Encouragement needed please!

merryeh · Mar 2, 2011

It's probably wise to remember you are all separate individuals and have issues that affect you. I would take it one challenge at a time. In my opinion, the nursing classes were NOT more difficult than A&P. Go girl!!

pinkkitty11 · Mar 2, 2011

I don't want to discourage you, but I am going to be honest!

I am graduating from ASU in May with my BSN, and I think that the classes were as hard as A&P, honestly. Things are overwhelming, and you definitely will feel (at times) that you will not be able to push any further. However, I thought it was much more REWARDING than A&P. And I felt less pressure to "get straight A's" like I had to in the prereqs in order to get into the nursing program. Plus while you are in theory and lecture classes, you are also in clinicals, learning things, and making connections with patients, families, and nurses, that will change your life. It is an AMAZING field and I am extremely happy with my choice, regardless of feeling at times like I was going to freak out. Plus, I have met some of my best friends in the world while in nursing school, because you all are going through the same thing. Plus, its 2 years, and you will be making $50K/year (at least) afterwards.

Right now, people in my semester are freaking out about the fact that there "aren't any jobs". So I am going to give you a piece of advice: Be optimistic.. Don't let other people get you down, because it is a great career and if you have the work ethic, you will pass.

So in the end, the classes are different. It's more adjusting to the program and the schedule than the classes being hard. Believe in yourself!!

JustaNrsgStudent · Mar 2, 2011

I would say AP is about equivalent to most of the nursing classes. Some classes will actually be easier and then again some will be much harder. A lot nursing classes are just busy work, I'll spend weekends just catching up on clinical write-ups, simulation lab write-ups, concept maps, and other business. Tips for nursing school, try to pay attention as much as you can in class and just take good thorough notes. ALSO, practice time management now...trust me, you'll be glad you did!

Just remember why you want to do nursing and everything will work out. Best of luck with everything! :)

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2011

I am a pre-nursing student in my second semester of A&P. I overheard some students in class state that although this class is hard (demanding, etc) "just wait until the nursing classes start." I usually turn a deaf ear to comments like that because they can promote worry and fear, but I couldn't help listen and wonder. I think A&P is time consuming and very hard for two reasons: one, my professor is a neuro-endocrinologist and second, I work 30-35 hours, am a wife with laundry, house cleaning, etc. I stress out about practicals and exams but seem to do pretty well (have an A so far) because I stay up on studying. When I do start the nursing program next year, I won't be working at all and will have more time to devote to balancing study time.
So for current students and nurses, were they right? Is A&P a breeze compared to nursing classes? I realize they will be tough but if I'm stressing out about A&P how am I going to handle nursing?
Any encouragement is appreciated. :)

Everyone is different obviously, but I am a wife and mom to 4 kids, I didn't have to work during nursing school, and I have done far better IN nursing school than I did during any of my science pre reqs. Including, A&P 1 and 2 and Micro and Organic and Inorganic Chem. Not to mention in NS our grading skill is a lot stricter than Pre Reqs. A 70% was passing for Pre Reqs, a 77% is passing for our program.

I have really enjoyed nursing school, I still have time for all the stuff I did before. I am doing better 4th semester in my advanced Med/Surg 2 class than I did in my previous med/surg classes. (hopefully I didn't just jinx myself and now fail :| ) but Nursing school has not been the nightmare everyone said it would be.

All that said, I do wish I would have paid attention better in A&P and put forth a better effort, having a good understanding of it would have come in really handy for my med/surg classes. If I had to go back and take A&P or Patho now, I have no doubt I would breeze through it with flying colors.

cainca · Mar 3, 2011

Thank you all so much for your advice and encouragement. I think the best thing for me to do is stay optimistic and remember why I am doing this. I want to be a nurse and always have wanted to do so. It's easy to get sucked in with the negative comments. But I need to remember that I can achieve my dreams and enjoy myself and learn from every aspect.

Thank you all again so much!

NurseToBe3 · Mar 5, 2011

I just finished my pre-recs and applied to a few nursing program and I have definitely heard horror stories about nursing school too. I don't think it will be easy by any means, but I try to keep in mind that people are more likely to talk about how tough it is than to talk about how doable it is. Just like how bad news seems to travel faster than good news. I am still very nervous about being accepted into a school and making it through all the classes while juggling my family and work. We will be able to do it though. I have always wanted to be a nurse too and it's people like us that are passionate about it that will make great nurses!

AggieNurse99, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2011

I was such a great pre-nursing student! I studied hard and made 'A's. Nursing school is harder simply because you learn a new way of thinking. You do pre-req's thinking like a student. Nursing school is the first step of thinking like a nurse. You have to train your brain to problem solve using the nursing process. You will do great! I know it. Motivation is the key, but I found nursing school to be as time consuming as any other semester with 12-16 credit hours.