Is Nursing school that hard??

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 30, 2009

Yes it is hard. Especially if you want to go onto a masters and have to get As and Bs. I literally had no life while in nursing school; even on my "school breaks" I gave up my time to extra curricular clinical time/precepting. It all paid of though as I have a nursing job in the department of my choice while there are some that have been out of school for a year and still do not have a job.

Studying for a nursing class is much harder than most other courses. I never studied for a non-nursing class as much as I did for my nursing courses. The amount of work; papers, clinical write-ups, projects, ect are astronomical in comparison to other degrees as well. Most courses are only 3 units while most nursing courses are 6 or more units. Plus, not only do you have your regular class time you have 12 or more hours in the hospital/clinical.

An instructor told me once that Nursing and Engineering are the two hardest degrees to get at the University I graduated from.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jul 30, 2009

yes it is hard, but it is also up to the indvidual. I have finished up my first year and go back in the fall for my second. I am a single parent of 2 boys, 1 with special needs.

For nursing schoool you need to have a back for the back for the back up when it comes to daycare for your children. My mom first then eaither one of my sisters, then my dad, then my best firend, then our former daycare provider.

It takes planning to get through it but is is doable,

a typical week for me was lecture for 5 hours, meeting with advisor 1 hour, lab time 5 hours and then 2, 6 hour clinical days, but then there is the clinical pre and the after clinical paperwork, not to mention the ready and pre that needs to be done before lecutre.

Give you idea of what the reading is like, our maternity book is 900pages we were assinged 700+ to read during the break

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

I didn't find the work difficult. I felt like it you stayed on top of things and did the reading the learning followed. I enjoyed nursing school. I didn't lose sleep, but school was my only responsibility. You will lose sleep if you've got kids on top of school. I did find school time consuming and annoying. I felt like the expectations constantly changed, and they had no problem changing clinical time or requirements at the last minute. "School needs to be your #1 priority" would be the answer.

soulofme · Jul 30, 2009

Naw...during my many, many, many breaks from class...I went to breakfast with friends...then, that went on to brunch...then lunch...Oh...wait..I think I got to fit a class in here and there...after having my hair and nails done...by 2PM I think I saw a instructor or two....It was such a blurrrrr.... HA! Naw, it wasn't hard at all:coollook:

DoeRN · Jul 31, 2009

It was the hardest thing I have ever been through. Was it worth it? Yes, but trust me being a nurse is harder. I enjoy my job but it can be trying at times. It is doable because if it wasn't then there would be no nurses but it NO cake walk. I did not have a choice of what classes I wanted to take. You took what was scheduled. Good luck.

StrwbryblndRN · Jul 31, 2009

It was hard. I had small kids and a hubby who worked 7 days a week and no money (I mean $10hr job due to job loss right before clinicals) So sitters were a God send. That is on top of a VERY DIFFICULT curriculum

Nursing is easier (but still hard) because I can dedicate my time. My kids are no longer in diapers and when I need a babysitter I have the money. I find reality nursing not the same as what is portrayed in school.

LunchClubber · Aug 1, 2009

As a recent non-trad graduate of an ADN program I can say that it definitely was one of the most difficult tasks I have accomplished in my life.

What made it so difficult was the idiotic manner in which the program was set up (and speaking with folks in other programs ours was not atypical ).

When you enter a program and the director tells the group, "If you have been a straight-A student your whole life you can now expect to be a 'B' or 'C' student" - you know it is going to be a rocky road.

Take any 5 rationale adults and give them the job of designing a nursing program and the odds are that they would devise a plan that was logical, orderly and made common sense. However, nursing schools do not do it that way - they are a mythical mix of tradition, 'eat the young' syndrome and constant positioning in regard to hospitals, other programs and accreditation bodies.

Throw in a healthy dose of sadistic preceptors and you have the makings of one WILD RIDE.

* 'M' graduated from one of the most sought-after engineering schools in the US and still went home on several occasions in tears.

* 'MC' said it "was like they were sucking out my soul one bit at a time"

* 'K' said that "even though I am now a GN I still experience a cold sweat when I see 'C' (preceptor) on the floor"

* 'A', normally a very tranquil non-wave maker, crawled up on a table with a magic marker and wrote RUN over the word WELCOME on the "WELCOME NEW STUDENTS" banner

* Another 'C' passed all clinical rotations with a "B" average but was still held back by a preceptor who did not like her. Even when she got the nurse manager, of the floor where she had a job in place, to call the school and strongly state that she completely trusted her care - she was failed and has to come back.

Was it worth it? Yes. RN school was not the biggest milestone in my life but it is now one of them. I will never, ever forget a group of students checking final grades on a smart phone and one by one announcing another passer. The group erupted each time.

My advice: Find friends who think and study like you do, stay ahead of the work, stress relief before it gets to critical, accept the fact that not everyone is going to see your strengths and may lock on only to your weaknesses and most of all - HAVE FUN. It will go quickly and before you know it you will be looking back at some serious achievement and memories.

You can do it. But it is - 'that hard'

november17, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2009

To answer your question, no, it isn't that hard. It's actually pretty easy. In fact, in the 101 class, the subjects include, "pillow fluffing" and "how to give amazing foot rubs." For the practicum, you get to practice it on your friends! its great

beachbutterfly · Aug 1, 2009

No is not hard but you have to study a lot!!!!

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2009

It's difficult because you don't have a lot of time for anything else really. The materia/contentl isn't hard at all to understand, it's just the amount you have to do and remember. If you really want this and you are determined and never give up, you can do this!!

deleern · Aug 1, 2009

It is doable IF you plan it carefully.... If i were in your shoes, I would take every pre req and co req that is needed for the curriculum ,then when you do the nursing program you will have only the core nursing classes. I did that for the RN program. then I took the Partime option that was offered at our comunity college. the 1st semester I had 1 eve. a week. 2nd and 3rd semester was 2 days a week. Tuesdays lecture 8 to 1pm and Thursdays Clinicals, I worked full time as an LPN days and NOC's

Nursing school is very hard, the material is difficult and masive. I did all the classes for LPN in 3 semesters Fall thru summer. I worked full time nights and school full time. I had a son in high school and a daughter that got married in the middle of all of that. I also h ave a wonderful husband that supported me by doing all the cleaning, cooking, laundry. he protected my sleep. I graduated with a 3.5. Actully I graduated because of all of his support.

the RN Program was much harder. I graduated with a 3.12 . I am now just taking 1 class a semester. for my AAS so I dont have to Pay university Prices for Comp 2 Etc. if I acheive that I can do the RN-MSN route.

Also I am a very untraditional student. I was 45 years old when I started. I had Very little nursing expierience I graduated at age 48. I have been an RN for 2 years and have loved every moment. I have already been offered a DON possition at my current facility. I turned it down because i feel that i need more Clinical experience to be a good DON.

AuroraRN87 · Aug 1, 2009

Nursing school is difficult for even the smartest person. I wouldnt recommend taking any "liberal arts" classes simultaneously with nursing school. It would be too time consuming and you might get burned out real quick. I went to a 2 year diploma program and before that I did all my prerequisites at a community college. You will not know how hard it is until you live it and do not expect anyone to sympathize with you when you are screaming because they will have no clue what you are going through. Not all of it is hard, but the reality is there is a lot of studying and your ass is on the line all the time, whether it is at clinical or trying to keep you average above 75 with only 3 tests or else you get kicked out then you cant come back. That is just some of my experience. Hope this helps. If you really want to be a nurse you can definitely do it!!!!