Any studies done on pre-nursing students?

Trauma Columnist · Mar 7, 2013

Moved to pre-nursing student forum.

Might want to do a lit search at your hospital's medical library.

blackvans1234 · Mar 8, 2013

Because most nursing students go to a four year school and don't waste their time as a pre-nursing student.

Seriously, hindsight is 20/20 and this is my fourth year of college, but I am only in my first year of actual nursing school (first three were pre-reqs). So after five years of school I will have an associates degree, go me.

Seriously though, I don't know why, probably because there's an extremely large amount of pre-nursing students that will never make it through anatomy, micro, and psych. If you surveyed 500 students, and only 100 end up actually attending the program, it is kind of inefficient.

By comparison, you could survey those 100 students during their first semester and hopefully only 20 will fail out when it is all said and done with.

Also, some may argue that the pre-reqs are not as stressful as the program itself.

I watched students with 4.0 GPA's fail out during their first nursing semester, after getting A's in anatomy, psych, micro etc.

Heh.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 8, 2013

NOT DISSING ANYONE- Just making an observation: I probably meet 10 people a week who's sister/brother/cousin/friend is "in nursing school". When questioned, 99% on the time, this person is taking English 101 at the local community college. But you cannot explain to them that WANTING to go to nursing school and taking prereqs is not the same as actually being in a degree-granting nursing program.

Pre-nursing is even more nebulous.

Likely the reason you cannot find these studies is that pre-nursing is generally not a recognized major. These students are enrolled in general education classes (AKA prereqs) and are only classifies as 'pre-nursing' by themselves, the school does not have a category for pre-nursing.

nursefelly · Mar 8, 2013

I have to both agree and disagree with marycarney. I only disagree with "school does not have a category for pre-nursing". The community college in my area does have a "pre-nursing" option when selecting your major. However, it's kind of like being able to select "pre-physical therapy" as your secondary major at a university. I agree with marycarney in that it's not the same. When I started my undergraduate career, I was designated "pre-physical therapy" but that did not make me a physical therapy major. In fact, I switched away from pre-physical therapy pretty quickly. Likewise, as I am now designated "pre-nursing" it does not make me a nursing major.

If you are trying to survey pre-nursing students (in particular), you should try focusing on students who have already completed A&P I (at least). A&P and Microbiology seem to be the knife in many "pre-nursing" students. Better yet, ask first semester nursing students about the stressed they faced in their pre-reqs.

Good luck, TiffanyLe!

Stephalump · Mar 8, 2013

Who would do that research? Honestly, it would serve no purpose, so no one would invest time and money into doing it.

Thousands of people all over the country are " pre-nursing" which basically just means you take a free specific lower level sciences and you think you might want to apply to nursing school someday. You don't really "belong" to a group other than college students in general.

Once you're accepted to nursing school you've made the first cut. Nursing research might care more about you because you are probably in the pool of future nurses and how we're educated impacts everyone. . When you graduate, you'll definitely be of interest, because how you practice impacts everyone.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Mar 9, 2013

I have to both agree and disagree with marycarney. I only disagree with "school does not have a category for pre-nursing". The community college in my area does have a "pre-nursing" option when selecting your major. However, it's kind of like being able to select "pre-physical therapy" as your secondary major at a university. I agree with marycarney in that it's not the same. When I started my undergraduate career, I was designated "pre-physical therapy" but that did not make me a physical therapy major. In fact, I switched away from pre-physical therapy pretty quickly. Likewise, as I am now designated "pre-nursing" it does not make me a nursing major.
If you are trying to survey pre-nursing students (in particular), you should try focusing on students who have already completed A&P I (at least). A&P and Microbiology seem to be the knife in many "pre-nursing" students. Better yet, ask first semester nursing students about the stressed they faced in their pre-reqs.

Many schools do have a pre-nursing designation (mine does). But it is not anything you need to be accepted into. You just declare yourself as a pre-nursing student. Isn't pre-med or pre-law basically the same? I know one would take certain classes (bio, chem) to get into a medical school. But anyone can be pre-med, just like anyone can be pre-nursing.

I've recently taken more of an interest in the "pre nursing student" phenomenon. I would love for there to be research on the issue. Essentially, any research that would be conducted would be retrospective (either. After the student got into a program, or after they have given up trying to get in).

rubato, ASN, RN · Mar 9, 2013

I was curious, but how come there's little literature on pre-nursing students? I am working on a writing project about the stress levels of pre-nursing students, but couldn't find any. Most of the current studies were done on nursing students. Is there a reason for this?

Yes. The stress doesn't officially happen until you're a nursing student. I thought I was stressed in my pre req classes. Boy, was I wrong. Now, I'm stressed! :)