Nursing school is SO hard-that's all I hear

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I'm starting the LPN program in August and all I keep hearing is that nursing school is extremely hard. It must be doable....cause people do graduate. But, is it as hard as they say? Hearing that scares me to death...and makes me not even want to go. Please give me some insight to what it's really like...Thank you.

Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.
I'm starting the LPN program in August and all I keep hearing is that nursing school is extremely hard. It must be doable....cause people do graduate. But, is it as hard as they say? Hearing that scares me to death...and makes me not even want to go. Please give me some insight to what it's really like...Thank you.

I'll be 100 percent honest, I'm going to finish out my first semester (some say the hardest) with either a low A or a high B, both of which I will be completely satisfied with. Either way, I didn't study that much. I did participate in a group, but never really read the book, I took out of lecture everything I could squeeze out of it. I work full time, go to school full time and am a full time mom and wife. I am spread thin. So it's really just learning a whole new way of thinking. Once you got that down, you'll be fine, do what works for you. Above all....do what works for you.

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Veronica123,

Hey there, I am a new LPN student myself. As a matter of fact I am only 3 weeks into it. I don't have any advice really, but I wanted you to know I completely understand where you are coming from. Everyday I go to school and hear horror stories about how hard things are and how people are dropping out...scary stuff....Anyway, since you and I are pretty much in the same place I thought I would let you know how I handle it.

First, I try not to listen too much to the horror stories. Second I take one baby step at a time. I only focus on where I am at and what I am studying that minute. I have learned in my 3 weeks of school that time management is VITAL! Just make sure you have a goal for that day or that week. So far I have enjoyed school and enjoy studying. I wouldn't say that it is terribly hard if you put your mind to it. I don't retain things well so I have to review, review and review some more. Read it over and over, write it down, reread it....You may be blessed with a photographic memory, I am not. However it also depends on how bad you want to be a nurse. Right now I want it A LOT! Go ahead and give it a whirl, I am sure you will do great. Don't let fear stand in your way, you are better and smarter than that. LeAnne Rymes sang a song and the chorus went like this....Don't let fear clip your wings and tell you how high you can fly....It may sound corny, but it is full of truth. Your the only one that can decide how high you can fly.

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I'm currently a prenursing student and reading posts about how hard nursing school is has scared me many a time. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to throw in the towel and just stick with my current career because even though it won't make me happy it seems like the easier way out. And Lord knows being a brand new parent the easier the better it seems. In fact, I recently posted a thread to this effect. After reading all the replies I realize that this is what I want and just remember, nothing worth doing ever comes easy...

Good Luck....

We're all in this together....

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Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.

For myself, I didn't find nsg school so much hard as it was very demanding. It's alot of info in a very short amount of time. You'll hear some of the same material a million times over before you're done. The key to making it through the course is to keep yourself organized & try not to get behind. Keep a calendar & make a "to do" list to check off as you go. Take it one week at a time & you won't feel so overwhelmed. Good luck to you all!

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LPN school has a lot of information, there isn't really anything "hard" about it. If you are willing to review and review the info after coming home from school so you learn it, I am sure you will do just fine.

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For myself, I didn't find nsg school so much hard as it was very demanding. It's alot of info in a very short amount of time. You'll hear some of the same material a million times over before you're done. The key to making it through the course is to keep yourself organized & try not to get behind. Keep a calendar & make a "to do" list to check off as you go. Take it one week at a time & you won't feel so overwhelmed. Good luck to you all!

Oh boy, the TO DO list saved my life!!! Prioritizing is definitely a big one..

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Why borrow that kind of trouble? 8o)

You may find that you LOVE what you're learning (I do!), so the *hard* of it won't sting nearly as much as other people are making it sound like it will.

I'm going to tell you the other side of the coin: Nursing school is VERY rewarding too!!! It's not only intellectually satisfying, but it's extremely gratifying to see how the thinking and skills you learn directly and positively impact the quality of life for other people.

[Now that was a mouthful...but you catch my drift anyway.]

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The material itself isn't that difficult, it's just that there is so much.

EXACTLY!

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Just not quite ready for the trials yet Master!!:smiley_ab

Really, the first year (which I still have 3 more weeks of, so I may be speaking prematurely) isn't that bad. The worst stress is what I have caused myself by not staying on top of things for this or that reason.

I have searched my feelings...and I do see where I waste alot of time (like hanging out on the forum) when I should be studying :trout: Trying to have a social life, when I should be studying :nono: Our professor discussed this with us the past week and urged us to start looking at what we are doing now so we can be ready to dive into 2nd year.

Don't worry!!!! You'll be fine and at this time next year you will be saying how hard first year is...but you will survive!!!

Whoa - you have to have some sort of a social life or you'll go nuts. You have to pull yourself away from books or you will go completely BLIND. I don't want to give the OP the wrong impression here...

Set aside whatever amount of time you know you can spare - even if it's just an hour or two - EVERY WEEK and do WHATEVER you personally want to do. Otherwise you'll go mad.

Also - I haven't found anything particularly hard about the material; it's the time management and prioritizing and making good estimates of how much time you should spend on certain subjects and projects that will get you. And I'm in an accelerated program - which meant I have had less time than others to figure that out!

But you're right - others graduate. Think about how many others have done it before you - and that will put it into perspective. You'll do fine.

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I'll be 100 percent honest, I'm going to finish out my first semester (some say the hardest) with either a low A or a high B, both of which I will be completely satisfied with. Either way, I didn't study that much. I did participate in a group, but never really read the book, I took out of lecture everything I could squeeze out of it. I work full time, go to school full time and am a full time mom and wife. I am spread thin. So it's really just learning a whole new way of thinking. Once you got that down, you'll be fine, do what works for you. Above all....do what works for you.

I pretty much agree with this. You have to quickly figure out where the important information is, get it, study it, and be done with it (and what I mean there is, when you walk into the test, at that point you either know the material or you don't and worrying about it won't help you do any better on the exam). Sometimes it takes one test in each class to figure out how best to approach the material. Talk to former students and flat-out ask them - "Does Mr. X or Ms. Y tend to present all of the highlights in lecture, or is more of the material left for us in the book?" (Take their response as advice and NOT gospel; also ask more than one person if you can.) Sometimes you can figure it out just by sitting through the lectures, and sometimes you can't. (Example - we have guest lecturers in my adult health class. Almost NONE of the detailed cardiac information outlined in the study guide is from the lecture - it's all in the book!)

Also - don't look at the book and think - I'll never learn all of THAT. Because here's the tip: you're not going to. In fact, you're not even going to cover the entire textbook. You will (hopefully! if your program is decent!) be taught what is deemed important as basic nursing skills and knowledge, as well as what is likely to show up on NCLEX.

You'll be fine. I just know it. ;)

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I didn't study that much. I did participate in a group, but never really read the book, I took out of lecture everything I could squeeze out of it.

That won't work in level 2 at SPC. There were no lectures in class in level 2, just online lectures that didn't cover the test content nearly well enough. You're going to have to start really reading all of the reading material because we never knew where those test questions were going to be coming from. Level 2 was most definately the most trying/stressful level so far. I'm finishing up level 3 now and I only need a 72 on the final to keep my A, way different than last semester.;)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nurse Manager.

I don't know if I would say hard as in unattainable. Yes, it takes dedication so maybe that is why people say it is hard. You have to WANT it and you will do it. I did it on one income (militray pay at that) and 4 kids. You can do it, just keep your eye on the prize.

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