What is the hardest thing about Nursing school?

tde1992 · Sep 3, 2006

Nursing school wasn't hard at all. It is extremly general and doesn't get deep into information. You pretty much cram through nursing school (esp. BSN programs). For example my program consisted of 1 semester of med surg that met once a week, every week we had a test based on 8 to 10 chapters. You actually begin to learn when you start to work and through self teaching by way of reading literature from not only nursing books/journals but also by reading medical, respiratory and pharmacy articles/books.

Halinja, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2006

I agree with Jules A. The disorganization frustrates me. This is a program that has been running for years, yet it seems like the staff is often surprised/unprepared. (Show up for foley practice in the lab, and the supplies you need aren't there, nor have they been ordered...things like that)

And personalities! Yikes. Best advice, keep your head down and just get through. (a student ahead of me in the program said that, and I think it at least once a week) Don't get caught up in the politics. Just makes things harder.

It's not the material that is hard. If you study at all, you can do it.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 3, 2006

I agree with Jules A. The disorganization frustrates me. This is a program that has been running for years, yet it seems like the staff is often surprised/unprepared. (Show up for foley practice in the lab, and the supplies you need aren't there, nor have they been ordered...things like that)And personalities! Yikes. Best advice, keep your head down and just get through. (a student ahead of me in the program said that, and I think it at least once a week) Don't get caught up in the politics. Just makes things harder. It's not the material that is hard. If you study at all, you can do it.

Halinja, I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt like that! It still makes me sad because the material and new skills were so interesting and most of the other students were great but the extra, unnecessary aggravation still haunts me. It just didn't have to be that way, imho. Your advice about putting your head down and pushing forward is perfect.

Halinja, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2006

It just didn't have to be that way, imho.

So true!!!

leslie :-D · Sep 4, 2006

the hardest part for me was the mental abuse from the instructors.

most would literally browbeat you to death, making you feel 2 ft tall.

i heard they did this to teach us advocacy: that if we could defend ourselves, then we could assert ourselves to doctors, families and advocate for our pts.

i'm telling you, it was brutal.

and attending a diploma school meant i was constantly in clinicals-where most of this abuse took place.

i graduated with only a handful of students remaining.

leslie

Lara911 · Sep 4, 2006

Stress management...when you start to have patients and lot of responsability and you don't know what you do...never hesitate to ask for help, to confirm when you are unsure. Good luck!

rrivera2 · Sep 5, 2006

Learning to think in terms of "nursing themes" that we were learning in school - especially in Intro to Nursing Care - had a hard time morphing my established way of thinking to fit the correct exam answers.

Pharmacology - review, review, review, write, write, write, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

Getting videotaped for skills lab to show our ability - "validation". Scary in the beginning.

Skills lab using equipment/material no longer used in the "real world" - i.e. trach "ties" vs. whats in current use now in hospitals. And trach suctioning, which we learned by sterile procedure which is done in hospitals by in-line suctioning. Totally different.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2006

Incredible amounts of stress.

Fantastic amounts of matierial.

And the cake - tying it all together at the end.

I worked two jobs through nursing school. I think for my Junior and Senior years, I slept an average of 3-4 hours a night.

Telling you - when I gaduated school, my brain was literally feeling traumatized! :chuckle

Get used to no TV, no time for friends, no time for movies, no non-nursing related books, no vaccations (What was my reply to people asking me "What are you doing for Spring/Winter Break?" ??? SLEEP! :lol2: )

Get used to "No life..." :)

But I promise you - it's more than worth it at the end! :coollook:

Halinja, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2006

I'll second the "no life" thing.

One GOOD thing???

My boy children have become much more self sufficient. My 17 yo (now 18) can cook dinner like a pro. My 11 yo boy can do a complete load of laundry from sorting into appropriate colors and adding appropriate bleaches etc, to sorting and folding. It was learn to do it yourself or wait until Mom surfaces for air. grin. They got tired of waiting.

clee1 · Sep 9, 2006

I'll agree with the time management comments.

A family, full-time school, and full-time work are a tremendous chore; add to it a disorganized school that always changes the schedule at the last minute and you have a rollercoaster of chaos to contend with! :nono:

Thank GOD I'll be done in December!

Jules A, MSN · Sep 9, 2006

add to it a disorganized school that always changes the schedule at the last minute and you have a rollercoaster of chaos to contend with!

OMG the lack of respect for our time drove me bonkers!

Halinja, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2006

The disorganization.

Case in point...classes start the 12th...our health clearance/proof of insurance/update packet had to be turned in today. YESTERDAY they informed us that we all had to get a SPECIFIC malpractice insurance...by today. Many of us were left scambling, having already purchased malpractice insurance at a company we have used in the past.

I don't mind the switch...if they'd told us in June...but less than 24 hours notice? Sigh:(