I know it's hard. But is it really that hard?

klone, MSN, RN · May 3, 2018

I didn't find it hard so much as something that requires a lot of persistence and just putting your head to the grindstone. Lots of things to do. Sort of like that old saying "What's the best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

YMMV.

Stillthinkin · May 3, 2018

One bite at a time.. I love that thank you

cleback · May 3, 2018

Depends. Are your study habits good? Will you have a lot of competing responsibilities in school (family, full time job, etc.)? How competitive is your nursing program (admission rates, GPA)?

The content is not that hard to grasp, particularly if you're interested in biology and social sciences. What tends to make the program hard is the level of competition for some schools and the fact that returning students have full lives already. I would be realistic in carving out time for studies and developing good study habits early. If you're able to do those things, you should be fine.

Lucydog14 · May 3, 2018

It's not hard so much as it a massive amount of information that you have to assimilate in a short period of times. Plus it's not so much just remembering stuff but it's learning how to apply it. Good luck.

Stillthinkin · May 3, 2018

Depends. Are your study habits good? Will you have a lot of competing responsibilities in school (family, full time job, etc.)? How competitive is your nursing program (admission rates, GPA)?
The content is not that hard to grasp, particularly if you're interested in biology and social sciences. What tends to make the program hard is the level of competition for some schools and the fact that returning students have full lives already. I would be realistic in carving out time for studies and developing good study habits early. If you're able to do those things, you should be fine.

Part time job no kids and the gpa level is a 2.5 in the community college. I've never been interested in biology but I do love social sciences

Stillthinkin · May 3, 2018

Was was the toughest for you?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 3, 2018

It all depends. How much raw intelligence do you possess? Do you have the ability to read and memorize large volumes of information and retain that information even after the exam? Do you learn new material easily? Can you organize your study time appropriately, prioritizing according to "hints" professors give you? Can you accurately and quickly do basic math and algebra? Do you do well with timed tests or tasks? Do you take criticism well, or do you get defensive and blame others for your shortcomings? Do you fall apart when taken to task, breaking into tears and making a catastrophe out of a critical comment? Do you have a lot of other responsibilities competing with study time? Are you physically fit and able to perform physical tasks associated with nursing? Do you freeze up when having to demonstrate a skill or when asked on the spot a question about something you were supposed to have read or learned?

How do you handle stress? Can you think on your feet? Can you remain calm in a crisis? Do you have a good amount of common sense? Can you apply "book knowledge" to real life situations? Do you require a lot of direction and hand holding? Are you offended easily by rude or stressed out people (who will be patients, their family members, and other members of the health care team)?

All of these factors will play into whether or not you find nursing school and actual nursing to be "hard."

allnurses Guide · May 3, 2018

I always have felt that schooling for nursing isn't so much hard as it is voluminous.

Of course you can do it. Look how many already have.

allnurses Guide · May 3, 2018

Part time job no kids and the gpa level is a 2.5 in the community college. I've never been interested in biology but I do love social sciences

If your GPA is 2.5 you will need to raise it to be a competitive applicant. Unfortunately there are not enough instructors for all the people who wish to be nurses. Getting into school is one of the hardest parts.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 3, 2018

It all depends. How much raw intelligence do you possess? Do you have the ability to read and memorize large volumes of information and retain that information even after the exam? Do you learn new material easily? Can you organize your study time appropriately, prioritizing according to "hints" professors give you? Can you accurately and quickly do basic math and algebra? Do you do well with timed tests or tasks? Do you take criticism well, or do you get defensive and blame others for your shortcomings? Do you fall apart when taken to task, breaking into tears and making a catastrophe out of critical comment? Do you have a lot of other responsibilities competing with study time? Are you physically fit and able to perform physical tasks associated with nursing? Do you freeze up when having to demonstrate a skill or when asked on the spot a question about something you were supposed to have read or learned?
How do you handle stress? Can you think on your feet? Can you remain calm in a crisis? Do you have a good amount of common sense? Can you apply "book knowledge" to real life situations? Do you require a lot of direction and hand holding? Are you offended easily by rude or stressed out people (who will be patients, their family members, and other members of the health care team)?
All of these factors will play into whether or not you find nursing school and actual nursing to be "hard."

This. ^^ And to be honest, getting good grades and passing the NCLEX aren't all that hard...it's being able to critically think and apply what you've learned to the next situation, and the next, and the next.

cleback · May 3, 2018

Was was the toughest for you?

I hate performing physical tasks under pressure (give me an exam or paper any day... just don't ask me to demonstrate x skill while 5 people watch me). Some of the nursing instructors were quite brutal and seemed to be looking for those they deemed unsafe for practice, as opposed to working with you to fulfill course expectations. So that was pretty intimidating. But I got through, and for other people, that performance piece is no problem.