Scared to start nursing school

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello everyone I got accepted into nursing school for the spring semester but I am scared and excited all at the same time. Is nursing school really that bad because I have read some horror stories on this site lol. Can some of you nursing students or nurses give me some advice or what to expect once I start nursing school?

When I tell people how tough nursing school is, it is not to say that my instructors are not excellent, they are. In generally so are all my fellow nursing students too. I tell people that I spend 70 hours a week in 2nd semester either in class, clinical, or studying. 16 credit hours in regular college, never took that near that much time before. So I tell pre-nursing students so they are not shocked, like myself, when they start. Most of us average 4-6 hours of sleep a night and caffeine is our best friend.

Yet at the same time, I had Mental Health clinical with Adolescents today. I thought I wouldn't like it and I was right, I didn't like it....I loved it!!!

I loved giving patients the care that they need. I love the medical and patho part of it all too.

But I do wish for sleep. I wish for a social life. But it's not forever either. So I can make it 2.5 more semesters. :)

Just completed my first 2 nursing courses and it was tough! I am in 2 yr ADN program, so each course is 8 wks. I am blown away by how much we have to learn in such a short window. Each exam is typically over 12-13 chapters & lecture notes, exams every 2 week with a pass rate of 78%+. I've had many sleepless nights cracking those books.

Specializes in Critical Care, Transplant..

If your willing to work and work and work some more you will be fine. Don't worry yourself before you even start. Just study and throw 110% in to school. If it was easy every one would do it.

I'm in a well known BSN program if it matters as YMMV.

Hello, I just got my acceptance letter last week :). I will start my accelerated program on Jan 2015.

I'm super excited and also nervous. After read a lot of post in this site, I told my husband that I will not cry, scream, and/or go crazy, if I got B in any class. He asked me to record what I just said hahaha....

I said 'NO'

I've been in my nursing program for the past 8 weeks, and I honestly have not found it to be as grueling and terrifying as some people have painted it. I'll admit, after enduring three 4 week classes, my brain feels like it's about to fry and I find myself asking "How am I supposed to remember everything?" but every class builds on previous classes, which reinforces information I've already learned. And I surprisingly have retained a lot of the information that seems to have been crammed into my head in such a short amount of time. It does require studying - some people may need to study more, and others may instantly understand. However, it's going to be a unique experience for each person, so all we can do is tell you our personal experience. You may find yourself experiencing something totally different.

Skills check-offs are the most stressful for me personally because of the pass/fail aspect. So I had to learn my lab time wisely and clarifying with the instructors about when I should do this, and when I should do that, etc etc. Also, I borrowed friends and families to practice doing assessments on - trust me, when you have to do a thorax assessment and listen to lungs, it's a lot less intimidating when you've done it 100 times and know your landmarks. Be prepared to study a lot, and use your time wisely. I had to get rid of my Netflix because it consumed too much of my free time. :no: Good luck! It's really a lot less scary than you're picturing it, I'm sure. I start clinicals this week, so I'm feeling that scared/anticipation jitter!

Specializes in ER/Emergency Behavioral Health....

I'm halfway through my first semester.

It isn't a piece if cake, but don't believe all the horror stories.

My biggest issue is time management. I work 36 hours a week (every Friday Saturday and Sunday night). It takes time to get on a study schedule; but once you have that down you will be fine. Just pay attention and try not to miss any classes or clinicals. Also, make some contacts ASAP. Your classmates will be in the same position so the more support, the better.

Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

Nursing school is like nothing else. It does suck. And sucks HARD sometimes when you have 2 tests, a care plan, another paper, skills lab, and clinical all in a span of a few days.

Thing is it's doable. Thousands (millions?) have done it before you and many will after you. People don't understand nursing school unless they go through it. The ONLY time I have ever gotten aggravated enough to throw a book across the room was doing a paper with APA format. And pharm. OH pharm. How I loathed thee in school (as I have learned SO much more since school).

It's a monster. But it won't kill you (just limits your social life and sleep lol).

Good luck to you all!!

The ONLY time I have ever gotten aggravated enough to throw a book across the room was doing a paper with APA format.

Haha, literally laughed out loud. When I was in school, everything was MLA and then all of sudden, everything switched over to Chicago style, APA. Spent my whole life learning it and it no longer applies. Sigh.

Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I don't think any of my instructors really agreed on APA format. Do it one way, instructor says I did this wrong. Do it their way next time, next instructor says I did it wrong. HATE APA

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Best thing I did for my peace of mind, was buy software for APA; I liked PERRLA, just type into it, it asks you for data then formats it for you. Had to use the book for some stuff, but the headings, foot notes and cover pages, as well as body of text were automatic.

I am in the last year of my BSN program, I am a 2nd degree student and started nursing school at the ripe young age of 50!!!. My advise is the same as most the others, keep up with your reading. The first semester (or quarter depending on your school) is the hardest. You will find your rhythm. Good luck!!

Hello, I just got my acceptance letter last week :). I will start my accelerated program on Jan 2015.

I'm super excited and also nervous. After read a lot of post in this site, I told my husband that I will not cry, scream, and/or go crazy, if I got B in any class. He asked me to record what I just said hahaha....

I said 'NO'

Lol because u know u may have one of the emotions if not all. I cried and went crazy when I was taking some of my pre - requisites.

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