Is it just me or is nursing school not as difficult as everyone makes it sound?

murseman24, MSN, CRNA · Feb 8, 2019

On 2/6/2019 at 6:46 PM, Jenbripsu said:
I was just about to echo what Wuzzie said. I'd really shush about this out in the world. I can't speak for everyone, but I'll speak for me. I have two bachelor's degrees, and this nursing program I am in right now is HARD. It's harder than EITHER of my bachelor's degrees. I am in an accelerated 16 month DIPLOMA program (lots of them in my area - I will get my BSN online immediately after) and it's brutal. Am I just not intelligent? Nope - I got a 4.0 in one of my BS degrees and I have one of the highest GPA's now in my program (3.9). Do I cry, lose it, have emotional breakdowns...yes. I am 46 years old mom of 4 going back as a second career. The accelerated program had the most clinical hours of any of the local BSN schools so that's why I went with that vs an accelerated BSN program. I don't know what kind of program you are in, but if it's a BSN - you are very early in the program and you have zero idea what you are in for. If you are in an ADN, you are less than half way through and have zero idea what you are in for. If you are a student and mom and dad are taking care of your every need - you REALLY need to be quiet.
We lost A LOT Of people after second semester who skated through first semester thinking it was easy and didn't develop good study skills and they are not here right now for my 8 week critical care class in my final semester. A class, by the way, that has over 15 hours of lecture a week for just that class (and it's not our only class), plus 16 hours of clinical per week - and we have exams every week, with the exam day being the day after one of the lecture days...meaning, we have an 8 hour lecture, get out of class at 5pm and take an exam ON THAT MATERIAL at 8 am the next morning. I don't know...I find that difficult. If you don't, more power to you - but I wouldn't broadcast that. I'm one hell of a smart cookie but if you stood by me bragging how easy this all was to you, you wouldn't be someone I'd choose to talk to.

I think the difficulty level is highly overrated. I had children and full time work when I was going through school as a second career and got through with a 4.0 never really feeling stressed about my grades (tired, yes). And yes, It would piss people off that I would be studying material for the test AFTER next b/c I was "done" studying for the current one. I also didn't do study groups (AKA social hour) and was pretty consistent with my time. I think it's all about organizing your time. I'm sorry, but I don't think people are willing to put in the work. The material is not that difficult, it's all memorization.

Leadkrm, RN · Feb 8, 2019

For the average person, collage is challenging. It is not a hard curriculum. Everything is in a book. Complex med surge is the only class that requires critical thinking to pass. The others are all book smart classes. People tend to overwhelm themselves and make things seem harder than they were. This makes them seem like their accomplishments were bigger than they actually are. This in return makes them think what they did was harder than normal. I think it’s the stress, the time commitments and things of that nature that make the schooling hard. Not the academic part of it. Some people are gifted and most are typical. To each their own.

Thanksforthedonuts, MSN, APRN · Feb 8, 2019

You have heard a lot of opinions OP.

Here is mine: I agree with you that nursing school is not as tough as people make it to be. Its not medical school by any stretch of the imagination.

What I found tough was the constant jumping through hoops required of me in the program. But I did this with an army of small children I had created my self.

I could not fathom what students who lived on campus cried about "not having enough time". I worked also.

So I learned to jump through hoops like an acrobat. And figured out what time management truly meant. That was all I needed to pass with flying colors.

And don't even get me started on the NCLEX. What a joke.

Thanksforthedonuts, MSN, APRN · Feb 8, 2019

My one recommendation for those in the program and soon taking the NCLEX: start off strong. So when you're feet start to get weary you have a little more willing room.

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2019

I think it all depends on a persons starting place. It also depends on the person's confidence in themselves. Nursing school is temporary. Working as a nurse in the field is the bigger test.

rn409, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2019

On 2/6/2019 at 12:06 PM, Nicolecn said:
I am about to finish my second term of nursing school and have completed difficult classes such as pathophysiology, pharmacology, chronic illness, etc.. and I honestly haven’t found it that hard. Idk if I was just expecting it to be a lot worse because everyone talked so negatively about it or what.. I’m in the program with people who are talking about having constant meltdowns and crying and I haven’t had one mental breakdown while in school.. am I missing something? Don’t get me wrong, it’s stressful at times and you have to put in the work, but people make it sound nearly impossible and like they’re losing their minds over it.. Whenever other students talk to me about how difficult it is I feel like I have to go along with it or they’re going to be annoyed by me not thinking it’s that hard..

I agree maybe keeping mum about your thoughts... it’s not that you shouldn’t be proud, but it’s different for everyone and voicing all that makes others feel very inferior. It’s not all about other people’s feelings- but IMO (as someone who struggled) it’s more considerate to be that way. Maybe you could benefit others and try to help them understand difficult concepts. Not only are you helping someone else through your strengths, but then if the time comes (it is only second semester) when you have difficulties, maybe someone will be there for you as well.

Hopefully you’ll continue to feel it’s so easy, but remember you have more time left. Don’t let your guard down.

rn409, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2019

On 2/6/2019 at 9:35 PM, tonyl1234 said:
People are more likely to complain about negative experiences than they are to brag about great experiences.
Nursing school seems so hard because the people struggling through it are more likely to reach out and vent than someone who's breezing through. It's not that it's hard or easy, you're just seeing a natural bias on how the information is reaching you. For every person who thinks it's the hardest thing they've ever done, there's someone who thinks it was easy.
Nursing school is just college. There's nothing profoundly unique about it. The test style, the learning style, that's just a science major. You think this is hard? Try physics, where they have to look at a white dot in the sky and tell you what it's made of and how big it is.
But there is also some level of people doing it to themselves. The more you stress, the more you're going to force yourself to study, or overcomplicate notetaking. Nursing school is exactly as hard as you make it. If you have to spend your entire free life studying, is it because nursing school is really that hard, or is it just that nobody ever taught you how to study efficiently?

I think each person learns differently- it takes me a long time to absorb material and I’ve found a process that works best for me. It isn’t the fastest way, but it is the most efficient it can be for me to retain the most material and be able to practice.

rn409, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2019

15 hours ago, murseman24 said:
I think the difficulty level is highly overrated. I had children and full time work when I was going through school as a second career and got through with a 4.0 never really feeling stressed about my grades (tired, yes). And yes, It would piss people off that I would be studying material for the test AFTER next b/c I was "done" studying for the current one. I also didn't do study groups (AKA social hour) and was pretty consistent with my time. I think it's all about organizing your time. I'm sorry, but I don't think people are willing to put in the work. The material is not that difficult, it's all memorization.

I think the maturity level of some people entering the problem is probably pretty low. You’re talking about 20-22 year olds... so of course it’s hard compared to the other courses they’ve taken. I think it’s different later on down the road. (Went through school in my mid 20s). I just think it’s something to consider about the student population and not be too hard on them. Most of them aren’t full fledged adults yet

hawaiicarl, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2019

Nursing school is a whole different animal now than it was back in the day. School was 40 hours of classroom/clinical time a week, researching your patients for clinicals was all done on your own time the night before. Hell I was even taught by nuns, that is how old I am, habits and everything! (not a bad habit, a clothing habit) Talking to some of the students now I sort of scoff …. "Gee, I am having a hard time scheduling my classes so I have to go to campus 2 days a week in stead of three this semester" wa wa wa cry me a river.

Cheers

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2019

I went to nursing school with a lady that pumped her chest every chance she got and said I am an ER tech yada yada yada, well towards the end of the semester her nerves got to her and she failed a class. Not due to lack of intelligence (very very smart lady) but due to assuming since she was so smart she could start skipping some of the readings that were required. Just be grateful you can catch on well, but don't take it for granted and try not to brag because you never know what life circumstances can take place or what bad decisions you may make down the road that could chance the course of everything. It was a hard to pill for her to swallow but she did end up being successful as I ended up working with her at a job.

TheAngryMan · Feb 8, 2019

On 2/6/2019 at 7:35 PM, tonyl1234 said:
People are more likely to complain about negative experiences than they are to brag about great experiences.
Nursing school seems so hard because the people struggling through it are more likely to reach out and vent than someone who's breezing through. It's not that it's hard or easy, you're just seeing a natural bias on how the information is reaching you. For every person who thinks it's the hardest thing they've ever done, there's someone who thinks it was easy.
Nursing school is just college. There's nothing profoundly unique about it. The test style, the learning style, that's just a science major. You think this is hard? Try physics, where they have to look at a white dot in the sky and tell you what it's made of and how big it is.
But there is also some level of people doing it to themselves. The more you stress, the more you're going to force yourself to study, or overcomplicate notetaking. Nursing school is exactly as hard as you make it. If you have to spend your entire free life studying, is it because nursing school is really that hard, or is it just that nobody ever taught you how to study efficiently?

That's an Interesting perspective. I have a degree in physics and engineering...and im still freaking out about the ABSN program in the fall. If anyone has a previous BS in a physical science or engineering, I'd be interested in your nursing school take.

murseman24, MSN, CRNA · Feb 9, 2019

1 hour ago, TheAngryMan said:
That's an Interesting perspective. I have a degree in physics and engineering...and im still freaking out about the ABSN program in the fall. If anyone has a previous BS in a physical science or engineering, I'd be interested in your nursing school take.

I think you'll be fine