Nursing school not that hard?

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2006

I was wondering if anyone doesnt feel that nursing school is as HORRIBLE as people make it out to be? Im a little worried that maybe Im taking things a little too lightly. When I first started nursing school, I was ALWAYS upset and nervous. My teachers were horrible and I hated group work. After my first set of clinicals, I was fine. I mean, I still get a little nervous thinking about my first set of clinicals for a class, but nothing like what I read on here. Im in the "make you, break you" class right now (for our school its Principles of Nursing) and I dont feel like Im having any trouble at all. Sure its a lot of work, but nothing I cant handle with a bit of studying. Of course Im a little aprehensive about giving shots and doing IV's, but again, nothing compared to what Im reading on here. Im not saying that I'm smarter than any one or anything like that, I know things can get taken out of context on here. I just want to know if anyone else is at ease in nursing classes besides myself, because if Im alone maybe Im missing something. I dont want to be stressed out and worried, but if everyone else is and Im not, I must be the problem; if that makes sense.

How long have you been in school?

PickMePlze · Nov 2, 2006

Exactly, which semester are you in?? If you have a supportive school and instructors its not so bad. But it tends to get more hectic and stressful as you advance, IMO

601Wondering · Nov 2, 2006

Nursing school is definitely not hard, I mean, it can be but not if you like to study (or atleast dont mind it at all)...If you are into learning with a passion of some sort then the answer is, no, nursing school is not hard...\

Even if you arent alll that into studying, well, I'm sure you will have problems but that is with anything.....

No need to worry yourself mate, just be cool as a cucumber!!!!!! :cool:

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2006

Exactly, which semester are you in?? If you have a supportive school and instructors its not so bad. But it tends to get more hectic and stressful as you advance, IMO

Exactly, the school I attend offers minimal support if any! I guess the OP has a better quality of staff and that's great! I think it's VERY stressful and tough.

NaomieRN · Nov 2, 2006

I am a first semester nursing student and so far, I do not find nursing hard. I am doing so well that my instructor asked me to talk about my strategies. I personally think it is because I have a good biology background and I am also a nutritionist, do know alot of alot of diseases. So far my average is 94 and I have no stress. I am not overwhelmed. I am actually going on vacation, thanksgiving week. I only read the chapters once and I listen to the lecture and study the powerpoint note. I basically do target studying. I just hope next semester, I continue to do well. I also enjoy learning and taking care of the patients, so I get into it when I read. When I take the exams, I often laugh because some of the multiple choices are so funny. I often wonder, why anyone would pick those answers. Good luck to all......

PurrRN · Nov 2, 2006

I am in my first semester of nursing school also, and I've asked myself the same question, because I have not had to struggle at all....minimal studying...just going off lecture. The reason I even wondered about it was because I studied like a fiend for A+P and micro (at another school, in a different state). My friend in NJ (not my state), had a killer first semester of nursing school and I wondered why I wasn't feeling the crunch, so much so that I sometimes fear that my school isnt competitively providing a quality nursing education. Believe me when I say it's not because I think I'm smarter than anybody in my class, I'm an average B student. Personally, I think it has to do with which school/program you attend, because I don't think that I'd be this laid back if I had been able to attend the nursing program where I took my prereq's. I do believe what the poster's above said about it becoming harder as we go along, but I guess I was just expecting to have to go 100MPH from the get go. So don't feel left out, there are those among you who feel the same way!! :) Good luck with your future semesters.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Nov 2, 2006

Second semester student here and I don't think school is that hard. The first semester was pretty easy, it's this one ( Adult Health) that has proven hard. I got a B on my first test and two points from a B on the second and I studied my butt off for both. I really thought I'd get an A, but I had to reach hard for the B and C.

Clinicals are not stressful to me, though I was a little apprehensive about having 3 patients, but that turned out to not be so bad. We do total care except for beds and baths. We are doing IV's, piggybacks, foleys--just about everything. Our clinical instuctors are supportive and even the demanding ones are not cruel or mean, they just want us to learn.

Overall, I don't think it's that bad, just a lot of info to learn in a short time.

If you can remember C= degree and tell yourself you can do anything, then you will be fine.

Good Luck.

ikatiana21 · Nov 2, 2006

Im taking 8 wk classes, so Im in Fall II of my first semester. Everyone I've spoken to has told me that it gets easier after this class Im in now; the classes just level out. And of course the rumors about certain classes and teachers are out of control. Apparently 70% of the class flunked Principles last semster (summer), but I really dont see how. Unless of course, Im not doing what I need to be doing.

Im glad that Im not the only one that isnt completely overwhelmed by nursing school. I think the better background you have in health care, the easier it may be. I've worked in a health care type setting for the past six yrs and was a biology major when I first started college (oh so many years ago lol). Let just all hope that it doesnt get as overwhelming for us, as it could be!

HididiScribbler · Nov 2, 2006

My first semester wasn't that bad for me...I did well, and although I was anxious sometimes in clinicals, I enjoyed it.

I still kept my A in the second semester (which I'm in now) but it definitely got more stressful. There was more material to cover, more reading that you HAD to do since the tests were on that rather than lecture, and much more clinical work.

That's kinda strange that the hardest class is in first semester...from what I've heard at my school it just keeps getting harder and harder (which makes sense).

It really does depend on the school. There's another school around here that is MUCH easier than ours, from what I've heard...

I'd say, don't stress out if you're doing fine. Just appreciate it while you can :).

allthingsbright · Nov 2, 2006

well, i think you are nuts if you think it's easy...nuts or very, very smart.

i am killing myself, here. ugh!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Nov 2, 2006

Some people just do great in NS. I din't think it was hard at all. I also would think, "why do people pick some of these answers?" when we would review some test questions.

Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with you. But I do agree with some PPs about the semester. It does get progressively harder with each semester.