How does Nursing rank in comparison to other majors in difficulty?

Nursing Students General Students

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I was wondering when u tell someone, "Im a nursing major" Do they give u a weird look and tell u, oh thats easy, or like, oh thats difficult. Do u think that nursing is one of the most difficult majors at ur school? Is nursing at the level of being in medical school, or like pre-med? I know all the things we deal with from reading all the threads like.. "oh my life is over" .. "how am i gonna ever pass." When i think of other majors, psychology, business, philosophy, and education, i dont think they have it that hard. Does nursing have that prestige like saying, oh im gonna be a doctor, and we all go, "wow, thats real difficult". Do people go, oh a nurse, wow thats difficult compared to other majors.

Specializes in ob, med surg.

I would like to point out that more and more the difficulty of all classes on the college level depends on the major and the college and to a degree, where the college is located. I have a BS degree from Penn State and a ADN degree from a tiny little community college in Virginia. My chemistry class at Penn State was pretty easy, my biology class was hard, astronomy was IMPOSSIBLE, at least as taken as an elective. However, quite a few people at my community college failed A&P and took it else where and transfered the credit back to the commumity college. Classes at community colleges are not ALWAYS easier than Universities. A & P at my community college was challenging to say the least!

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Classes at community colleges are not ALWAYS easier than Universities. A & P at my community college was challenging to say the least!

I would have to agree. In my community college, 1/4 of the class dropped Micro, 1/2 dropped Anatomy & 3/4 dropped Physiology. These classes were unbelievably difficult. It's like the college has a chip on its shoulder concerning the local university.

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The nursing program at my community college was considered tough. The faculty was not encouraging, to put it mildly. We bonded to help each other through the experience and to give encouragement that we would make it. Looking back on it, I guess they were trying to accomplish something. I am not really sure what. I have talked to nurses from other schools and they reported nurturing enviroments. I think that would make the program easier.

Good luck with your studies!

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At my school nursing is extremely hard. I've had friends attend other universities and thought it was a breeze and then transfered to my school and flunked out...I think it really depends on the professors and how difficult they make the subject matter.

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I have a BS in Business and Management; an AS in Data Programming; a diploma in nursing (LPN). My two degrees are with Dean's Honors, etc. My nursing diploma was without a doubt the hardest of the three.

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Specializes in ER, PICU.

I know my bachelor program challenged me! In no way can it compare to medical school though. My gf just started in january, and is up at 530 for her classes, and is studying every free second she has just to survive. she goes to bed at 10 or 11 to start all over again. No comparison...

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The theory part of nursing is not very difficult compared to other majors such as in the sciences, engineering, mathmatics, physics, etc...Nursing theory courses where you sit in the class room and take notes is like an expansion of general education (high school) knowledge..That is how I see it...And clinicall skills take practice for mastery..

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Specializes in OR, Hospice.
blueinplaid said:
I know my bachelor program challenged me! In no way can it compare to medical school though. My gf just started in january, and is up at 530 for her classes, and is studying every free second she has just to survive. she goes to bed at 10 or 11 to start all over again. No comparison...

Sounds like my schedule, except that I'm up at 4:30 for my 6:00 clinicals.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.

Yep. Just found out today that I will have to be at clinical at 6:45 for pre-conference and morning report. However, my professor, who is also my clinical instructor, told us this, "If you're early, you're on time; if you're on time, you're late; if you're late, don't even bother coming." I have to get up at 4:30 am in order for me to be there on time. Ugh. :eek:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Mave said:
Yep. Just found out today that I will have to be at clinical at 6:45 for pre-conference and morning report. However, my professor, who is also my clinical instructor, told us this, "If you're early, you're on time; if you're on time, you're late; if you're late, don't even bother coming." I have to get up at 4:30 am in order for me to be there on time. Ugh. :eek:

same here....but this time we go to clinical twice a week for 12 hours a day. I am so ready to graduate its not even funny!

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I have a Degree in Respiratory Care, as well as a Bachelors in Nursing. I found that my education in Respiratory Care was much more academically challenging. I think my overall "medical" education was better as well. I found that where I went to nursing school the emphasis was on the "Nursing Process" and lots of phsyco-social babble instead of a good solid base in the pathophysiology of disease processes. I did not find nursing school as acedemically challenging. I was also totally prepared to step into a job as a RT when I graduated, the same cannot be said when I graduated from Nursing school.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.

I struggled through Anatomy and Phys. I wouldn't have passed it if I didn't have tutors. Are nursing classes like that? I'm scared b/c I don't know anyone who tutors for them.:o

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