how difficult are nursing classes?

purplemania, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2004

I don't know what you mean by "major" but every subject has difficult classes if you do not study or have the motivation to learn or have some natural ability. Pharmacology can be hard, as there is lots of memory. After a while things start to make sense and you see patterns or repeats in the information. Just like anything else you learn. If you are thinking of applying to a nursing school you might ask if they have an admission exam you could try first to see if you "fit". However, nothing replaces motivation. You have to really want that degree!

francine79 · Mar 3, 2004

How hard are the nursing classes? That's a difficult question to answer. It depends I think, on the amount of experience you have beyond the classroom. For instance, if you already work in a hospital or other area, things might be a bit easier for you. But if you have no experience, I would definitely say they would be hard.

I guess what I would say is, yes they are hard. Simply because it's a lot of material to be thrown at you in a very short amount of time. But it also depends on how you are tested. Where I go, questions on the test are very similar to those on the NCLEX. That and our tests consist of about 20 questions over a complex unit such as the endocrine system.

Really it just depends on the type of student you are. Most importantly, you have to know how to apply the information you learn in a nursing setting not just memorize it. So if you have trouble applying the information you learn, it could be extremely difficult. For example, your patients blood glucose level is 49 mg/dL. What's the first thing you are going to do? What else are you going to do?

Pharmacology, is hard. Simply because you have to memorize soooo many drugs.

I know that probably doesn't help much but really it's all depends on the type of learner you are .

Sheri257 · Mar 3, 2004

How difficult is it? Well, with the most recent freshman class at my school, the highest grade is a C, and only 7 out of 30 passed the last exam.

I guess that tells you how hard it is.

sierra123 · Mar 3, 2004

simple question guy how difficult are nursing classes ? i am talking about the major nursing classes. what is it like? and how are the test administered?
also how was pharmocology? i heard this class is hard?
any thoughts.
thanks

You will be fine as long as you are dedicated to studying and you are an organized person. You do live, breathe and eat nursing though. You either love it or you hate it!! Good luck!!!!

miss_sheesh · Mar 3, 2004

I agree with Sierra123. Nursing school is not easy but as long as you are focused and dedicated to your studies you will do fine. Don't let what you hear discourage you. Everyones experience is different. Good Luck!!

JenRN_2B · Mar 3, 2004

This is a really bad week to ask me that question as I am pretty sure that all of my nursing instructors are bipolar witches sent from the depths of hell just to make my life hard.

As for the course work, it's not too horrible as long as you READ READ READ the material.

kahumai, RN · Mar 4, 2004

I agree with JenRN2B completely!!!! :rotfl:

As long as you make an effort to attempt to learn the material (as much as there is) and know **WHY** you're doing it, you'll be okay. It's one thing to memorize the information, but keeping in the back of your mind that one day you may save someone's life with this information keeps me on track from just half-a$$ing it. Nursing is different from all other majors because not only do we need to know the material come test time, we also need to retain the material for work. But I'm not gonna lie...it ain't easy! :sniff:

kwagner_51 · Mar 4, 2004

Hi,

After hearing all the horror stories while taking pre-reqs, I was TERRIFIED!! All our nursing instructors keep saying that this is hard.

However, I breezed through Fundamentals, with a high B. I was bored in that class. From my experience, it was mostly first aid except that we gave shots and put in caths. Of course, we also learned how to give bed baths, change sheets, make a bed with someone in it, how to do a sterile field for urinary cath insertion, how to calculate drug dosages, and how to give shots and where to give them.

The first 8 weeks of this semester, I was on OB. I LOVED it. Got an A [so far, the final was yesterday]. I do not take ANYTHING but nursing classes. If at all possible, that is what I recommend. Get all pre-reqs out of the way, and then take the nursing courses.

I start Med/Surg 1 on March 15th. For some reason, I am once again TERRIFIED!!

I am 43, and have always been interested in medicine. I took advanced first aid, while still in high school and still remember must of it. What give me problems is the care plan.

I know how to do the interventions, but ask me to come up with a diagnosis, nope, no way, can't do it. I think that is because, we were not taught what they mean. For example, all Post partum women are at risk for fluid volume deficit. Why? Because they are dehydrated and lose fluid during the birthing process.

I bought 2 different books on care plans, because I don't want to fail. On the care plans, my advisor/instructor told me to pretend that I was taking my kids to the park, and needed to scope out the problems that COULD happen, and what to do to prevent them from happening. It WORKS!! But it still doesn't help me come up with a diagnosis!! :rolleyes:

Anyway, if you have all pre-reqs done, and you like medicine, and you study, you should be fine. So far, we haven't had to memorize any drugs, but we have to recognize them on tests.

One more thing, I thought Chemistry and Intermediate Algebra were ALOT harder that nursing classes. It could be, because I HATED both of those classes.

Hope this helps!

johnnrachel · Mar 5, 2004

Hi Im just responding to the prior thread regarding nursing diagnosis. I invested in a book called NURSING DIAGNOSIS the author is akcley. It is my bible for making nursing Diagnosis's. You just look up in back the admitting diagnosis and it gives you possible nursing diagnosis, than turn to that section and see if that pertains to your patient. I just though I would pass it on, everyone in my class who looked at my book went out and bought it. I swear I do the care plans in half the amount of time as before (coupled with a few other books I use) Just though maybe it would help someone.

Good Luck :)

TexasNS · Mar 5, 2004

It is only as hard as you let it be. Apply yourself and if you want it..... go get it!!!