Whether is it from a Nursing Instructor or classmate, I keep hearing that Nursing School is HARD, HARD, HARD!!! This is no big surprise to me that is hard, but it seems strange that this is emphasized so much; it seems like people are trying to scare people away from Nursing, or maybe there are other reasons. I've never heard people emphasize this aspect of Medical School to the extent that I hear it about Nursing School. I think medical students know they are doing something hard, and I never hear anyone emphasizing again and again how hard medical school is. Why is Nursing School treated like the most difficult thing to do on the planet? OK, sure it is hard, but to keep emphasizing this makes it almost sound like the person saying it maybe didn't get any respect for how hard they worked, so they want everyone else to be impressed with how smart they are to have made it through. I just never hear Doctors going around saying how hard Medical School was, and I think it because everyone knows it is a hard thing to do. It sounds like Nurses have an inferiority complex. What gives?
I think what makes nursing so "hard" is that many of the students are older, supporting families, etc., so they don't have the time to devote to it that a young single college student living in the dorm with nothing else to do has.
Academically, certainly majors like engineering, physics, other STEM majors, even accounting are thought to be far more difficult.
I think what makes nursing so "hard" is that many of the students are older, supporting families, etc., so they don't have the time to devote to it that a young single college student living in the dorm with nothing else to do has.
Academically, certainly majors like engineering, physics, other STEM majors, even accounting are thought to be far more difficult.
I suppose... though I was 45 when I graduated from nursing school and had a 1st grader at home.
My engineering and chemistry curricula were much more difficult than my DEMSN was... in terms of time and effort required, and the simply in terms of conceptualization and application.
The rigor of nursing school is, of course, an individual experience and also varies from program to program, but any claims that nursing school is even on par with med school is simply ridiculous.
It's hard in the respect that we learn our whole profession in 2 years and go straight into practice whereas medical school they finish 4 years of study and still have years more of training as a resident which is rigorous in its own right.
But in the end the medical route is much more difficult I don't see how people can make the argument otherwise. Though nursing school certainly is one of the most difficult bachelors level programs out there! You're comparing BS to a post-grad study.
I've actually talked to doctors about this, because I spent a lot of time deciding between if I'm going to be starting school for nursing and working towards being a nurse practitioner, or if I want to work towards med school and become a physician, regardless, the end goal is that type of care at the end, but I wanted to really understand how the differences between the two stand out, and that included talking about school. Basically, what I got from it:
They're both harder than each other, and they're both easier than each other. The first 2 years are the same classes at most schools, literally, just with different directions in how you apply the information... So labs and clinicals are different. After that point, it's two completely different focuses. You really can't compare the two. You have to look farther ahead and compare a doctorate to a doctorate. A cardiologist is going to know everything about taking care of the heart, but a nurse practitioner who works in cardiology is going to know everything about taking care of the cardiac patient.
So which one is harder? That depends on which one your weak point is: Knowing everything about taking care of the heart, or knowing everything about taking care of a person with a heart problem. One is applying specific details to a broad subject, while the other is applying a broad subject to specific details. Because of that, for most people, nursing becomes easier. But also because of that, for most physicians, med school becomes easier.
So, I just had my orientation for Nursing school yesterday, and one of the speakers (who was also an advisor) said that it has been proven that Nursing school is more difficult than medical school, even though medical school is longer. I feel like she was kind of talking out of her ***, but then I think I've heard some other people say this, since it is the job of the nurse to catch the mistakes of doctors that will kill their patients. It had me so nervous. I don't think it's true (I know the reasons she gave are true, but I don't think the conclusion of it being more difficult is true), but then, I don't have the personal experience, so who am I to judge. Just seems more like common sense that MD would be more difficult to obtain than BSN. My plan is to finish a BSN and move on (while working bedside) to med school eventually, completing their prereqs and MCAT and applying after I've been a nurse for a few years. So I guess I'll find out one way or another (assuming I finish nursing school and can get into med school, that is). I want to develop a deep appreciation for nursing, and I feel like even if I don't end up going to med school that I can continue in nursing. It seems like there are many male nurses who are satisfied in their careers. And, tbh, I just want to make a tangible impact in peoples' lives when they need it most. That's my main desire: to leave a legacy with people who need medical help and to help them keep their dignity and pride while doing so. So important, IMO. But I fell in love with health sciences during my prereqs for my program, so I really don't know if a BSN will completely satisfy that thirst for knowledge. Anywho, got off track. Just wanted to share what the advisor at my orientation said about Medical School. I don't think it's true, but I guess I'll find out one day.
one of the speakers (who was also an advisor) said that it has been proven that Nursing school is more difficult than medical school, even though medical school is longer.
Congratulations on getting into a college nursing program. That is indeed a great achievement.
I think the speaker was trying to buoy you up for the difficult course work ahead. I have not read any comparisons between the rigor of nursing versus medical school But I can say this.... The selection process for medical school is very different, much more rigorous. Extremely difficult science undergraduate coursework is required for medical school. How can anyone compare an undergraduate in nursing to a post-graduate heavy science-based curriculum with an academic residency requirement?
And I for one would love to see the proof. Could it be that nursing curriculum is always "playing catch up" with nursing A & P in the front of each chapter of their medical-surgical book to help students understand the pathophysiology they are now going to confront?
So, I just had my orientation for Nursing school yesterday, and one of the speakers (who was also an advisor) said that it has been proven that Nursing school is more difficult than medical school, even though medical school is longer. I feel like she was kind of talking out of her ***, but then I think I've heard some other people say this, since it is the job of the nurse to catch the mistakes of doctors that will kill their patients.
That was your warning to bolt now. Unless you want to answer to (!) this level of stupidity every damn day of your life.
I just never hear Doctors going around saying how hard Medical School was, and I think it because everyone knows it is a hard thing to do. It sounds like Nurses have an inferiority complex. What gives?
Has the OP ever read a nursing school syllabus vs a medical syllabus. The NS syllabus is much more rigorous, can't miss days, only 3 attempts to pass math or your out, etc. The med school syllabus had no such things. They were allowed to miss class and just call the instructor in a passive manor. Not as strict of a curriculum.
Has the OP ever read a nursing school syllabus vs a medical syllabus. The NS syllabus is much more rigorous, can't miss days, only 3 attempts to pass math or your out, etc. The med school syllabus had no such things. They were allowed to miss class and just call the instructor in a passive manor. Not as strict of a curriculum.
1)Oh, there can be a difference of maturity and end goals. 18 years old versus 22 year olds and let's let you face it ... 2) the cost of education! . 3)They have done lab hours in a biology lab without compensation, 4) shown excellent MCAT scores, The medical students have endured a rigorous study of science and biology 5) written essays that describe their motivation,6) and since there is a lack of required readings on the syllabus. they need to search out what resources/textbooks will work for them. Get it?
3)They have done lab hours in a biology lab without compensation, 4) shown excellent MCAT scores, The medical students have endured a rigorous study of science and biology
You can show up for biology and physiology and miss days. They aren't easy you are right, but I don't buy that 'without compensation' deal. No one is keeping track if you show up. In NS, you best show up or your out.
No one is keeping track if you show up. In NS, you best show up or your out.
Don't show up and see if you pass the tests. Here's someone who never showed up for class, great learner when he wanted to be, took short cuts in medical school...made up H & Ps. Read the whole Wikipedia post.
. He never showed up for A and P lab. Preferred to do dissection on his schedule Usually at night. . Students who had the same dissection lab said he hacked any body part, the body was unrecognizable after he got to it.
Although he was a 'good ' medical student, he preferred to work as an EMT rather than concentrate on his studies. He had tried to poison his fellow EMTs but got caught!. A month before he was due to graduate, it was discovered that he had faked history/physicals during his OB/GYN rotation.Some of his fellow students had suspected he had been faking checkups as early as his second year, but this was the first time he had been caught red-handed. He was nearly expelled, (should have been) but was allowed to remain when one member of the committee voted to give him a second chance. At the time, a unanimous vote was required for a student to be dismissed. The one vote hold out advertised on his truck that he was a Neuro Surgeon/ Tree Surgeon.
Yep, I knew people he lived with. I have no idea why he didn't poison them. He later 'doctored' letters from them so that he had a sterling character.
He would miss scheduled classes and then go into a massive learning session which fellow students called 'doing' a Swango.
bgxyrnf, MSN, RN
1,208 Posts
Not by a long shot, in my experience