Just how difficult is nursing school?

Put it this way, engineering school was far easier when comparing scheduling and the amount of work involved in nursing school.

The material isn't that difficult. What made it difficult in the beginning is too many instructors telling you different things about the same subject. But eventually, you learn to decipher what is correct.

If you have people who are absolutely willing to be helpful without question, then you should be okay time-wise.

BRUTAL!! Just kidding!!

I would be comparable to your 5 classes and working two jobs. When I did my LPN, I did it pregnant (started preggers, delivered, ended preggers, took NCLEX preggers) and I worked full time. Albeit, I worked at home as a medical transcriptionist but I did work which they do not recommend but I didn't have a choice. This time around, I JUST finished 4 prereqs for the LPN to RN program, I plan on only working about 30 hours a week. The biggest thing you will need is a HUGE support system to help with the kids and probably some meds to deal with the guilt you will feel!! :redbeathe You just have to be dedicated and lean on anyone you can because it is hard. I don't know anyone who thought nursing school was a breeze and if they did, I am sure they did not get out of it what they were supposed to. The good news is, is doesn't last forever and at the end you are a nurse!! I love being a nurse and certain it was what I was supposed to do with this life!! Good luck to you!!!

Yes, it is subjective. This is my second career and by far the hardest. From my first degree, I took 5 classes, worked a job, had a social life, and still did well. I'm now in an accelerated nursing program taking 5 classes with clinical, no job, barely a social life, and jump for joy to get a C+/B. It's mainly because I'm just not the best test taker when it comes to nursing questions. I'm use to taking exams that are clearly black and white, but I'm getting better and almost done with my program!

I think you'll be fine. Nursing school isn't impossible to complete. Time management is a key.

I think you'll be fine. Nursing school isn't impossible to complete. Time management is a key.

I absolutely agree!!! I have real issues with giving up control but I had to give up a lot of stuff to my husband. I have a pretty good system for myself that I have worked out where I do as much as I can within that first week of class once I get my syllabus, i.e. reading, chapter questions, papers, care plans, etc. That way I can still have some semblance of a life while going through school. I think the hardest part is doing it now with kids vs before having no kids. Mine are 6 and 5 and had a super hard time adjusting to me going back, of course I was taking 16 cr hours and working full time so the program in and of itself won't be THAT bad, but there are still many sacrifices to be made......

Put it this way, engineering school was far easier when comparing scheduling and the amount of work involved in nursing school.

I can second this. Engineering school was freaking Romper Room compared to nursing school.

Nursing school is as difficult as you let it be. If you freak out over every assignment and test, school won't be kind to you. If you put in the effort, you'll be just fine. It sounds like you know how to manage your time well so that will be key. As for everything else- go with the flow and don't forget to relax sometimes.

BRUTAL!! Just kidding!!

Albeit, I worked at home as a medical transcriptionist but I did work which they do not recommend but I didn't have a choice. The good news is, is doesn't last forever and at the end you are a nurse!! I love being a nurse and certain it was what I was supposed to do with this life!! Good luck to you!!!

Amen sister :) I am also a medical transcriptionist who works at home...work full time, but won't be if I get in. WOW! and you were preggers most of the time going through school...KUDOS TO YOU!! I was accepted into a program 8 years ago and at the same time, found out I was pregnant...was put on bedrest (cerclage placement, the whole niners), so was just no way to do it...then baby 2 came along...then baby 3....lol! Same deal, had to have cerclage with all of them. So during the past 8 years we put my hubby through school. He is finishing up his dissertation for his PhD and is a professor, so now it's my turn again :)

Two of my kiddos are in school all day, but yes I dread being away from my babies. I have been home their entire lives. My kids are my social life...haha...so, whatever spare moment I have (which sounds like minimal) will be devoted to them. Like you said, if I feel guilty I will have to remember that this is just a segment in time that will only last 16 months.

I love hearing all of your stories! No one has better knowledge of what it's like than you ladies and gents who have lived through it. You know what they say, we often fear that which we do not know...and I'm a little nervous. I don't even know if I will get in yet...if I do, then one fear down, and many more to go...lol!

I can second this. Engineering school was freaking Romper Room compared to nursing school.

Seriously? lol!! okay, now you scare me...I wouldn't be able to engineer myself a straw hut...lol. I work in radiology (transcription) and I transcribe everything from CT Brain scans, x-rays, MRI spines, knees, shoulders, US Abdomen/Pelvis, to MR angiograms and coronary calcium scores, etc. I'm 'hoping' with all the different scans and such that I have been reading/transcribing for 8 years might help me some (if nothing else than at least with medical terminology). Still, I know there is a HUGE difference from being behind the line to actually working the line...its everything I do not know that scares me.

Probably my BIGGEST fear (among others...and you all might laugh at this because it's kind of 'a given' in nursing) is veins. I once worked in the OR as an ACP (again, 8 years ago) and I adored the job...the nurses would laugh at me (lovingly of course) because they new how veins would freak me out (not as bad as snakes, but they are up there). lol! I know, I know, I will definitely have to get over that REAL quick, and I think I can. I'm already trying to desensitize myself to the idea of blood drawls and starting IVs. Blood, mucous, bad smells, etc. (although not pleasant) do not bother me (after all, I have three young children...lol). Anyone else get all squirmy over blood drawls and starting IVs? That's normal, right?

You average about 80 pages a night reading (from day 1 forward)... you have 10 different books to reference, and 5 of them you are reading from, so organization is crucial. You have 5 different teachers, so you have to learn the teaching style of each. And you have an exam every two weeks on several hundreds of pages, powerpoints that aren't always from the book, and skills that have to be checked off in the interim. (That's how it is for me.)

It's difficult, but not impossible. However, having young children, additional courses (A &P, etc.), and a job would probably push me over the edge, but your past experiences would be great references to lean on during the hard times!

Good luck!

sandanrnstudent

YIKES!!! That's a lot of reading! Thanks for the heads up with that, I need to brush up on my skimming skills. :)

Well, I don't have three kids. I have two. But, they are 14 months apart and my oldest is 26 months, so I can relate! I just started my 3rd semester of nursing school (OB/PEDS, Med-Surg II) and I will give you as much insight as I can. Like another poster mentioned, nursing school is all about time management. The material is NOT hard. That being said, the amount of material you are expected to know and understand is overwhelming. A few tips: if you are shaky on your anatomy AND physiology, review it NOW! I underlined physiology because this is of the utmost importance. Sure, anyone can memorize landmarks and regurgitate them on a diagram and fill in the blanks. It is the process of each system and its function that is essential to understanding and building on your fundamentals of nursing. Everything affects everything.

It's very hard to have to leave my kids. I feel guilty a lot of the time, but honestly, after the first couple of weeks of nursing school, you'll want them to be with a babysitter or playing with other kids. I am far too exhausted to entertain them when I get home, and I end up feeling more guilty. This will benefit them in the long run and I'd rather do it now and get it over with. There is NO right time to go through nursing school. You just have to bite the bullet and push forward. I can't study until my kids go to sleep, so I average about 3 hours of sleep a night and at LEAST one night I week I don't sleep at all (the night before clinical). Sure, I've been exhausted to the point where I can't get up on time and my kids wanna throw a fit in the mornings and I walk into class 3 minutes late and catch a lot of hell from my instructors. But I don't make excuses. I say, "I'll do better. I'm sorry." It's difficult, but to me it's one of those situations where you don't think about how hard it is at the moment, then when you're finished and you look back on it all you're like "How in the WORLD did I survive that?!" You are a lot stronger than you've ever imagined yourself to be if you really want something! Best advice I have ever heard is to take it one day at a time.

Well, I have to hit the books again. Hope I gave you some insight on nursing school (from my perspective at least). GOOD LUCK!