How would you rate RN school

hey...im in 1720 in the mcc rn program...dont let people scare you....it isnt any harder than A&P....the information is easy to understand its just the amount of it that can be difficult....some people have a problem with the critical thinking questions....but thats the whole thing with nursing, its not just memorizing information, its knowing how to use that information and being able to put all the pieces together....im sure youll do fine...just dont listen to negative people....happy thoughts :)

I agree that the people who have the most trouble seem to be the ones who have difficulty with critical thinking. Also, the ESL students have it harder.

The material itself isn't always so difficult - it's the quantity. There is a LOT of reading to do, and most of it isn't the most riveting material. :)

Also, clinicals can be difficult because you are so ill-prepared when you go in, and you never have enough/any access to your clinical instructor. Also, in my school there is a LOT of pre-work to do before you go to the hospital... it could take as many as 6 hours to finish (some of my classmates took longer).

Working in the hospital can be considered difficult. How nice/helpful the hospital staff is varies, but I find that some of the nurses and CNAs can be quite nasty, especially during the first semester when unfortunately, you could really have used more support. If you work in a place with nice staff, though, it is fantastic.

Nursing school is challenging but sounds like you're organized which is crucial. You CAN'T fall behind. Stay on track and always know what you have next to do. Now I start clinicals in 2 days, so I can't give advice on that yet. NS is what I expected. I've met some awesome people already. My other advice is to take advantage of all the resources available to you. For example I signed up for all these "workshops" to help you succeed. I highly recommend those, if your school offers them. I had a medication math, clinical documentation, and nursing supplemental. Good Luck!

Thanks for your responses. I am ready to face all challenges. Hopefully, I get in the program. :nuke:

Just graduated from MCC's program in December. I really believe that Macomb's program is the best around, including BSN programs. The instructors really know what they are doing and challenge you every day. They don't waste your time with huge care plans and teach you to think critically. The best thing I did was get a job as an aide on a med/surg unit before I started school. It really helps you put it all together, and it also helps you develop your bedside manor. Good luck!

I went to HFCC. It was tough as balls. Some instructors were very helpful. If I had to do it all over again, I would have went to get my BSN instead of ADN so I wouldn't have to go through this whole mess of getting my BSN.

-JMO-Nursing school is difficult. You need to remember the information you learned from Pharm, A&P, Patho on top of Assessment courses and assess the situation of your specific patient. It is essential to understand the pathophysiology, disease process, nursing implications, what medications are given and RATIONALE (IE: Why?) and work through the Nursing Process which should provide the framework for your thinking as a Registered Nurse. Essentially you learn a bunch of medical jargon and information with the hopes of synthesizing it all in a cohesive whole and tailoring your assessment and judgement to your patient and their past medical/surgical/family/cultural history.

Each area presents new challenges and has different priorities be it MedSurg, Psych, OB, Peds etc. You have to 'put the time in' to understand the information and continuously refine your assessment skills. I'd recommend asking LOTS of questions, especially if you think it's 'dumb' because chances are it is not a dumb question at all and this is your time to LEARN and be TAUGHT what is a proper standard of care/technique/rationale for something/etc. Better to learn in school while training under an RN's license than go in wet behind the ears and make a mistake or error when you are the RN and have the responsibility and accountability.

Nursing school is do-able and like other members have stated, be sure to look for a Nurse Aide/Tech/PCA job to gain valuable clinical experience (as well as some $$$$ ) or just volunteer to aclimate yourself to the hospital environment. Get comfortable with your bedside manner and FOCUS on the PATIENT. YOU ARE THEIR ADVOCATE, never forget that and always speak up and stand up for your patient, no matter what the circumstances, essentially "Do the Right thing" and treat them as if they were a close friend/family member and how would you want those people cared for?

Papers are alot of work, make sure you have proper references and manage your time wisely! Plan ahead of time and develop your multi-tasking skills as this is essential as a RN, at least that is what I've heard.

Also, understand what the purpose and VALUE of a Nursing Care Plan / Concept Map is and why you make one/write one. Don't just 'get it done' but really think about what can you learn from this opportunity as I have found this helps structure the Nursing Process and apply the Theoretical Framework in a useable plausible way.

Lab values are important to know as is recognizing the differences and nuances of Respiratory and Metabolic Alkalosis/Acidosis. If you are NOT sure about ANYthing r/t to a medication, DON'T give it until you look it up in a drug guide, or at the very least consult pharmacy. You are the last line of defense for a patient to prevent a med error. If you have a pediatric patient and the order is .08mg of Morphine and you give 8mg, disasterous effects could occur and you could lose your license to practice.

Another piece of advice is to understand NIC's, NOC's, and Nanda Diagnosis as this also has helped me refine my framework of thought and work through the Nursing Process.

I know I kind of bounced around from area/topic to another, but I wanted to get down all of the 'important' things I've learned through my junior year of Nursing School. Only one year left:) Hopefully this helps and PM me or post here for any clarification that you might need. Put the time in, study hard, manager your time and if you do those three things Nursing School is reasonable to work through and earn a degree.

Good Luck!

Regards,

Michigan Man 09

I went to HFCC. It was tough as balls. Some instructors were very helpful. If I had to do it all over again, I would have went to get my BSN instead of ADN so I wouldn't have to go through this whole mess of getting my BSN.

Why was it tough as balls? Was it accelerated? I am in a two year ADN program at Macomb and so far it isn't near as scary or hard as I thought it was supposed to be. I'm only 7 wks into it, though :).

I agree with Curlylocks, it isn't any more difficult than A&P or micro. We have three classes but only two require "homework," only one required a paper. Not a big deal yet. I may change my mind after I start the 1600s, though .

Nursing school is hard work. It wasn't easy for me to work and go to school at the same time. The studying, care plans. I liked the ADN program though because I think there are more clinicals than with the BSN program. I completed all my prereqs before getting into the actual nursing program which is good but I think I should have transferred to a college to get my BSN. I'm at OU right now working on getting my BSN but I can't take any actual nursing courses until I finish my chem classes. I also applied to WSU for RN to MSN because you can complete BSN courses that go towards your masters and OU doesnt have the NP program that I want.

Nursing school is hard work. It wasn't easy for me to work and go to school at the same time. The studying, care plans. I liked the ADN program though because I think there are more clinicals than with the BSN program. I completed all my prereqs before getting into the actual nursing program which is good but I think I should have transferred to a college to get my BSN. I'm at OU right now working on getting my BSN but I can't take any actual nursing courses until I finish my chem classes. I also applied to WSU for RN to MSN because you can complete BSN courses that go towards your masters and OU doesnt have the NP program that I want.

So are working as an RN right now, though?

Me? Yep, I graduated in May 2005. Been a nurse for a little over 2 years.

I honestly haven't thought that nursing school has been so bad. I am in my last semester-a little over 10 weeks to go!! I am in an ADN program but it is in accelerated format, we will do the entire program in a little over a year. I think it hasn't seemed so hard because everything is so interesting. You feel like you are actually learning useful information unlike in non-nursing courses. It differs from the pre-req classes in that you need to see the big picture, you can't just memorize information for the test and then forget it. I have a bachelors in human biology so I didn't have to become accustomed to studying & test taking skills so I think that helps. It is important to figure out how you learn best & that makes the time you study more effective.