Just how difficult is nursing school going to be?!

Published

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?

I agree with you guys, we should try to avoid battles with instructors. I'm a little pig-headed though. So if I earned a point by a correct answer, then they better give it to me. If they want to get back at me, most of the other students will bear the brunt of it. I passed A&P at the top of my class both semesters, so trying to punish me will only bring every other persons grade down and hardly affect mine. I study hard and if I don't know it, most likley no one else knows it either in the class. I guess I'm just a hard ass. Hopefully no one else has to suffer when I go through nursing school.

I think you're going to have trouble with this attitude. I have similar feelings as you as to really wanting that point if it's mine, but the thing is that it's hardly every that cut and dry in nursing school. OFTEN, a case can be made for more than one answer on a multiple choice test. The time and energy required to take every one of these to the mat is just not worth it. It's rare that you'll be able to irrefutably prove that one answer is better than another, anyway. Also, many professors are immune to this - they simply will not engage in the argument - you may not even get to see them at all - you may only get to talk to the TA, who may have zero authority. But before you take one of these disagreements to a dean, remember, as others have said, that these instructors will evaluate you down the line in a very subjective way, you may very well see the same ones again, and they talk to each other. Also, think about saving a trip to the dean's office for when you really, really need a favor.

I tell you this as someone who has the strong urge to argue when I think I'm right, and I like being right. But I have had to swallow it and learn that you just don't help anyone by showing up an instructor in nursing school. Go to test reviews, RESPECTFULLY ask for clarifications and then wait, often someone else will take up the battle.

Just my .02 :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think you're going to have trouble with this attitude. I have similar feelings as you as to really wanting that point if it's mine, but the thing is that it's hardly every that cut and dry in nursing school. OFTEN, a case can be made for more than one answer on a multiple choice test. The time and energy required to take every one of these to the mat is just not worth it. It's rare that you'll be able to irrefutably prove that one answer is better than another, anyway. Also, many professors are immune to this - they simply will not engage in the argument - you may not even get to see them at all - you may only get to talk to the TA, who may have zero authority. But before you take one of these disagreements to a dean, remember, as others have said, that these instructors will evaluate you down the line in a very subjective way, you may very well see the same ones again, and they talk to each other. Also, think about saving a trip to the dean's office for when you really, really need a favor.

I tell you this as someone who has the strong urge to argue when I think I'm right, and I like being right. But I have had to swallow it and learn that you just don't help anyone by showing up an instructor in nursing school. Go to test reviews, RESPECTFULLY ask for clarifications and then wait, often someone else will take up the battle.

Just my .02 :)

Thanks for the advice. Hopfully I wont get into trouble. Even if I do I will know the material well enough that they can't subjectivly flunk me, unless the want to be dishonest. If they go that road, the dean will have to intevine and displine them.

thanks again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I tell you this as someone who has the strong urge to argue when I think I'm right, and I like being right. But I have had to swallow it and learn that you just don't help anyone by showing up an instructor in nursing school. Go to test reviews, RESPECTFULLY ask for clarifications and then wait, often someone else will take up the battle.

Just my .02 :)

Thanks for this.

LP

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks for the advice. Hopfully I wont get into trouble. Even if I do I will know the material well enough that they can't subjectivly flunk me, unless the want to be dishonest. If they go that road, the dean will have to intevine and displine them.

thanks again.

Yes, they can subjectively fail you. Whining to the dean will backfire.

The thing is that you get more bees with honey...

You'll want/need your instructors and fellow students to be your allies/support system. I can't even count the ways that you'll NEED them to be on your side. It's foolish to let an arguable exam question get in the way of this.

And I can't emphasize enough, as others have said, that it's often, truly not a matter of knowing the material inside and out - it's knowing what they want. You'll see...

Letting something go when you know you are right is an art and an acquired skill for some of us. You can be more proud of learning to do this than you can of backing a professor into a corner and forcing them to give you a lousy point or two. Any bully can do that, even me. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The reality is...

it's not going the be the hardest thing you've ever been through but it will be HARD!!!!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Thanks for the advice. Hopfully I wont get into trouble. Even if I do I will know the material well enough that they can't subjectivly flunk me, unless the want to be dishonest. If they go that road, the dean will have to intevine and displine them.

thanks again.

I have seen many more than one student over the years that were gifted at being nurses, only to be failed over trivia.

You confuse objective measurement with subjective measurement. You may INDEED be immune from an objective measurement of your abilities. But a subjective measurement means IN THAT INSTRUCTOR'S OPINION. And those opinions are influenced by many things, including an assessment of your attitude towards them. And I assure you: their opinions mean more than any objective measure of your abilities.

Don't expect that the dean will ALWAYS stand by you, if only you can convince them of your point. The dean, is, after all, one of your INSTRUCTORS and part of that culture, not yours.

In point of fact, the dean does NOT have to intervene on your behalf. All the instructor need do is make a credible case that you aren't nursing material (and they have much experience on making such cases). That is darn near impossible for you to refute. Programs are accredited based on their pass rates and instructors are given WIDE lattitude to wash out those they believe will not pass and so, hurt the school's reportable statistics. In addition, the school's reputation is based on the students they put out.

It doesn't matter nearly as much whether you COULD pass or COULD be a good nurse as it does that your instructor object to your graduating from the program base on THEIR 'assessment' that you aren't up to snuff.

~faith,

Timothy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have seen many more than one student over the years that were gifted at being nurses, only to be failed over trivia.

You confuse objective measurement with subjective measurement. You may INDEED be immune from an objective measurement of your abilities. But a subjective measurement means IN THAT INSTRUCTOR'S OPINION. And those opinions are influenced by many things, including an assessment of your attitude towards them. And I assure you: their opinions mean more than any objective measure of your abilities.

Don't expect that the dean will ALWAYS stand by you, if only you can convince them of your point. The dean, is, after all, one of your INSTRUCTORS and part of that culture, not yours.

In point of fact, the dean does NOT have to intervene on your behalf. All the instructor need do is make a credible case that you aren't nursing material (and they have much experience on making such cases). That is darn near impossible for you to refute. Programs are accredited based on their pass rates and instructors are given WIDE lattitude to wash out those they believe will not pass and so, hurt the school's reportable statistics. In addition, the school's reputation is based on the students they put out.

It doesn't matter nearly as much whether you COULD pass or COULD be a good nurse as it does that your instructor object to your graduating from the program base on THEIR 'assessment' that you aren't up to snuff.

~faith,

Timothy.

I'm pretty lucky though, the dean is my uncle.:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry.
I'm pretty lucky though, the dean is my uncle.:)

even better. Then you should just skip classes altogether, and simply proceed to Pinning :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
even better. Then you should just skip classes altogether, and simply proceed to Pinning :lol2:

Haha.

It helps but I still have to do the work. Its just nice that instructors know if they subjectivly give me a bad grade, the same might happen to them. Subjective is a two way street .

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, med-surg, peds.
I'm pretty lucky though, the dean is my uncle.:)

Oh wow! You definitely have the hook-up!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm pretty lucky though, the dean is my uncle.:)

Sorry but I have to ask, are you going to run to your uncle everytime something does not go your way? He is not going to be there holding your hand throughout your life.:nono:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry.
Haha.

It helps but I still have to do the work. Its just nice that instructors know if they subjectivly give me a bad grade, the same might happen to them. Subjective is a two way street .

i was being sarcastic :lol2:

Of course you still have to do the work. Its not like someone handing over their company to you... its people's LIVES that we're talking about here, and it's sad to think that someone has the intentions of getting through nursing school by playing the "Well, my uncle is the dean" card. The fact is- you're still the student, and they're still the professor. Do you have another uncle that's the head of a Hospital? if not, it's going to be a rude awakening when you don't have someone to run to when things don't go your way. :rolleyes:

but hey, good luck to you. :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion