many classmates stressing over so many things that were out of their control. And by stress, I mean write letters to the Dean petitioning test questions to be changed, skills checkoffs to be altered, clinical sites to be changed, and more nonsense.

I've been blessed to work in the medical field and be around nurses for years. I also have friends who went through the same program as me and graduated so they gave me plenty of insight and tips. I enjoy nursing school. It is fun learning new skills and actively helping patients. I love the friends I have made. Seriously, no other friends you have can understand what you are going through more than nurses and nursing students.

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Fun? No. Interesting, challenging, and ultimately worthwhile? Sometimes. Infuriating, disappointing, and gut wrenching -- occasionally. There were times when we were all cracking up laughing, and times when we were looking anywhere but at the person we knew had just failed the class. It's like nursing. It's good and bad, happy and sad, all swirled together.

I am in the minority here. I loved every single minute of it!!! It is what you make it.

When I did my lvn program about 75% of my free time was dedicated to studying (I crave to learn so it was fun for me lol). I'd go out with friends maybe once every month or two and my live in bf at the time understood how hard I was working so I was cut a lot of slack in the relationship department ;p I think a lot of it has to do on how much studying time you need, your social life (I don't have one), kids, spouse, etc. All I know is I worked full time, school full time, maintained the house/dog/shopping/cleaning, and kept my ex somewhat happy. And the friendships you make are lifelong!

Specializes in L&D.

I think it's fun! It's hard, stressful, an a lot of work and time put in, but it can be fun. You will form close relationships b/c you are with these people for all day, every day at class and clinicals. It's a pretty awesome thing.

Specializes in Oncology.

I have watched a young woman die after 20 minutes of CPR post car accident.

I have coached a woman through giving birth and teared up when I saw her newborn baby finally pop out.

I have listened to gut-wrenching stories on a psych floor, and given support to patients at the end of their rope, most of them under the age of 18.

I have helped organize a neighborhood association in a poor area with high crime rates.

I have helped kids in the same area plants seeds in a community garden.

I have spoken to a woman on a ventilator who replied via pen and paper...and I still have that paper because she wrote that I should always believe in myself and that I would make a good nurse.

I have suffered a finger stick, been squirted with blood, and gotten urine and feces all over my scrubs.

I have cried immensely after doing poorly on an exam, failing a competency, or after working a particularly hard clinical day.

I have held my urine for 12 hours straight on multiple occasions.

I have explained to family and friends that my absence at their function was due, in part, to my nursing education.

I have enjoyed many small victories with nursing skills - my first good IV start is still so clear in my mind.

I have followed a patient from pre-op where I learned why she was there, to watching her abdomen cut open for a hysterectomy, to the PACU where I was the only person she recognized.

I have given injections to crying babies while their nervous parents looked on.

I have been praised by doctors, but also berated by doctors, and even ignored by doctors.

I have been praised by nurses, but also berated by nurses, and even ignored by nurses.

I have sweated through an isolation gown more times than I can count.

I have learned to accept a grade of C, be thankful for a grade of B, and feel overjoyed when I receive an A.

I have watched classmates drop out, fail, and/or get on anti-depressants.

I have mingled with alumni and seen how hopeful they are for the future of nursing.

I have attended research conferences, listened to speakers, and shadowed.

I have prepared so many powerpoints, posters, and presentations.

I have never really learned how to use APA on the fly (and still am thankful to Purdue's OWL to this day!).

I have worked in group settings every single semester, and one semester it cost me a friendship.

If this sounds like something you're interested in, you will enjoy nursing school. I do NOT think it was "fun" and there were days when I couldn't believe I had chosen this for my life. But now, looking back, it was such an amazing experience and I wouldn't change ANY of it for the world.

Good luck

@Decembergrad2011 I like your response you seem like you been through a lot

Fun like ROOT CANAL!!!!!

That being said....It's been the challenge of a life time for me...totally satisfying to know that I've finished my first semester with all of my hair still on my head. One day at a time.....One more step towards what I call the best career out there. I was terrified to walk into my first clinical site but left on cloud 9 - exhausted but feeling as though I had made a difference in at least one patient's life. That is a great feeling! Hmmmmmm - Maybe even "fun"

For the record...when people tell me that they "love" to run - I automatically think "LIAR!". They may love how they feel after they run...but during the run? That's very suspicious to me ;)

Call it what you need to call it to get through it. And when you think you won't or can't get through it, take a step back and remember what you've accomplished to get to this point in time.

Best of luck to you....you'll do great!

Ha ha I would say that nursing school was hard as all get out but since I have had my license and look back to the nursing school days I realize that it wasn't so bad!! Ha ha I made a lot of friends and learned a lot! Even though it is super stressful you can make fun out of it!!!

wow! This was deep! I can appreciate the honesty in this!!

I have watched a young woman die after 20 minutes of CPR post car accident.

I have coached a woman through giving birth and teared up when I saw her newborn baby finally pop out.

I have listened to gut-wrenching stories on a psych floor, and given support to patients at the end of their rope, most of them under the age of 18.

I have helped organize a neighborhood association in a poor area with high crime rates.

I have helped kids in the same area plants seeds in a community garden.

I have spoken to a woman on a ventilator who replied via pen and paper...and I still have that paper because she wrote that I should always believe in myself and that I would make a good nurse.

I have suffered a finger stick, been squirted with blood, and gotten urine and feces all over my scrubs.

I have cried immensely after doing poorly on an exam, failing a competency, or after working a particularly hard clinical day.

I have held my urine for 12 hours straight on multiple occasions.

I have explained to family and friends that my absence at their function was due, in part, to my nursing education.

I have enjoyed many small victories with nursing skills - my first good IV start is still so clear in my mind.

I have followed a patient from pre-op where I learned why she was there, to watching her abdomen cut open for a hysterectomy, to the PACU where I was the only person she recognized.

I have given injections to crying babies while their nervous parents looked on.

I have been praised by doctors, but also berated by doctors, and even ignored by doctors.

I have been praised by nurses, but also berated by nurses, and even ignored by nurses.

I have sweated through an isolation gown more times than I can count.

I have learned to accept a grade of C, be thankful for a grade of B, and feel overjoyed when I receive an A.

I have watched classmates drop out, fail, and/or get on anti-depressants.

I have mingled with alumni and seen how hopeful they are for the future of nursing.

I have attended research conferences, listened to speakers, and shadowed.

I have prepared so many powerpoints, posters, and presentations.

I have never really learned how to use APA on the fly (and still am thankful to Purdue's OWL to this day!).

I have worked in group settings every single semester, and one semester it cost me a friendship.

If this sounds like something you're interested in, you will enjoy nursing school. I do NOT think it was "fun" and there were days when I couldn't believe I had chosen this for my life. But now, looking back, it was such an amazing experience and I wouldn't change ANY of it for the world.

Good luck

Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

I'm not a nursing student yet, but will be starting in August. I don't really think it's supposed to be fun!

I love it! I am going into 3rd semester (out of 4). I get along with most of the students and haven't really had an issue with the instructors. I am also the VP of our SNA, so do a lot with that and love it! It's tough, yeah, but doable. I'm almost 36, married and have 2 kids and still make time for school/studying/SNA/me time!

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