How is Nursing School really like?

Mchs4735 · Mar 22, 2013

I heard nursing school is really hard. What is to hard about it? Is it the work load, classes, studying.....etc? What is the best advice for being successful in the nursing programs?

rumwynnieRN · Mar 22, 2013

Time management with the stipulation of making time for yourself. Making time for yourself is not the same as not giving up your social life -- your social life will take a nose dive, but in the end it'll be worth it.

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2013

Nursing School is like a crash course in nursing, it's like trying to jam everything you need to know to be safe competent nurse in 2 years. As you can imagine it's quite a lot of work. With that being said you will need to be able to manage your time, understand your learning style, and know your strengths and weaknesses.

Time management is very important especially if you have a part-time/full-time job or have children. Make time for your family that may mean that you have to study at midnight to 4am, whatever works for you.

learning styles are very important, take a quiz and see what you are and how you should study to maximize learning

and lastly really know what you excel in and help others and if you don't understand something seek help early.

runsalot · Mar 22, 2013

Yes it's hard. Nothing like like prereqs. Just relax. Study. And do what they ask you to do without attitude. Follow all directions to the exact letter.

Morainey, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2013

Study a lot, manage your time well, take responsibility for yourself, and be self-motivated. Find good nurses and strive to be like them :)

Mchs4735 · Mar 22, 2013

Is it hard because of the workload? Or the content? Are you in Nursing are school?

Mchs4735 · Mar 22, 2013

Thanks this really helps. I'll be done with pre-req's in Fall 2013. I actually have no kids, ill be 20 years old in April. So I'm still young.

puroticorico, MSN, CNA, RN · Mar 22, 2013

It is quite hard. You need to be dedicated and up for the challenge. They cramp a ton of information into a short amount of time. Really do study it and true to know it because when you become a nurse you will be a lot more familiar with the information. Focus a lot on the fundamentals (ie assessment, bed changes, sterile procedures, contact isolation, a RNs scope of practice, delegation, etc). These will show up again and again. It's usually all about smart decisions and safety. You'll do we'll as long as your put forth effort and really want to learn it. Good luck!

rubato, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2013

Nursing school is hard because:

The amount of material thrown at you

The concepts

The more mature level of classes (you don't get redos and help the way you do in prereqs)

The pharmacology

The critical thinking

The workload

For me, I always took 15-18 credit hours of classes in my prereqs. Even with that amount of hours, I was unprepared for the huge workload of my 9 credit hour nursing class. It's intense, and there's so much more than the lectures and studying. You have lecture, SIM, clinicals, lab, studying for exams, working in the lab to get checkoffs, paperwork, etc......

Hope that helps some.

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2013

Nursing school was more stressful than difficult in my opinion. I always took nursing classes plus 2 or 3 other classes so I'd have 20 hours every semester.

The nursing classes are unlike prereqs in that they are time consuming and it is a lot of content. It is a lot of critical thinking rather than memorization. It involves understanding and applying concepts.

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Mar 22, 2013

You can't just memorize material like you can in pre-reqs and other classes. With nursing content, you have to be able to understand and apply the material to real-life situations. There is some memorization, like lab values and drug classes, side effects, etc, but again you have to understand and apply all of that information.

I agree, nursing was more stressful than anything. The amount of work they give you can be very overwhelming. You have lecture, clinical, clinical prep work, lab, exams, papers, quizzes, care plans, presentations, discussions, skills check offs, homework...the list goes on.