What is nursing school like?

manna, BSN, RN · May 13, 2004

I'm not in nursing school yet (begin this summer), but my philosophy is that anything is possible if you want it bad enough! (read: if you are willing to work hard enough for it!)

Good luck! :)

thetatoochick71 · May 13, 2004

Am about to finish @ the end of June and the strongest attribute to go in with is dedication. How were you in school before? If you are anything like I was, I had to study-a lot! You've got one really BIG advantage though-no kids. I wouldn't recommend working @ the same time, unless it's absolutely necessary.

I can't speak for other schools, but the one I'm attending you have to have @ least an 80% on each course to continue on. As long as you've got good study habits, you'll do fine. Organization is a must, and be prepared to have ups and downs. I had days when I just didn't think I could stuff another piece of information in my brain. I wish you the best of luck. It's worth it!

Hello everyone.
I am searching for opinions on what to expect from nursing school. I have heard so many horror stories about how hard it is that I have scared myself out of the thought of it. I am starting to wonder if it is doable. How smart do you have to be? I consider myself to be VERY motivated and disciplined but I also admit algebra and stats were almost more than I could handle intellectually. I have no small children and a very supportive husband and plan on working part time if it allows. I guess my question is ..Is it really that bad? What are some of the hardest things about the program? I would also like to know if anyone can give me any ideas as to what may best prepare me for nursing school. I still have 2 yrs before I enter the program. I have no nursing experience.
THank you for you help. I need it,
Sheryl

Jen2 · May 13, 2004

You have to ask yourself How bad do I want this? I will be starting my final year in August and everytime I take a test I still ask myself," Why in the world do I keep on doing this to myself?" Then maybe the next week in clinical I will teach a patient/family something that they never knew before, maybe I'll get a thank you letter from one of my patients, or maybe someone will tell me that I am going to make a wonderful nurse and then that answers all of my questions and I make it to the next exam, and then the next, and before you know it the semester is over. It takes drive and motivation that you never knew you had. You will laugh, cry, go without sleep, be under more stress than you thought was humanly possible, but then like I said before, there will be that one special thing that happens each week that gets you to the next. Good luck to you.

Tony35NYC · May 14, 2004

I agree with Jen. Nursing school isn't easy, but if you go in with the right attitude you can do it. I was reading in a recent nursing journal that there was a big jump in the number of applications to nursing schools all around the country after one of the TV networks did a piece on the 'nursing shortage' and the nursing profession in general. I was interested in the article because I had seen the piece on TV. They over-glamorized the nursing profession as an excellent career choice, but for what I thought were all the wrong reasons. They made it seem like nursing is an easy job, they over-emphasized that nurses make a lot of money, and they suggested that more young people should consider nursing as a career because the nursing shortage guarantees that they'll never be out of a job. Nursing is a high stress career that demands a lot more than just basic first aid and passing bed pans, and people who apply to nursing school thinking only about the big paychecks they're going to make when they're done will probably be the first ones to drop out of the program.

Don't be put off by the horror stories you hear. You don't need to have any nursing experience at all. You just have to seriously commit yourself to it. When you're doing the prerequisite science courses make sure you actually learn the material instead of putting out a minimal effort just to pass the class. Most of that stuff will come back over and over again in nursing school. You should also know in advance that you won't have time for much of a social life once you start nursing school, so explain to your husband that he should expect to see a lot less of you once you start the program. Save as much as you can in case you need to stop working while you're in nursing school, some people have no choice but to keep working while they're in school but if you don't have to work you'll be much better off. And, budget enough time outside of lecture and clinical hours to study, study, study.

Carolanne · May 14, 2004

Like anything else, it's what YOU make of it and how much effort you put into it. Often I feel that determination and a passion for what you are striving for win in the end compared to being book smart.

Nurse GOODNIGHT · May 14, 2004

It is rough, rough, rough. As you can tell by my moniker, I have to do it 100%. I was always better studying by myself and now after getting with a good study group, better with them. Support each other and pull each other along to study. Someone is always stronger or weaker in another subject than another. It can be done, but please try not to work. I know different people handle diff things but I know several people who are now a year behind and more $$$$ by trying to work and then had to drop or received an F (under an 80%) on their transcript. It can be done, but I second the no working.

tryingtomakeit, RN · May 14, 2004

I'm sitting here smiling as I type this. Tomorrow I am going to graduation and pinning practice. Saturday I will graduate.

The past three years have been the hardest years of my life. I have had instructors who were wonderful, and instuctors who tried to tear me down every step of the way. Along the way I have made friends who are nearly as close to me as family. I have spent many nights with only two or three hours of sleep because the course load was so intense. I gave up time with my son and my husband. But you know what? Everyday I told myself that I could do this. I took it one day at a time and I MADE IT!!

If this is what you want - go for it! But be ready to give it everything you have. The feeling of pride I have right now is so awesome ... it's even worth the fifty pounds I put on from eating and trying to stay awake so I could study. I'll concentrate on losing the weight on Sunday - until them I am only concentrating on one thing. I MADE IT!

Sheryl H · May 14, 2004

Thank you all very much for your comments. It has been helpful. I wish you all the very best in your careers and life in general. Hats off to you all!

Thanks you,

Sheryl

RNKITTY04 · May 14, 2004

Nursing school is like having your teeth pulled with no anesthesia (sp)?