Is nursing school REALLY that hard?

I just started the 2 year ADN program at my community college about a week ago. I am actually the youngest in my program at 18, and I have no nursing experience. Before I started, I obsessed over blogs and spent a lot of nights wondering if I could even make it through nursing school. I graduated high school in the top 5% of my class with a good ACT score, and I'm generally a hard worker. I am just wondering, was nursing school as hard as you thought it would be and if so, why?

I'm in an accelerated LPN program right now. It's extremely difficult. Prior to this, I have completed preqreqs for an RN program. Trust me when I say this gave me the hardest time of my life. I've had a prior bachelors degree in accounting. Accounting was nothing like nursing. The reason why nursing is so much harder is because this field requires way too many things to be memorized within a very short period of time. Any programs heavy in science is difficult. Organic Chemistry II is the most failed course in US colleges. 

Nursing school is difficult, but it isn't too difficult. I've succeeded in more difficult academic environments. I thought that Microbiology as a pre req was harder, although it was significantly shorter. 

I thought the worst thing about it was tolerating certain personalities. The overwhelming vast majority of professors and clinical instructors are great, but you are still playing a bit of Russian Roulette; at some point you're going to run into the professor and/or clinical instructor that thinks that their nursing license means that expectations of professional interaction that apply to everyone else in the world somehow do not apply to them. If you're a younger person you'll probably be fine, but if you're an older person that doesn't wish to put up with BS then you may be in a bit of trouble.

Conqueror Slothful said:

Nursing school is difficult, but it isn't too difficult. I've succeeded in more difficult academic environments. I thought that Microbiology as a pre req was harder, although it was significantly shorter. 

I thought the worst thing about it was tolerating certain personalities. The overwhelming vast majority of professors and clinical instructors are great, but you are still playing a bit of Russian Roulette; at some point you're going to run into the professor and/or clinical instructor that thinks that their nursing license means that expectations of professional interaction that apply to everyone else in the world somehow do not apply to them. If you're a younger person you'll probably be fine, but if you're an older person that doesn't wish to put up with BS then you may be in a bit of trouble.

I would have to agree that some nursing instructors can be a problem. Bullying is very common in nursing. Not only in the field but also in nursing school.  In any field where there is a lot of women involved, there is bound to be problems.  I've been personally bullied by a clinical instructor who tried to humiliate me in front of the class by broadcasting my weaknesses (I wasn't even the only student in the class who had those weaknesses.)  Every time I said something, she would give me an attitude. She would criticize me more harshly than any other student. She would also talk *** about me behind my back. I call this bullying because all of this is completely unnecessary. If you have a problem with me, you confront me about it. You don't need to spread rumors about someone within the school. 

Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

7.5 years later and having gone through both my BSN and MSN/FNP program, yes, nursing school is definitely hard. I'd actually argue that the NCLEX was significantly harder than my AANP board exam. Anyhow, study hard, focus on yourself and your passion to be a nurse, and good luck to everyone out there pursing nursing.

I attempted to do ABSN a few years ago. It was a 12-month program. I was one of the 20 lucky ones to be chosen! I was over the moon! At the half point through the program I began to crash and burn. My mental and physical health was shaky. Lots of reading, and studying and clinical rotations were just too much for me to handle. 

No matter how much time I spent reading and studying, I never felt like I was learning at such a fast pace. I did well on exams, but I sucked in the clinicals. I failed one of my med/surg midterm. I felt crushed. I hated seeing other classmates who passed, who were all cheery. 

That really broke me, and I could not handle the pressure. I left the program with only couple more months to go. I do regret that decision now. 

The point is, nursing school is a trial by fire. It is a sink or swim situation. You will experience a huge range of emotions...you will cry, you will laugh. You will second-guess yourself a lot. You will feel like you are not doing enough, even when you get good grades and your professors complement your hard work. 

I enjoyed the time I spent in the nursing school. If I had to do it over, I would not do ABSN, maybe the generic 2-year program. 

Specializes in Medsurg.

Nursing school was one of the hardest experiences I ever faced. I been through it 3 times (LPN-ADN-BSN).

Hey there! First off, congrats on starting your ADN program—what an exciting step! I totally get where you're coming from; I remember feeling the same way when I started nursing school. I was constantly worried about whether I could handle it, especially after reading all those intense blog posts.

Honestly, nursing school was challenging, but not in the way I expected. It's less about difficulty and more about the sheer volume of information and the need to apply it practically. But here's the thing: being a hard worker, like you, is half the battle. The key for me was staying organized and finding a good study group—having people to lean on made all the difference.

In my experience, the hardest part wasn't the exams or the workload, but the clinicals. They can be overwhelming at first because it's real-world application, but that's also where I learned the most. It's where everything started to click.

If you're worried, just take it one day at a time. Break things down into manageable tasks and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Nursing school isn't just about studying—it's about building resilience, and from what you've shared, I'm confident you'll do great. You've got this!

Specializes in Emergency Department, Pediatrics, Home Health.

"Is nursing school really that hard?". That is a subjective question and going to be different depending on who you talk to. Some people find it to be the hardest thing they have ever done. That reason might be because they are married, have kids, and work as well. Some people don't find it that hard because they are just gifted or maybe they have no other obligations. 

The toughest thing about it was how much time it required. Studying, papers, Care Plans, clinicals, etc. The time constraint and always being busy was what I found hard to get used to. Mostly because I have a family and having very little time for them was...sad, I felt sad about it. But, it's temporary. You can do anything, as long as it's temporary. 

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