Just how difficult is nursing school going to be?!

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Is it really THAT difficult?!! I have heard some say that the prereqs were more difficult than the nursing school and others say just the opposite. I'm curious! I start my community college nursing program in the fall and I have been taking really tough courses for my eventual transfer to a 4 year university...demanding classes like Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biology for science majors, and the full year of college level Inorganic Chemistry (I just have a semester of Organic Chemistry to go). I'm hoping that these critical thinking type of classes have prepared me well enough for what lies ahead. I keep hearing about the masses of students who fail out of nursing school? And students who got all As in their prereqs who are barely passing the nursing courses? Are most of these people trying to work while they attend school?

Oh, it's been so long since I was in nursing school. I'm sure you can find all kinds of threads on stuff like this in THAT forum.

One of the things I remember is that the instructors would sometimes bring in people to say such OUTRAGEOUS things and test on it, just to see if you would repeat that garbage or rebel against it. I always bit my tongue/pen and repeated the garbage.

And they are trying to get you used to taking very difficult tests because NCLEX is a difficult test. But, so much of that (such as priority type questions) is also subjective. So, one instructor will say one thing, and the next, something totally different.

My take: know and remember which instructor is teaching what content because they are likely the one that will write that portion of any test. Knowing their attitudes and opinions will help you pick the right answer at times.

So, it's not about what YOU think is the highest priority as much as what you think the instructor that taught the content would think is the highest priority.

So, just as they are studying YOU for your 'worthiness' to remain in the program, you should be studying THEM for thier quirks and opinions and how that will show up on your tests.

Mind you, I am not 'bashing' all instructors. Some are jewels. But, some are not. It's the ones that aren't that you have to worry about.

~faith,

Timothy.

Now I'm scared. I guess I asked for that. :scrying:

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You get the hang of it, but you do have to kind of think about which teacher wrote the test sometimes... critical thinking definitely is developed. You'll do fine!

I sure hope you are right. :chair: In other words, you have to develop the ability to read minds. :(

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I sure hope you are right. :chair: In other words, you have to develop the ability to read minds. :(

WELCOME to nursing.

LOL.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

Nursing school is difficult - if it were easy then everyone would do it! It is definitely difficult to work and go to school at the same time. A lot of people do fail out of nursing school for many reasons, some of which being that nursing courses usually goes by a WAY higher grading scale and nursing school takes a different kind of learning and a way larger commitment. You can't just memorize and regurgitate information in nursing school - you have to know it, think about it, and apply it. It's all about critical thinking! It's difficult, but if your heart is into it then it won't matter because you'll fall in love. Personally, I have one semester left and I still believe there's no better job than being a nurse. Best of luck to you!

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There is a saying that nurses eat their young. It starts with nursing school and instructors.

The instructors will tell you that it is their JOB to weed out anybody not 'fit' to be a nurse. But that is such a subjective measurement. The result is that many people are tossed from programs for what appear to be arbitrary reasons.

Well, they ARE arbitrary reasons; but that's not why they got kicked out. They got booted because the instructor didn't think they were 'nursing' material, and so, LOOKED and/or manufactured a reason for the boot.

See, because the instructors take it upon themselves to be the judge and jury of who can be a nurse, many get an arrogance of power over that position.

And trying to measure up to criteria about which you can't even imagine: that is stressful.

My advice has always been to keep your head down and remember the two rules of college.

1. The instructor is always right.

2. If you want to pass, see rule #1.

I'm not meaning to be discouraging. But, you did ask.

~faith,

Timothy.

So if the instructor is incorrect on a issue then, nod your head like he is correct, even though he isn't?

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And let me tell you, some students that are used to the concept that, if they study enough, they will 'ace' all tests come completely unglued about trying to intuit priority answers based on who wrote that part of the test.

I've seen students argue the point w/ the instructor that wrote the question for hours. . .

~faith,

Timothy.

So if the book says the instructor is wrong, the instructor is still correct?

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You can't just memorize and regurgitate information in nursing school - you have to know it, think about it, and apply it. It's all about critical thinking!

This is exactly what my fist A&P teacher said. She also told me that 1/2 our tests were essay to eliminate the people that don't deserve to be a nurse. She was huge on critical thinking and frankly most people in my class didn't do well on critical thinking essay questions. I guess you validated her claim that do well in nursing school will depend on how well you criticaly think. Thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
So if the book says the instructor is wrong, the instructor is still correct?

Yes, and would you like to know why?

Your book won't fail you; your instructor WILL.

But now, saavy people understand that there is a difference between instruction and education. You do what you have to do to pass the instruction; what you take out of it and the education that affords you, well, that's a different matter entirely.

I learned lots of things in nursing school; many of those things I learned silently, all the while I was 'toting the party line' out loud and on paper.

~faith,

Timothy.

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So if the book says the instructor is wrong, the instructor is still correct?

You tactfully (key word here) mention that one of the text books holds a different view, and ask which view would the teacher like us to adhere to for the purposes of testing.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
You tactfully (key word here) mention that one of the text books holds a different view, and ask which view would the teacher like us to adhere to for the purposes of testing.

And that goes back to what I was saying earlier about vivid memories of students arguing over a particular point for hours with an instructor.

"But the book says !!!!!"

The 'book' doesn't write and grade your exams.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Nursing school itself is not hard. The material / concepts are covered in lectures, practiced in labs, and applied in clinical settings. Hopefully you will have some decent instructors in your school! As stated in previous posts, the instructors are the judges and the jury. It doesn't matter what the book says....or anything else for that matter. What the instructor says is what goes. Many students do drop out due to the stress that instructors can create along the way. If you challege an instructor make sure you have your behind firmly planted in your saddle. It will be a long rough ride! Take it one day at a time, do what you need to do to make it through.........and know that you are not alone! Good Luck!

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And that goes back to what I was saying earlier about vivid memories of students arguing over a particular point for hours with an instructor.

"But the book says !!!!!"

The 'book' doesn't write and grade your exams.

~faith,

Timothy.

I've had these discusions with my instructor as well and the Dean and the Dean told the instrucor he is was incorrect and to give me the point. If the instuctor is saying somthing is wrong that the doctors at U.C. Davis, Berkly, etc, the instuctor will have to swallow their pride and give you the grade you earned. There not allowed to be mavericks and make something up just to be right in thier own mind, and go against all medical facts that are out there.

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