Is Nursing School Hard?

JessiekRN · Oct 4, 2006

I'm only about a month in... just wanted to say though that I'm not finding the material very difficult, just the amount of hours that need to be put in, as well as juggling the different components (lecture, lab, clinical, etc) to be very overwhelming. I have a lot of respect for anyone who has done or is doing this with kids or a job or both because I have neither right now, thankfully, and am still finding myself sleep-deprived and stressed out.. it will be worth it, though, one day! You can do it.. just know why you want it and keep those reasons in sight! Good luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2006

I aced nursing school. But my 3.8 average at the end undermines the blood, sweat and tears it took to get and was to date the hardest thing I've ever done.

What was most difficult was I worked full time, and there was just so much to do. Not that it was difficult, but that it was so much. I remember well the fatigue.

But I made it through and you can too. :)

anouk · Oct 4, 2006

I am a first year nursing student and work part time. I know some students ( one really) who work full time and go to school, while others don't work at all and drop out. It depends on your study skills. You have to use time management skills, organizational skills, and study. If you don't it will be difficult. But no I don't find it difficult at all.

BecomeNurse06 · Oct 5, 2006

Thanks all for your reply and your advises. I'm just really worry because I have 2 small children under 3 years old and a full time job. I'm sure it will be very stressfull but I really wanted to be a nurse. I want to be able to help people and make good money to support my family.

I just hope I don't quite when it gets too hard or stressfull.

I am looking forward to start school sometime soon. Thanks for all of your reply.

NaomieRN · Oct 5, 2006

Like others have mentioned, nursing is not terribly hard, it is the amount of information you have to read in a short amount of time. My first test, I had to read 26 chapters. Last week I had my first exam, this week I took the drug calculations, next week a quiz and the following week test number 2. In addition, I have to do careplans, write a paper and work fulltime. It will be worth it at the end, so I try to not complaint, and stay focus and I know I will complete the program. I am enjoying every minute of nursing school.

JoniL&DRN · Oct 5, 2006

I have three children though they aren't that small (6, 8 and 11) and I work also my husband and I are VERY active in our church (which takes up 4-5 evenings a week between kids activities and our obligations). When people say they don't know how I do it I usually tell them I think I actually have an advantage. Having children, working and being raised in a less than ideal family circumstance has given me 1. the ability to prioritize and 2. the drive to do so.

Nursing school isn't "hard" in my opinion, more like time consuming. We have men and women in a variety of circumstances (working or not, kids or not, quick learners or not, financially stable or not) and it seems the common thread in those who succeed is just a willingness to commit themselves and the ability to see nursing school as a journey and enjoy it while they go (and when they can).

:mad:

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 5, 2006

I didn't find nursing school hard either. Of course I had started twice before and didn't finish. But when I finally did start again,I set about learning all I could. The family thing is really hard, and I didn't really see my kids awake for almost a year except for weekends. A good husband was wonderful.

bcskittlez · Oct 5, 2006

I have three children though they aren't that small (6, 8 and 11) and I work also my husband and I are VERY active in our church (which takes up 4-5 evenings a week between kids activities and our obligations). When people say they don't know how I do it I usually tell them I think I actually have an advantage. Having children, working and being raised in a less than ideal family circumstance has given me 1. the ability to prioritize and 2. the drive to do so.
Nursing school isn't "hard" in my opinion, more like time consuming. We have men and women in a variety of circumstances (working or not, kids or not, quick learners or not, financially stable or not) and it seems the common thread in those who succeed is just a willingness to commit themselves and the ability to see nursing school as a journey and enjoy it while they go (and when they can).

rn2be_joni, I am so glad to finally hear of someone who is also very active in church with kids because I don't see too many people add that element and I wonder all the time.. hmmm.. work fulltime.. school.. kids.. husband.................and active in church, and some say not to even have a job.. I know im a workoholic but I was wondering whether that element was going to be a problem. Thanks for posting, good thread OP.

tryingtomakeit, RN · Oct 5, 2006

I breezed through my prereqs and my first year of nursing school. My son was at just the right age to want to be active in EVERYTHING that passed his way, plus I worked 16 hours on saturdays and 16 hours on sundays. I did, however, have a very supportive husband who would work beside me in the house until everything was done and he spent a LOT of time alone with our son. The first semester of my second year, I was still thinking, "Am I in the right place?", because the "horrible nightmare" every talked about when in nursing school still didn't apply to me, though the material was getting a little harder. My last semester - enter the bride of Satan! I wound up with a nursing instructor that could make a mass-murderer cry! Mean, I tell ya! But ... I made it with a 3.8.

I honestly think that instructors can make it a wonderful learning experience ... or a semester in Hades! (I still get chills thinking about her, lol).

Alexsys · Oct 6, 2006

The only thing that was hard for me about NS was having to get up so early for clinicals. I'm not a morning person!

Amen to that! The only thing I hated about nursing school was having to get up for clinicals!. Other than that, it was not so bad

April, RN, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2006

Like the others are saying, it's hard juggling a family, job, and school. But for me, knowing that I had only one shot at this was more stressful than the actual work! Its not like other majors where you have the chance to retake a class over the summer or the following semester. You get below a C+ and you're out! (at my school at least!)

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2006

My personal thoughts:

1. Did I find NS hard? Yes. I often joke that given a choice between nursing school and boot camp, I'd choose bootcamp in a heartbeat!

2. Does that mean NS is hard for everyone? Not quite. I think part of the reason I had some frustration in NS was because I suck at paper-and-pencil tests. My clinical instructors and preceptors could never believe that I struggled at class tests because I'm simply unbeatable when it came to floor work. *shrug*

3. Does NS have "politics", "cliques" and/or other unsavoury elements? Name me a school or program that doesn't....

But you know what? I went through NS and discovered this whole new aspect of myself that I never even knew (much less suspected) that existed.... and that's putting it simply!

All the joys and horrors of nursing school have certainly impacted me - to make me the person I am today.

And I'm VERY thankful for it. Wouldn't have it ANY other way! :)

cheers,