Most challenging moments in Nursing school

Nursing Students General Students

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I start January 7th :) an just want to hear first hand some challenges or difficulties experienced in Nursing school from those who are currently in to those who've graduated.. Ready, set, GO! Lol

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Hands down, first stool specimen to the lab. After that it's all downhill. :)

Seriously, when someone says "nursing," why do so many people think "bedpans"?

The real biggest challenge you will face in nursing school is learning to think like a nurse. That will mean remembering that everything you learn in all your classes is there for a reason, and you can't just forget it after you take the semester final. You WILL be expected to remember it all and build upon it, as you learn how much responsibility for knowing what's going on with your patients and what to do for it you will have. It is literally true that you can have no idea what you're in for now. And we have all been there. You can do it, but never think for a minute that it will be an easy road.

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The biggest challenge that I have faced as a nursing student is coming to grips with the fact that I will NEVER know it all. That may seem like the attitude of a poor student; however, I am a pretty good student. I have had straight A's for a long time and was used to being able to sail through courses. Nursing school will bust your bubble. It is OK to now know everything, you are not expected to. What you are expected to do is to realize that you do NOT know everything and to ask questions. Learn from those around you. Coming to grips with the fact that the learning process will never end, even once I graduate, was hard.

I now realize that not getting a 96% or above on an exam is just a reminder that there is so much more to learn.

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"Hands down, first stool specimen to the lab. After that it's all downhill. :)

Seriously, when someone says "nursing," why do so many people think "bedpans"?

The real biggest challenge you will face in nursing school is learning to think like a nurse. That will mean remembering that everything you learn in all your classes is there for a reason, and you can't just forget it after you take the semester final. You WILL be expected to remember it all and build upon it, as you learn how much responsibility for knowing what's going on with your patients and what to do for it you will have. It is literally true that you can have no idea what you're in for now. And we have all been there. You can do it, but never think for a minute that it will be an easy road."

@GrnTea: I'm currently a tech at a hospital in Atlanta and already do stool samples, so I'm ready to go downhill lol but yeah I keep hearing that same statement about having no idea what I'm in for lol I def know it will be a challenge especially because I like to know everything (which I won't) smh but because it took me a min to get accepted I am just TOO ready to not have a life for once lol thanks for the tip! I'll keep you guys posted! :)

P.S-Did I reply right by quoting like this? Im super new to the site haha

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"The biggest challenge that I have faced as a nursing student is coming to grips with the fact that I will NEVER know it all. That may seem like the attitude of a poor student; however, I am a pretty good student. I have had straight A's for a long time and was used to being able to sail through courses. Nursing school will bust your bubble. It is OK to now know everything, you are not expected to. What you are expected to do is to realize that you do NOT know everything and to ask questions. Learn from those around you. Coming to grips with the fact that the learning process will never end, even once I graduate, was hard.

I now realize that not getting a 96% or above on an exam is just a reminder that there is so much more to learn"

@PalmHarborMom: that is totally me!!! Lol I think I have come to grasp with that an will accept the fact that I will not know everything. A friend and I are already talking about study groups and have formed a mini one already lol I'm all about learning from your peers because sometimes it's easier hearing it from them. Thanks so much for the advice! I will keep you all posted! :)

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Onco_NT- I totally agree that study groups can be very helpful. That being said, study groups should NOT be large. I prefer 1 or 2 people at the most. The students that are in your group should be just as focused as you are. It stinks having a member of the study group that keeps getting off track or even worse, just expects you to teach them everything and adds nothing to the group. I could be called a "study snob" but I do not see it that way. I want to study with people that have the same drive and dedication that I do. There is no shame in wanting that. Maintaining your focus will make nursing school much easier.

Good Luck in nursings school! It will be tough, you will love it and hate all at the same time....

AND you will be proud when you graduate!

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Check off's! seriously I have freaked out since day 1(handwashing). Otherwise theory class was easy for me, just alot of studying. And when you are studying- always ask yourself WHY is this the reason.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

Well since I was class President it meant making sure we all could learn and understand what was expected from our teachers. I also liked working with different cultures and learning from others who were trying to do the same as me become a NURSE.

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Specializes in Psych/med surg.

I just graduated December 14th and the hardest part for me was the last 2 med/surg classes and performance exams in the skills classes. When I did the skills in clinical they weren't nearly as hard as doing them in skills class.

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Specializes in ER, Med-Surg.

To me one of the hardest things was having to say no to seeing my friends, I felt like I had NO LIFE. I graduated in May and I'm still playing catchup! At some times it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the neverending work, but I promise it is there! The other thing is what people have already mentioned, you cannot know everything. You cannot read all of the assignments, you may drive yourself crazy. Learn to focus on the important parts! good luck

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Specializes in Urology, ENT.

I have the misfortune of saying I've been through two nursing programs (finally graduated from the second one this month!), and I can say the hardest thing in nursing school, for me, is the emotional realization to trust yourself and others, and knowing which is more important in a given situation. I wish that mental health nursing had been my only issue getting through nursing school (that class nearly killed me), and I deeply wish I had it, whatever "it" is, to stand up for myself with other nurses, and to say, "No, that's not what happened."

What everyone else said previously is true also -- seriously, check-offs can be the worst because they're looking over your shoulder, and it makes you nervous. I thought clinical was much easier than simulation, and I feel like they give you lots of information you barely get to use, or even remember, in the real world. I also had a lacking social life, even when only taking one class, and there were times when I had to think about whether family or my career was more important ("Do I spend time with whoever, or do I spend my summer doing that internship?").

Don't let my first paragraph discourage you. A lot of people get through nursing school without the former; since you're a tech, you probably already know how to assert yourself:) Now you just have to be wary of teachers and clinical instructors who either don't care or don't know what they're doing.

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@PalmHarbormom: Yeah I'm a 'small study group' type too our group is 3 lol and we all are on the same page, had class together before we got in an now we are :) thanks so much!

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