What was the toughest part of Nursing school for you?

TLC RN · Jun 15, 2006

Group projects any kind. They were the worst. Too much stress.

allele, LPN · Jun 15, 2006

Definitely preparing for clinical. Going to look up who I'd have for a patient the day before...going through their chart (IF it was available...if a doctor or nurse was using it I'd just have to wait), then going home and looking up all thier meds and writing up those damn cards for them, looking up all their labs and what the values meant....and how abnormal values applied to their illness or medical history, doing the care plan, etc. It was horrible. Took me anywhere from 10-12 hours to prepare. THEN, more than once I'd go into clinical and the patient would be DISCHARGED!! :eek: :roll The fun never stopped!! lol Now I notice that seniors don't have to do all that research...I guess they're trying to get them more "real world ready" by having them go into clinical cold. Anyway, that's what I hated. But I have to admit I learned SO MUCH! :) Stuff you think will never stick in your mind finds its way back when you need it! Good luck! :nurse:

LADYFLOWER · Jun 15, 2006

Definitely preparing for clinical. Going to look up who I'd have for a patient the day before...going through their chart (IF it was available...if a doctor or nurse was using it I'd just have to wait), then going home and looking up all thier meds and writing up those damn cards for them, looking up all their labs and what the values meant....and how abnormal values applied to their illness or medical history, doing the care plan, etc. It was horrible. Took me anywhere from 10-12 hours to prepare. THEN, more than once I'd go into clinical and the patient would be DISCHARGED!! :roll The fun never stopped!! lol Now I notice that seniors don't have to do all that research...I guess they're trying to get them more "real world ready" by having them go into clinical cold. Anyway, that's what I hated. But I have to admit I learned SO MUCH! :) Stuff you think will never stick in your mind finds its way back when you need it! Good luck!

Boy! Bless you, honey! Sounds like a nightmare. Now you can look back on all that and smile!

MIA-RN1, RN · Jun 15, 2006

Definitely preparing for clinical. Going to look up who I'd have for a patient the day before...going through their chart (IF it was available...if a doctor or nurse was using it I'd just have to wait), then going home and looking up all thier meds and writing up those damn cards for them, looking up all their labs and what the values meant....and how abnormal values applied to their illness or medical history, doing the care plan, etc. It was horrible. Took me anywhere from 10-12 hours to prepare. THEN, more than once I'd go into clinical and the patient would be DISCHARGED!! :roll The fun never stopped!! lol Now I notice that seniors don't have to do all that research...I guess they're trying to get them more "real world ready" by having them go into clinical cold. Anyway, that's what I hated. But I have to admit I learned SO MUCH! :) Stuff you think will never stick in your mind finds its way back when you need it! Good luck!

We had to look stuff up the night before: meds, dx's, plan of care etc We were never allowed on the floor except for during scheduled clinical time. but then at the last couple weeks, we had to go in cold. Either was good but going in cold was much better for me. I didn't have to stay up late the night before, and prep was easier @ clinical because there just wasn't time to write up a gazillion med cards etc. My opinion tho.

allnurses Guide · Jun 15, 2006

Probably having to demonstrate hands-on skills in front of the instructors.

Also, just simply having to work full time, go to school full time, AND find enough time to study!!!!

land64shark · Jun 15, 2006

I've only been through one semester so far, but group projects, clinical preps and skills tests are nightmares. Give me a written test anyday!

nursesarah · Jun 15, 2006

worst part of nursing school? this course called problem-based learning. it was 3-4 hours. you had it every single semester throughout your entire 4 years. it involved sitting in a windowless classroom with 8-12 other students and an instructor. it was student led and all you did was dissect a case scenario. generally speaking, discussion could be pretty interesting depending on who was in your class. but preparing for this class was awful. and imagine trying to keep discussion alive for one scenario for 4 hours. it was brutal.

LeslieSBarrRN · Jun 15, 2006

I'm 4/5 semester in nursing school, but hands-down I can say the worst stuff is pre-clinical- we go in the afternoon before, assess the patient, spend hours copying the chart (meds, dx's, labs, procedures) and then go home and stay up most of the night doing all the stinking paperwork... all to show up exhausted and strung out on caffeine for our patient the next day! Ugh.

The best stuff? Actual patient care, especially at this point in the program where we're not absolutely hounded every minute of the day by the instructor. Love patients! And having a really great nurse who takes the time to explain things...

Don't be stressed! It's hard, but wonderful. Somehow you have to hold it all in tension.

Leslie

LADYFLOWER · Jun 15, 2006

I'm 4/5 semester in nursing school, but hands-down I can say the worst stuff is pre-clinical- we go in the afternoon before, assess the patient, spend hours copying the chart (meds, dx's, labs, procedures) and then go home and stay up most of the night doing all the stinking paperwork... all to show up exhausted and strung out on caffeine for our patient the next day! Ugh.
The best stuff? Actual patient care, especially at this point in the program where we're not absolutely hounded every minute of the day by the instructor. Love patients! And having a really great nurse who takes the time to explain things...
Don't be stressed! It's hard, but wonderful. Somehow you have to hold it all in tension.
Leslie
I guess I'll hang in there when I get there!

LADYFLOWER · Jun 15, 2006

I'm 4/5 semester in nursing school, but hands-down I can say the worst stuff is pre-clinical- we go in the afternoon before, assess the patient, spend hours copying the chart (meds, dx's, labs, procedures) and then go home and stay up most of the night doing all the stinking paperwork... all to show up exhausted and strung out on caffeine for our patient the next day! Ugh.
The best stuff? Actual patient care, especially at this point in the program where we're not absolutely hounded every minute of the day by the instructor. Love patients! And having a really great nurse who takes the time to explain things...
Don't be stressed! It's hard, but wonderful. Somehow you have to hold it all in tension.
Leslie
:welcome: Leslie, and Thanks for the reply!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jun 15, 2006

Having to wake up so darn early for clinicals. That sucks!

Chaya, ASN, RN · Jun 15, 2006

For me it was the instructor who quizzed me on cardiac sounds which she taught differently than ALL our other instructors. Because I was hesitant, she corrected me in a very disparaging way, with what I knew to be wrong information, in front of my patient. Later she pulled the exact same thing again with the same WRONG "facts!":angryfire