Did (does) anyone love nursing school? - page 2

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Call me crazy, but I can't wait to get in. I keep hearing about how much work it is, how awful it is, how time consuming, etc, but I never hear anyone say that they love(d) nursing school. Does (or... Read More

  1. by casi
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: LTC RN Specialty: 3 year(s) of experience in LTC ; From: US ; Joined: Jun '05; Posts: 2,120; Likes: 2,144
    I don't think love is the exact word I would use for nursing school. I miss being able to skip classes and not be too far behind. I miss the days where 77% was not only passing, but almost a B!

    There are things about nursing school I have really enjoyed so far. I find the material interesting and the staff and students fantastic.... but I still wouldn't say that I love it.
  2. by pagandeva2000
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: Licensed Practical Nurse Specialty: Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health ; From: US ; Joined: Sep '05; Posts: 9,297; Likes: 8,221
    To tell the truth, I hated nursing school with a passion and made a personal vow not to ever return to school, but that is just me...

    Don't let anyone damper your spirit. You have to walk your own path and you'll walk away with your own impressions. Do your best to enjoy the experience and get all you can out of it.
  3. by EymieICURN
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: RN-ICU, NICU, ED Specialty: 12 year(s) of experience in Adult ICU (All over), NICU, Education ; From: US ; Joined: Nov '03; Posts: 44; Likes: 63
    I Loved Nursing School. I loved it so much I went back as an Instructor.
  4. by llg
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: Nursing Professional Development + Academic Faculty Specialty: 38 year(s) of experience in Nursing Professional Development ; Joined: Sep '02; Posts: 13,464; Likes: 25,094
    I hated nursing school while getting my undergraduate degree -- hated almost every minute of it. After working as a staff nurse for 2 years (which I really liked), I went back to school full time for an MSN. I really liked that program and enjoyed the classes. Then, after working for about 10 years as a CNS/Staff Development educator, I went back to school again for a PhD. I really loved those classes.

    In all 3 schools, I met some great people and enjoyed getting to know them.
  5. by NewTexasRN
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: I'm a nurse! Dah!!! Specialty: Ortho and Tele med/surg ; From: NJ, US ; Joined: Dec '07; Posts: 334; Likes: 421
    Oh brother, I was exactly like you in the beginning, I want to hear from you when you're finished!
  6. by blondy2061h
    Apr 29, '09
    Joined: Jul '08; Posts: 4,274; Likes: 12,969
    I liked it. I made good friends, had some great profs, and enjoyed clinicals.
  7. by MobileNurseSara
    Apr 29, '09
    Specialty: ED ; From: CA ; Joined: Apr '09; Posts: 46; Likes: 33
    I loved everything except 3rd year. It was pure torture. I don't know how it's legal (and no, I'm not exaggerating).
  8. by CaliLvr000
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: RN Specialty: 7 year(s) of experience in Operating Room ; From: US ; Joined: Sep '07; Posts: 96; Likes: 22
    I have my eye on the prize. However, my life consists of.....no life really. I feel like all I do is study, eat, and sleep. Then...sometimes....I get to do laundry! I like challenges and this is definitely a challenge-- get some sleep now!
  9. by kf15
    Apr 29, '09
    Joined: Mar '08; Posts: 76; Likes: 50
    Quote from HippyGreenPeaceChick
    I loved Nursing school, I loved classes and clinicals.
    I loved the partying and fun. I did party a lot. I still love to party..
    partying and fun, 2 words I have not heard or used in several yrs.....good to hear that everyone makes it thru eventually, now to find work in what is left of this country.
  10. by HippyGreenPeaceChick
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: RN, ER and Home Health Specialty: 2 year(s) of experience in ER and Home Health ; From: US ; Joined: Mar '09; Posts: 202; Likes: 156
    I have no problem in finding work at all. I also have no problems in finding fun and partying and having a very enjoyable lifestyle. So Cal is so good to live in.
  11. by gsjules
    Apr 29, '09
    Occupation: LVN @ SNF, mom, wife Specialty: 5 year(s) of experience in geriatrics, autism awareness ; Joined: Feb '07; Posts: 10; Likes: 3
    Nursing school itself is hard, time consuming, mentally taxing and worth every minute. The nursing instructors are like boot camp sergeants. They will tell you horror stories and check your socks match your whites. They will practically come to your house to make sure they can bounce a quarter off your sheets. I'm not kidding. Nurses eat their young. Don't be afraid of this. Just remember when you are a nurse that the nursing student is there to learn from you just as you did when you were a student. Nurses can be really tempermental and for some reason they like to take it out on nursing students because we are at their mercy. Just remember why you are there.
  12. by jjjoy
    Apr 29, '09
    Joined: Jul '03; Posts: 2,937; Likes: 2,385
    I always loved school and learning but nursing school & classes (core classes, not pre-reqs/co-reqs) were different from any other educational experience I had had.

    It seems to me that many nursing schools *provide opportunities* to learn about nursing and practice some nursing. They provide a curriculum and clinical rotations in various facilities. They actively weed out students who are likely to fail the licensing exam (NCLEX). It doesn't necessarily *train* students as nurses, though. I had expected more training and instruction... not to be "spoon-fed" as some might call it, but to have more guidance, instruction, and clarity of learning objectives... and so I found nursing school frustrating and unsatisfying as an educational experience.

    Lectures felt like rushed cursory cram sessions, tests seemed more about having good test-taking skills than about understanding and retaining facts and concepts, care plan evaluations often felt arbitrary and inconsistent, opportunities to practice hands-on skills were often limited (only one chance in two years to insert a foley or NG tube for example), and with just one clinical instructor for 8-10 students and liability concerns, there was lots of waiting around or doing basic care (eg bed baths) in clinicals as opposed to really practicing the multitude of RN-level responsibilities.

    Many schools seem to take the attitude that "it's up to you make the most of your school experience" - which often equates to "you're on your own to find opportunities to practice skills in clinicals" and "if you want in depth comprehension, go research it yourself." That's fine for some people, but I do better with more structure when getting started. Given what I now know about my learning style in regard to applied skills and how many nursing schools work, if I had to do it again, I'd seek out a school with a shining reputation for providing strong clinical training.
  13. by RNperdiem
    Apr 29, '09
    Specialty: 14 year(s) of experience ; From: US ; Joined: Dec '06; Posts: 4,088; Likes: 8,701
    I loved school too.
    I guess I loved that time of my life when I was young, free from family responsibilities, and had plenty of free time left over even after school and my part time job.
    Compared to the daily grind of work at times, nursing school seemed so nice.

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