What makes Nursing school so tough that many people end up dropping out???

Nursing Students General Students

Published

What's the toughest part about the Nursing program??? Tell me about your Nursing program!!!

Well, we lost some to pregnancy, some for financial reasons, and a lot b/c of a hardcore instructor. I respect that she has a Master's and really knows her stuff, but her teaching skills lacked. She wasn't open for discussion very often b/c "there isn't enough time, we need to move on". I'm not saying she needed to "dumb it down", but I don't think she realized that she talked so far above your head, even in regular conversation. She assumed that everyone knew a lot of the material already and had an understanding of the reading w/o realizing that a lot of our class had no personal care or medical background. For 1/2 semester we had a different teacher and grades went up--she made it easier to understand, but yet we were able to retain the info the way she taught it.

Then you have the assignments, clinical preparation notecards, study time, driving time, ect. on top of trying to meet your kids' and family needs--forget your own needs or any "me" time.

Worth it tho? Definately!

0 Votes

I do not care how many people dont make nursing school. I am not going to be one who wont make it. I am in the program and my only option is to pass. I think people hear too many horror stories about nursing and afraid when they do start the program. One girl in my class got sick the first day because of all the readings.

0 Votes

Maybe once people have their assumptions of what a nurse does trashed and rewritten with what they ACTUALLY do, being in it for the money doesn't cut it anymore.

this happens even if you're not in it soley for the money...... i've wanted to be a nurse for along time & use to work as an e.r. tech and THOUGHT i knew what is was all about.......WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

......my assumptions from observation even have been trashed and rewritten (reality shock).....my false assumptions came from the fact that they were seasoned nurses who made it look easy....hahaha....it's anything but easy!

0 Votes
Specializes in critical care transport.

hmmm... Maybe they feel "called" to money? :-) Actually, I'm not complaining, but there are a ton of other jobs that I could make more money at.

I wanted to do something important that allowed myself to be in a helping relationship with others. There are other avenues of achieving what I wanted, and if nursing payed $10/hr, then I'd be feeling "called" somehwere else!

Some people, I think, are afraid of success, or have self-doubt. Maybe the first day or so of nursing school sounds so "final" and they aren't ready to commit. They drop. Others, on the other hand, maybe find they don't like being so "personal" with people. And maybe even more people feel that they don't want to do so much, like all they invisioned having to do is be a warm body and be a mindless drone that stands behind the doctor while he or she speaks to the patient.

As has been said before, when I am done with school, I do not want to be known as someone who is "an angel," but rather someone who studied the science of nursing very hard, and strives to continuously learn more about physiology, pharmacology, disease and illness. So far, school isn't easy, but I don't think it is the "norm" for instructors to be "out to get you." I love every one of the instructors at my school. I know things will get tough at times, but they aren't there just "waiting" for you to fall on your face so they can sweep you out the door.

It's definately a time in your life that you have to have your game face on.

0 Votes
Specializes in critical care transport.
I do not care how many people dont make nursing school. I am not going to be one who wont make it. I am in the program and my only option is to pass. I think people hear too many horror stories about nursing and afraid when they do start the program. One girl in my class got sick the first day because of all the readings.

It's all in the attitude! You can make nursing school (or college in general) hell, or you can make it an awesome experience. Perhaps some don't start with the right attitude???

If you can or can't, you're right!

0 Votes
...Maybe once people have their assumptions of what a nurse does trashed and rewritten with what they ACTUALLY do, being in it for the money doesn't cut it anymore. And they leave.Too many people seek instant gratification without the willingness to put forth the effort...at least that I've seen.

So true! MOST of us got into it not realizing exactly what nursing really is, or what to expect in nursing school (so much for the portrayal of nurses on television!). So when we saw that it was serious physical labor, many a bad smell, many a shocking site, and LOADS of homework/study...some just didn't have a strong enough desire to plow throught it to the end. So some just don't finish, and some fail out, and they will not have the chance to progress and chose from the many satisfying off-shoots of nursing (teaching, case management, nurse practitioner, researcher, nurse educator, wound care specialist, etc.). Seems that nothing truly worthwhile comes easy...so nursing students, hang in there!! If you eventually find that hospital floor nursing is not for you, but you do a good job anyway, you will have MANY other options down the road.

0 Votes
Specializes in Government.

I had three degrees going in to nursing school...yet getting my BSN was the hardest of all. I hadn't known how intense and complex the course of study would be. My class was extremely competitive and it was easy to lose sight of the fact that if you graduated and passed boards, you were still a nurse.

My class lost a few people, mostly due to family crises or pregnancies. More disappointing to me was the 20% of the class who ended up never working 1 day as an RN. Those of us who entered the profession are still, for the most part, glad we did.

0 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

The toughest part for me was the sheer volume of material and the time involved in clinicals and studying. There were times I would have quit but I needed the money an RN position would provide me. I also have a compassion for people in need, which helps. :)

I do think those who go in it for money sometimes think "geeze, it's not worth all of this......."

0 Votes
The toughest part for me was the sheer volume of material and the time involved in clinicals and studying. There were times I would have quit but I needed the money an RN position would provide me. I also have a compassion for people in need, which helps. :)

I do think those who go in it for money sometimes think "geeze, it's not worth all of this......."

i totally agree and feel the same way!

0 Votes
Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, ICU.

I don't know what makes it tougher for one person compared to the next but I went back as an adult in her 30's and it was tough. I had the problem of an instructor (same age as me) during one semester that would not let me alone. She tried everything to knock me down! It was awful...I finally told her exactly where she could go and she never bothered me again. I graduated with top honors and all that but it never really mattered once I was out hunting for a job as a new graduate. I was looked at as older and people were skeptical. I think that any college courses will be difficult if you do not give it 100%. I worked 2 jobs and went to school full time. Was it hard...you bet your a--! Did I have my doubts..He-- Yes! Do I regret it? Not one single minute! I love my career...it's all the damn corporate influence that plain old stinks!

I also went to school with a few nurses who struggled the entire way...Grades were barely passing and they cried every day. And let me tell you that they are the best damn nurses I know! If the chips were down I would be behind each and every one of them!

My advice is this:

Stick to your studies and remember that although 2 - 3 - 4 years may seem like a long time but in the long run you are going to be sitting in your home 10 years from now thinking..."Where did the time go?" Sacrificing the time for your education is an incredibly brave and honorable thing to do. Once you graduate there is not anyone in this world that can take that away from you! Crack down and keep focused!

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU.

I remember when I was in college, I was so jealous of my friends with other majors because they had so much TIME on their hands. I spent the same amount of time in the classroom that they did, but then for my junior and senior years I spent 16 hours in the hospital each week for clinicals, plus I had TONS more "homework" type things. Careplans, papers, projects, presentations, not to mention all the reading and studying!

We lost a bunch of clasmates in the first year or two because they either didn't really understand what being a nurse was going to include, or they never wanted to be nurses in the first place and were pushed into it by their families. After our first clinical rotation, many of those people realized they didn't enjoy nursing at all and got out of the program right away so they could change majors and still graduate in four years.

The reasons I saw a lot of students fail out were mainly centered on test taking skills. Some had really bad test anxiety - they really knew their stuff but overanalyzed every single question and ended up changing their answers at the last second. Sometimes they'd run out of time or blank out because of their anxiety. There is a lot of pressure in nursing school, and a whole lot to learn in a short amount of time. The students I know that got special tutoring and therapy for their test anxiety ended up doing very well once they got it under control.

The hard part about tests in nursing school is that they are about critical thinking. It's not like in biology or history class, where if there is a multiple choice question, there is only one correct answer. In nursing school, a critical thinking question means that, quite often, ALL of the multiple choice answers are technically correct. You have to apply yourself and decide what the question is really asking or what you need to do FIRST. Critical thinking comes with experience, and it takes a while to get a grip on it. The state boards are the same way - you have to use critical thinking to decide which answer they're really looking for. This whole process is very different than anything you'll encounter in your non-nursing classes and makes it so much more challenging!

Good luck!

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU.
Stick to your studies and remember that although 2 - 3 - 4 years may seem like a long time but in the long run you are going to be sitting in your home 10 years from now thinking..."Where did the time go?" Sacrificing the time for your education is an incredibly brave and honorable thing to do. Once you graduate there is not anyone in this world that can take that away from you! Crack down and keep focused!

Great advice! :yelclap:

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment