most difficult part of nursing school?

I am wondering if some of you nursing students would be willing to share what you think is the most difficult aspect of nursing school.

undergrad:

staying awake during theory

pretending that nursing diagnosis' aren't completely laughable and out of touch with reality

figuring out what to do with all my free time

grad:

studying

clinicals

trying to find free time

The culture.. and jumping through "hoops"

But it's well worth it!

Good Luck,

Diane

Most difficult aspect...hmmmmm...

1) Never enough time to study....(& I don't work)

2) Care Plans

3) Feeling completely clueless no matter how much you've actually learned

4) Care Plans

5) Nursing exams......4 right answers but choose the BEST one!!

6) Did I mention care plans?!

haha yeah def the 4 right answers choose the right one!! from my experience, finding out what your clinical instructor wants because they are all so different!!! It's hard because you are only a student and some teachers are stuck in there way, although there are many right ways to do things....oh and the fact that i no longer have a life....ummmm hummmm:banghead:

group projects. I hate them

1. never enough time for studying, care plans, practicing skills, studying for tests

2. time away from everything else (friends, spouses, family)

3. the headgames clinical instructors play with you and biting your tongue

The best answer that I can give to you is not to look at what the worst part of nursing school was, but what the best parts of being a nurse are. I just graduated in December and started as a new grad in the ER this past February. I love it. Any problems I encountered in school have been far outweighed by the joy I have experienced in giving direct patient care. I felt the same way with the patients during clinicals in nursing school. Any thing worth having in life requires work, whether it's nursing or some other occupation. Good luck with your decision.

Sleep! Get plenty of it now.:chuckle

1.) If you are an over achiever, coming to terms with the fact that you will no longer be an A student, then accepting this fact after fighting it for some time.

2.) Feeling stupid even though you can recite the book inside out.

3.) Learning not to critically think, while trying to learn how to critically think.

4.) Feeling like giving up because you think you might seriously hurt someone after your first mistake at clinical.

5.) Having this constant nagging feeling of "what the **** have I gotten myself into?"

The amount of reading is the most time consuming part.

I agree with nurseplease about the coming to grips that you may not get straight A's. That has been the hardest for me, this semester I am barely hanging on to my A in med/surg, I am fine in OB and Micro, but Med/surg this semester is frustrating me to no end. That grade keeps me up at night and haunts me all day.

ALWAYS feeling like you must study- never being able to relax because you have to study and feeling guilty if you do try and relax.

Time management, Hands down.