I need nursing school advice from experienced nurses, please

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm going to acknowledge up front that this may be a stupid question, but I'm asking it anyway. I'm really struggling with my decision to attend nursing school. I memorized my way through my science prerequisites. Quite literally the professor had an accent that I'm pretty sure no one could understand, and her lecture was simply reading her PowerPoint to us, nothing more. She told us on day 1 that anything in "bold" on her PowerPoint would be what we would be tested on. I got two A's and two B's (A&P 1, 2 & 3 plus Microbiology) simply by relying on my short term memory. Any topic that was remotely difficult I just skipped or I memorized just enough to pick out the answer on the test, but I couldn't tell you anything about it now. Retaking the courses is not really something I'm interested in due to time and money constraints, not to mention I think I hated the majority of the material. I really think I hated so much of the science that I can't even imagine getting through nursing school. But it's strange because I know I don't hate all science (I really enjoyed a lot about micro); maybe I just hate the overwhelming amount of information. Having said all that my basic question is this: surely I can't just rely on my short term memory to get me through nursing school, right?? It frustrates me to know that everything I'm passionate about in life requires an RN license (L&D, lactation consultant, Neonates), yet I don't feel like a true nursing school candidate and I certainly have reservations about making it through nursing school. I used to think I was too dumb, now I know it's a lack of determination and a lot of fear. I am fairly certain that I will be accepted to the BSN program I'm applying to in the near future (I was already accepted once, but declined). These schools think I have knowledge that I just don't have. I know you might be tempted to say that I know more than I think, but I really don't, I didn't truly learn the material. Could I possibly learn/re-learn the material as I go through nursing school? I keep running from this career but it keeps chasing me, and the thought of giving up on the dream breaks my heart. Just how much science do I need to know to start nursing school? My one saving grace is that my school requires physiological chemistry before you begin nursing courses, so if I really apply myself maybe that will give me that foundation I'm lacking. I don't even think I realized what nurses did until my mom was in the ICU recently. I had no knowledge of the nursing process, and in reality, I still don't. Maybe a kind soul out there could summarize that for me too?! In case I haven't sounded foolish enough, I'll really hit it out of the park now...I know I have the compassion and diligence to advocate for my patients and deliver care using nursing skills, but I don't know if I will have the basic knowledge to assess and diagnose. I fear that I just can't/won't grasp the intricate processes (Krebs cycle, anything related to chemistry, and on and on) to ever know what I'm doing. I used to think that being a nurse meant you provided care based on what someone else (MD, policies, etc.) told you to do. Thanks for taking time to read this, I appreciate it!

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Have you ever looked into becoming a doula or certified professional midwife? You do not need an RN license to practice as a CPM...and then there are also lactation consultants! Not saying you shouldn't be a nurse, but if you decide not to be, these are options!!!

If you want to go to nursing school, then you can relearn the material that you didn't quite get the first time around. I think you absolutely can review all the sciences on your own and apply to nursing school if you want too. There are many great Youtube videos that essentially teach the same material learned in university.

Good luck with your decision!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You mentioned hating the overwhelming amount of material.That's largely what makes nursing school difficult. You will expected to learn huge amounts of material in a relatively short period of time.

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Have you ever looked into becoming a doula or certified professional midwife? You do not need an RN license to practice as a CPM...and then there are also lactation consultants! Not saying you shouldn't be a nurse, but if you decide not to be, these are options!!!

If you want to go to nursing school, then you can relearn the material that you didn't quite get the first time around. I think you absolutely can review all the sciences on your own and apply to nursing school if you want too. There are many great Youtube videos that essentially teach the same material learned in university.

Good luck with your decision!

First, THANK YOU :)

CPM's are illegal in my state, unfortunately. I have thoroughly researched becoming an IBCLC and I called the hospital systems within an hour or so radius of my home (I'm between two major cities) and they all say the same thing, they prefer RN's (majority REQUIRE an RN, some said RN or dietician and most recently I saw this opening "A nursing degree or other health degree is desirable, prefer a Masters Degree if not a RN trained as a LC"). I have looked into Union Institute's Maternal-Child Health LC program, but it's hard to justify the money for a program that may not result in me getting a job. One hospital explained that there is always a pool of RN's to choose from when they have a job opening for a LC. The fact is, I want that hands on experience during L&D as a nurse, a doula wouldn't be enough for me. Ultimately, I would love to be a midwife and deliver babies! It all comes down to bridging the gap from where I am now, to being in the delivery room helping bring babies into the world. Unfortunately the gap is nursing school!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

This statement is pretty clear:

I think I hated the majority of the material. I really think I hated so much of the science that I can't even imagine getting through nursing school.

Trust your own judgement. I doubt whether nursing school is a good choice for you. In nursing school, you will have to move from recalling facts to understanding concepts/principles and application of previous (basic science) knowledge. Memorization/Short term memory will not be enough.

I think it's wonderful that you had such a positive impression of the ICU nurses who cared for your loved one & that it inspired you to move your life in a more meaningful direction. However there are many 'helping' professions that are not science-based. Have you explored social work or counseling?

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This statement is pretty clear:

I think I hated the majority of the material. I really think I hated so much of the science that I can't even imagine getting through nursing school.

Trust your own judgement. I doubt whether nursing school is a good choice for you. In nursing school, you will have to move from recalling facts to understanding concepts/principles and application of previous (basic science) knowledge. Memorization/Short term memory will not be enough.

I think it's wonderful that you had such a positive impression of the ICU nurses who cared for your loved one & that it inspired you to move your life in a more meaningful direction. However there are many 'helping' professions that are not science-based. Have you explored social work or counseling?

:( I have wanted to be a nurse since I was tiny. It's written in my school memory book year after year in the "what do you want to be when you grow up" section :( My mom passed away only recently. Unfortunately for me, I grew up in a home that didn't value education and the pursuit of dreams. Status quo was good enough, and that meant we lived with, and relied on my grandpa as a means of existance. My mom and dad are both deceased (ages 61 & 55 respectively) and I have always wished I would have been pushed to reach my full potential in life. Deep down I want to be amazing, but most days I try to accept the fact that I was given the task of breaking a cycle of dysfuntion so my three boys can have lives I only imagine exist in this world. That's a tough pill to swallow though.

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HouTx, thanks, by the way :)

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You mentioned hating the overwhelming amount of material.That's largely what makes nursing school difficult. You will expected to learn huge amounts of material in a relatively short period of time.

So let's say I decided to just give nursing school a try; would I know pretty quickly if I wasn't cut out for it?

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me :)

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So let's say I decided to just give nursing school a try; would I know pretty quickly if I wasn't cut out for it?

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me :)

Your grades or your personal feelings by midterm first semester will definitely let you know. In my cohort, there were 2 people who quit after first semester. 1 due to failing and another guy who got an A, but just decided being a nurse isn't for him.

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If Nursing is your dream go ahead and give it a try. You will always wonder and have regrets if you don't try this for yourself.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
So let's say I decided to just give nursing school a try; would I know pretty quickly if I wasn't cut out for it?

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me :)

You would need to give it a chance.Nursing school is like nothing else. You aren't memorizing stuff.You have take what you have learned and apply it to answer the questions on the tests.it takes some time to get the hang of how the tests are written and how to "think like a nurse". Some get it, some don't. You will be asked stuff that you didn't specifically learn in class but you have been given the tools (knowledge) to figure it out.

You will have days where you want to pull your hair out and you will doubt yourself. But if you keep on going you will get to the end eventually.

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I am not a nursing student yet but I used to not enoy learning the material until I began digging in and really figuring the concepts out. I go to YouTube frequently and look at several different sources until I get it. I enjoy it now.

Also as for memorization I'll never forget what my ap1 professor, who has a doctorate in neuroscience and a veterinarian degree, said to my lab partner who tried to really analyze and digest the info. She told her medical is memorization, and whether we know it or not our brains are forming pathways that will make it easier to later recall by memorizing. In the pre reqs, it should be a lot of memorization and over time maybe it will make more sense. Don't beat yourself up over it.

As for dreams since childhood,I followed what I thought was my dream and it didn't work out. That doesn't mean it's true for everyone but sometimes our vision is different than reality.

Maybe job shadow a few different nurses or volunteer if you haven't. Good luck!

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