Can I hear some positive things about nursing school?

kellyo, LPN · May 15, 2006

i am about to embark on my journey in to nursing school. i have dreamed of this moment for many years and it is finally happening. i am an older student, wife and mother. i know there are alot of students that fit my profile, and i would love to hear some encouraging feelings on the positive aspects of attending nursing school. i have been hearing a lot of negative feedback and it almost scares me. it makes me think i am really heading in to a war zone. please someone out there reply with some positive thoughts on your experiences. :monkeydance:

i graduate tomorrow (yeah!) and while i am ready to go, i will miss school. i'm 35, married w/ 2 small children. while it is quite challenging, i also found it very rewarding. just stay true to yourself, don't get caught up in crap, and fly below the radar when it comes to instructors. you'll do great. like motherhood, it is difficult and rewarding! good luck.

ortess1971 · May 15, 2006

I made some very close friends during nursing school. Also, as difficult as it can be at times, the sense of accomplishment and pride that you get at the end is great.(I graduate Friday... ) No, it's not easy, but you will get through it if you want it bad enough. And you'll have plenty of people that will understand exactly where you're coming from.

cn2007rn · May 15, 2006

I just finished my 1st yr of a 2 yr program....I have a lot of good things to say:

I love it! I love it! It's challenging and a lot of hard work, but I have never gone to school for something that I absolutely love. It's a fascinating field, I have never learned so much in such a short amount of time. I have met some great people, made some great friend along the way too! It's extremely rewarding and very interesting.

Some tips for getting though it:

Stay motivated, keep looking at what you will have when you are done, a great career, that pays well, is in demand, and is also very flexible. I keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel because I know this will pay off.

Study, study, study! I studied everyday and this really helped me, even if it meant flipping through my notes for 10-15 mins. I didn't study 6 hours a day just here and there and a little more intensely the days before the tests, 1-2 hours.

Make time for school, you have to schedule things well, you can't cook a 5 course meal, clean the whole house, and study for a test. Something has to give, so hopefully you have a supportive family to pick up the slack. I just finished the semester and I am just now switching my winter and summer clothes and it's the middle of May. You are not SUPERHUMAN, you can't do it all, and school comes first over cleaning/cooking/shopping/etc.

You will become burnt out at times, talk to your classmates, this helps a lot because you are all in the same situation. Also, try to find some people to study with, and try to get together often, study in groups helps a lot, but not more then 3 people, more then 3 no one will be productive.

Keep a positive attitude or at least try to, some people in your program will be very negative from things that they have heard, but people do leave nursing school and become nurses, not everyone fails out. You just have to keep reaching for that goal even when it looks so far away. It will go so fast because you will be really busy.

And remember you can't do this if you don't love it, I am convinced of it, so if you love it or at least like it, you will do well!

Good luck!!:welcome:

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · May 15, 2006

I just finished my 1st yr of a 2 yr program....I have a lot of good things to say:
I love it! I love it! It's challenging and a lot of hard work, but I have never gone to school for something that I absolutely love. It's a fascinating field, I have never learned so much in such a short amount of time. I have met some great people, made some great friend along the way too! It's extremely rewarding and very interesting.
Some tips for getting though it:
Stay motivated, keep looking at what you will have when you are done, a great career, that pays well, is in demand, and is also very flexible. I keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel because I know this will pay off.
Study, study, study! I studied everyday and this really helped me, even if it meant flipping through my notes for 10-15 mins. I didn't study 6 hours a day just here and there and a little more intensely the days before the tests, 1-2 hours.
Make time for school, you have to schedule things well, you can't cook a 5 course meal, clean the whole house, and study for a test. Something has to give, so hopefully you have a supportive family to pick up the slack. I just finished the semester and I am just now switching my winter and summer clothes and it's the middle of May. You are not SUPERHUMAN, you can't do it all, and school comes first over cleaning/cooking/shopping/etc.
You will become burnt out at times, talk to your classmates, this helps a lot because you are all in the same situation. Also, try to find some people to study with, and try to get together often, study in groups helps a lot, but not more then 3 people, more then 3 no one will be productive.
Keep a positive attitude or at least try to, some people in your program will be very negative from things that they have heard, but people do leave nursing school and become nurses, not everyone fails out. You just have to keep reaching for that goal even when it looks so far away. It will go so fast because you will be really busy.
And remember you can't do this if you don't love it, I am convinced of it, so if you love it or at least like it, you will do well!
Good luck!!:welcome:

:yeahthat: WOW! You have said it all. The only thing I can add is, nursing school has made me such a stronger person in life. I have gained such a great confidence and I know, if I can do this, everything else will not be a big deal for me.

LadyStar42, LPN · May 15, 2006

i am about to embark on my journey in to nursing school. i have dreamed of this moment for many years and it is finally happening. i am an older student, wife and mother. i know there are alot of students that fit my profile, and i would love to hear some encouraging feelings on the positive aspects of attending nursing school. i have been hearing a lot of negative feedback and it almost scares me. it makes me think i am really heading in to a war zone. please someone out there reply with some positive thoughts on your experiences. :monkeydance:

like you, i had waited for this chance all my life. this is the smartest thing i've ever done. yes it is hard and if you don't love it you will likely fail. but, if (like me) you absolutley love it, you will do fine. i went back to school at 42 years old, how scarey is that?? but now i graduate in a couple of months and the sense of accomplishment is wonderful. just believe that you and your family can live with "dust bunnies", your husband can cook and kids can learn to do the laundry. so it turns out to be good for everybody. it's gonna take a lot of hard work but you can do it!!!!!!

donna

luvmy2angels · May 15, 2006

Nursing school was definately a challange, but one I would gladly do again!! I am 33, have 2 children (well, 3 if you include my husband:lol2: ). I was pretty much a stay at home mom when i decided to go back to school. I had worked as a CNA for 18 years and was finally ready to take the leap!! I had SOOOOOOOOO much fun in school !!! It was awesome! I made some really great friends and felt so proud of myself on graduation day! I had a wonderful sense of accomplishment because this was something that i had always wanted to do!! There were younger students in our class too, and of course there were some personality conflicts but you have that no matter where you go or what you do. But I really miss school, one of the best times of my life!!!

Columnist · May 15, 2006

Thank you for starting this thread. I also am going to nursing school as a "mature adult," and I don't want to get bogged down in the negativity of some people. Negativity is easy; staying positive and upbeat is the harder but more rewarding path. I'm not in nursing school yet, but I've learned from life in the corporate world that there are always those who choose to look at things negatively and those who are choose to be upbeat and positive. When I get to nursing school, I'm going to do my best to BE on of the latter and ASSOCIATE with those who are the latter.

I am so excited about going to nursing school. I honestly feel it will be the most rewarding experience of my life.

Good luck to you!

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · May 15, 2006

If nursing is something you LOVE, it is easier, fun.

If you are not in love with nursing, it is harder, less fun, but still very rewarding and you gain much knowlege.

Nursing school is positive all around, it is just very challenging for most people. Good Luck and CONGRATS!:balloons:

mad9 · May 15, 2006

:icon_hug: Hi and best wishes to everyone who has and will post here on their upcoming endeavors. I am entering ns as a mature student in Spetember (I have to keep writing that because I am thrilled!)

I just had to say that being happy or negative is a choice we as individuals make each and every day. We choose our attitude. I choose to be aware, grateful and a happy person. That doesn't mean that I don't allow myself to feel emotions that are not positive, I acknowledge them, if there is something I can do about situations to improve my outlook-I do it and then I move on.

If we have that kind of self awareness, insight, and attitude with the motivation to suceed in whatever we choose to do then we can do anything. Even nursing school.

Sue7573 · May 15, 2006

I was so excited to see this forum started. I just finished my first year of a 2 year program. In our school it is the second semester that is DREADED. The MED SURG semester. I loved it, love school and love the whole experience. First of all (except for clinical days) school doesn't start till 9 so I am able to get my kids to school and have enough time to get ready before I have to be there. Plus I live an hour away from the school and (except for the gas prices these days) love that hour to myself to think about whatever. I am able to leave home at home and school at school during those hours coming and going.

Everything that has been posted so far is right on the way I feel about school. One thing I would like to add though is: do allow yourself a pity party here and there. In my first semester I failed my third test. Up until that point it didn't matter what went on I insisted on staying positive, no matter what. In clinicals I got a but chewing for something over a care plan. Well I didn't let it get me down, things like that I let go and didn't allow myself to get down. When I failed that test that I studied hard for, I cried and cried and wollowed and basically acted a fool over it. Not that I didn't deserve that but I think that if I allowed myself to be disappointed on other aspects (like the but chewing) then I wouldn't have been so discourged over the failed test. I actually had thoughts of quiting. Now I am not the quiting type, I really thought about it. Low and behold I only just barely passed the next test. I wasn't as dissappointed because I had not studied like I should have but I was in danger of not having a choice. So I buckled down and set everything straight and got out of 101, with a hair to spare.

Then in 202 I passed the first test with flying colors and CLINICALS were great I loved every minute of it, even OR observation. Second test was awesome, the class average was 84 (this test is supposed to have a curse on it and one that no one can pass). Then the third test I failed and the 4th test I failed. Things were looking grim. I cried and had my pity parties after each test. Then all was well I was doing well in clinicals and every other aspect of class. So I stood up and felt strong. NO THOUGHTS OF QUITTING this time. I made B's on my last 2 tests and passed my final. I was very excited. I just think the difference was allowing my self to feel bad when I did feel bad made all the difference.

I have to inject here though that I had the most wonderful teacher and clinical instructor in the WORLD. I feel bad because I tried to get out of her clinicals in the beginning. I had heard from numerous older students that this instructor was a monster and if there was any way at all to get out of her clinicals to do it. I tried, it didn't work. I got her and moaned and groaned about it all the way to the hospital. Turns out I learned so much from her. I don't believe I would have gotten any where near as much from any of the other instructors. SHE WAS AWESOME. I fully believe that she made all the difference in the world for me in this semester.

I love nursing school and as much as I am excited to be a nurse, I am going to miss school just the same. And as much as I needed a break, (summer vacation is here) I also dreaded summer coming I mean almost 3 months of no school is going to kill me.

Have a good day!!!

Daye · May 15, 2006

i just graduated a week ago from adn

i wouldn't trade it for nothing. the knowledge is rewarding, the opportunities endless and fulfilling knowing that you really can make a difference in someones life.

going to school was so super, where can you go and find such dedicated instructors, people that truly know how to care about other people.

classmates who are right there struggling to pass the test, and stressing over care plans to do and all the while wanting to treat every client they take care of with the best possible care they can.

it would be a lie to say it wasn't hard b/c it was.

crying over a failed test is something that all your classmates will be able to relate to. being tired from hours of studying and putting together a care plan and then all the hard work, laughter and memories pay off so much as you are pinned on the night of graduation.

best wishes to you along the way as you too take the journey