Did you have medical background?

[iwannabeanrn]

I am intrested in knowing how many of you found it easier in nursing school because you already had some sort of medical background? Or were you like me ...future RN and had none instead...and had to start from the bottom up..I mean...I dont even know what the normal blood pressure is!!! So basically is it easier to get through a program with some medical background or is it okay just to learn...

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I am a paramedic and almost new graduate nurse and I can say I DEFENATLY think I had a much easier time because of my backround. It also depends on what your backround is in, for instance the students in my class who were CNAs before nursing school were MUCH better at organization where I was stinking at organizing care and good at figuring out the whole picture.... it all depends on what your backround is in and how much experience you have.

I would recommend becomming a CNA or doing something in the healthcare feild just to gain experience and insite

Sweetooth.

[abundantjoy07, RN]

I had a high school degree background!

I went straight from high school to college. I did take a CNA course the summer of my sophomore year. But other than that I had to learn learn learn!

My first anatomy course was my freshman year of college...boy was I ever surprised that blood could be unoxygenated and that the brain had ventricles!

It can be done. It was hard...but I'm finally getting ready to graduate on the 12th! You can do it.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I had NO medical background whatsoever. I had only a high school diploma. I graduate in 3 weeks and with honors. It was SO difficult but not impossible. Much luck to you!!

[NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN]

I had no medical background at all. And I am graduating Friday :balloons: with great grades. I started working in the hospital after I started nursing school. Our LVNs (LPN) had it much harder, because the book nursing is so different from the reality nursing. So they had to relearn almost everything.

[queenjean]

I was a CNA and a unit secretary on an acute care floor for several years before LPN school. Definitely had an easier time in school (and better grades) than most. Now in an LPN to RN program; again, having a hospital based background helps completely. A lot of our students are struggling with things that I find second nature, since I do them every day at work.

I graduated at the top of my class. I feel my experience definitely helped me. The second in our class had no experience, and was a high school drop out who got married and had her first kid when she was 15; kid was in elementary school then, so she went back, got her GED, and then went to LPN school. So is experience required for a good grade (and for being a good nurse)? No. Absolutely not. You might have a little more ground to make up; so what? Everyone comes in with a different background and experience level. And everyone finds nursing school difficult--it's just a huge time commitment if nothing else. There is always something more to learn.

Good luck--you will do fine if you work hard, no matter what your previous experience level.

[hlfpnt, BSN, RN]

I was a MA for 8 years & it made some things easier. I was already comfortable with injections, doing vitals, running ekg's, phlebotomy, pt & doc interaction, reading lab & test reports, dressing changes, multitasking & some time management. Pharm was easier for me, too, because of my experience with pharmacy calls & administering some meds in office. I am very thankful for my previous experience even if it is minor.