Nerves help!

So I guess you're getting started on your pre-reqs now if you haven't taken A & P yet, right? If so, don't stress - you have time to develop the study habits that will get you through the tough nursing classes. No one says they are good at memorization, but we all learn how to do it because of the motivation to not hurt your patient with what you don't remember. So don't worry about that part too much.

However, if you are not sure that you want to be a nurse, you should probably do your homework on that before getting in too deep. Wanting to help people is a noble but broad goal. Every career helps people in some way, but not all of them are as challenging, active, or direct as nursing. See if your college/university has a career center that can help you assess your personality and skills, and come up with a few alternatives to consider alongside nursing. Then, see which ones appeals the most and go for it!

As far as memory goes, remember that NCLEX covers a lot of material, and you must be able to recall that information. When practising as a nurse, you need to be able to remember things. If it is something you truly want, I think you can do it. Overcome challenges to reach the summit of success.

Try to call your local hospital to see if they have a nursing shadow program. If they do, you will get to follow a nurse and observe what sort of things she has to do (without actually participating in any of it). This is a great way to see what nursing entails... it is not just about helping people, but dealing with bodily fluids, giving people shots/IVs, etc as well.

Also, nursing classes aren't just memorizing, but also learning material and retraining your mind to think a particular way in any given medical situation. If you think you can do that, and feel a true calling to nursing, then I would definitely say go for it.

I am still working on my prerequisites right now so I won't be able to help with questions about the nursing program itself, but I have taken A&P and am taking Micro right now. I believe that classes like these are what the nursing program use to help prep you for what is to come. They are by no means as hard as nursing classes but rather a solid foundation for the rest of your career as a nurse. Also, it is not about memorizing things but knowing them. If you try to memorize something it will be in your short term memory, so that's why you need to KNOW the material. Do a couple of your prerequs and see how it goes..... you may find you love it and you may find that you hate it. Good luck to you either way!!!