Most difficult thing about nursing school?

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I've only been in my PN program for a month now, but the most difficult thing for me so far would be pharmacology! What's the most difficult thing you have done so far in your nursing program?

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Therapeutic communication and knowing which subjective answer is the "right" one. Im great at all of the concrete facts and prioritizing but im working on thag subjective therapeutic communication mumbo jumbo that throws me everytime. I get that there is technically one right answer but I have a hard time believing one answer is better than the other. I disagree and it makes me so mad haha.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Clinicals, hands down. I'm great at the academic parts of nursing school but actually being out in a facility, dealing with real human beings instead of mannequins .... totally different ball game. I definitely had a "what have I done?!?" meltdown moment after my first (terrible) clinical week but as I've gotten to work with higher-acuity patients I'm getting more and more into the swing of it and almost starting to enjoy myself.

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Just started pre nursing classes, and so far its been okay. I hate math though, and realize it's an integral part of the nursing program. I just have to keep on chugging along. So far it's not too bad.

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Just started pre nursing classes and so far its been okay. I hate math though, and realize it's an integral part of the nursing program. I just have to keep on chugging along. So far it's not too bad.[/quote']

I completely agree, I dislike the math also. We will get through it. :)

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Clinicals hands down. I'm great at the academic parts of nursing school but actually being out in a facility, dealing with real human beings instead of mannequins .... totally different ball game. I definitely had a "what have I done?!?" meltdown moment after my first (terrible) clinical week but as I've gotten to work with higher-acuity patients I'm getting more and more into the swing of it and almost starting to enjoy myself.[/quote']

Keep positive. :) I'm glad you're getting the swing of things. I start my clinicals in January. I don't even know what to expect, it's nerve-wracking!

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Therapeutic communication and knowing which subjective answer is the "right" one. Im great at all of the concrete facts and prioritizing but im working on thag subjective therapeutic communication mumbo jumbo that throws me everytime. I get that there is technically one right answer but I have a hard time believing one answer is better than the other. I disagree and it makes me so mad haha.

Haha, I know what you mean. I also hate having to second guess myself on test questions!

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Finding enough time to do everything. Homework/studying, going to class, clinical, work. No time for anything else. Doesn't help that the material gets harder the further you go. Oh, and the tests where every multiple choice answer is "right", technically, but only one is "correct." And select all that apply questions be damned!

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I'm not in nursing courses yet, however, everyone tells me that time management and exams are theeee WORST.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I'm in my first semester of my RN program. I think the hardest part is managing everything you have to do in the first 6 weeks of the program. We have fundamentals, skills, physical assessment, clinical reasoning/documentation, med math, etc. It's a LOT to do in a short period of time and I really have to schedule out my day so I don't miss assignments or fall behind in my studying. We have an exam nearly every week (have to get a 76% or better to keep passing, math 90% or better)

Now that we're ending the first 6 weeks, we're in clinicals, so the pace won't be so hectic. However, now we have mountains of clinical paperwork that has to be completed each day. We have to manage our own time when we're on site to make sure we've completed everything: assessment, priorities, plan, etc. In the first 15 minutes on site, we have to map out our priorities for the shift with our assigned patient. I know it will get better the more we do it, but it feels overwhelming at first. Once we got that first day of clinicals out of the way, things got better :)

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I'm in my first semester of prereqs, so at this point it's mostly about sacrifices I made to start. I sold my truck and I hate not having much time for my horse anymore :( I pretty much only ride her on the weekends now. I moved her to pasture board too to save money so now she's getting so hairy and isn't the pretty little showhorse she was.

Once it's over though I'll be able to afford and have time to spoil her and have whatever truck I like though :yes:

I'm not liking not having free time where I can truly relax- even when I am doing something fun or necessary (like working or grocery shopping) I feel like I should be studying.

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Finding enough time to do everything. Homework/studying going to class, clinical, work. No time for anything else. Doesn't help that the material gets harder the further you go. Oh, and the tests where every multiple choice answer is "right", technically, but only one is "correct." And select all that apply questions be damned![/quote']

I know what you mean about having no time! And sometimes I want some down time for myself. Seems like I never get that! :p ugh, I hate select all that apply questions. Sometimes I will just miss one answer and get the whole thing wrong! My professor gives those questions to us a lot for practice and critical thinking. It will help me in the long run, but damn those questions! Lol

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