Not as hard as I anticipated....

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

O.k. I am only a first semester student, but I was under the impression from other students that nursing school was going to be insanely difficult. (I am in an accelerated BSN program by the way)

But I haven't found it to be that "difficult". There is a TON of work and information thrown at us, but I have excellent time management skills and read everything before we are lectured and read over my notes after class. But this isn't nearly as difficult as Anatomy & Physiology or Microbiology. And a lot of the clinical tasks are simply common sense tasks with an added bit of nursing/medical knowledge.

Am I the only one that feels this way? I am actually a little disappointed that it isn't any harder, because if it were harder I would probably actually study it a bit more. I am hoping it gets a tad more difficult.

And the most dreaded class (patho/pharm) is actually incredibly enjoyable for me, thus I don't need to study it that much because I am intrigued by it. Furthermore, its basically anatomy & physiology with a little twist thrown in.

Anyone feel the same way as me?? I know this isn't because I am some insane genius, because I am far from that!

Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

You're not the only one. I feel the same about nursing school. It's a lot of info, but certainly not difficult. I'm more worried about rubbing a clinical instructor the wrong way and having them flunk me just because they decide they don't like me.

The classroom work and skills are really pretty easy.

Consider yourselves lucky. For most of us nursing school was among the most difficult things, if not the most difficult, that we've done.

ooooh, you are so lucky. I hope it stays that way for you!! keep us posted!

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
Consider yourselves lucky. For most of us nursing school was among the most difficult things, if not the most difficult, that we've done.

Tazzi -- out of curiosity, what did you find difficult about nursing school? Did you find the amount of material difficult, or did you find the actual material difficult?

For me, the most "difficult" part of nursing school is the AMOUNT of information thrown at us. I don't think it is at all conceptually difficult -- doesn't even compare to the concepts thrown at me in A&P and microbiology. But like I said before, I have awesome time management skills and read or do other assigned work on a nightly basis, thus I don't stress out at all.

Tazzi -- out of curiosity, what did you find difficult about nursing school? Did you find the amount of material difficult, or did you find the actual material difficult?

For me, the most "difficult" part of nursing school is the AMOUNT of information thrown at us. I don't think it is at all conceptually difficult -- doesn't even compare to the concepts thrown at me in A&P and microbiology. But like I said before, I have awesome time management skills and read or do other assigned work on a nightly basis, thus I don't stress out at all.

I will be starting nursing school this aug. So your tip for doing well is just study every time you get. I always ask people in the program "Is it as hard as anatomy?" and they always tell me it is way harder than anatomy. So you say its not. That makes me feel better.

sistermike - I am glad to hear you say that too. I begin my ABSN program next week. I too found anatomy and micro difficult. I am hopeful that I can conquer nursing school the same way...I am like you and make time to study 7 days a week.

I am afraid to say that despite the fact that I had a B.S. in English before I started A&P I and II, I found them to be the most difficult classes I had ever taken in my life (besides statistics of course...can I get an amen...lol). Then I started nursing school, and found that every single class in my B.S. and A&P I and II were a total joke in comparison. First semester was easy, but after that...fuggettaboutit!!! Just my experience, I know others found nursing school to be easy (not in my school though).

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
I will be starting nursing school this aug. So your tip for doing well is just study every time you get. I always ask people in the program "Is it as hard as anatomy?" and they always tell me it is way harder than anatomy. So you say its not. That makes me feel better.

I really think that is the key to nursing school -- just study EVERY day and don't slack off.

My anatomy & physiology and microbiology classes were INTENSE at my school -- our bio department is notorious for harsh professors (hell, most pre-nursing students at our university are weeded out because they simply cannot get the required "B" in their science pre-req's). Thus, nursing school (for me) is far easier than my science classes.

But I'm not trying to degrade nursing school. :) I am just saying that its not nearly as difficult as I imagined and heard from other students.

Perhaps it has something to do with my constant optimist attitude about school, or my ability to time manage, or possibly my ability to always stay calm. I dunno what it is.

Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

My first semester is this Fall..micro and A&P were easy for me, so I hope my nursing classes are similarly doable. it's encouraging to see people on this site who aren't freaking out about how hard everything is.

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
My first semester is this Fall..micro and A&P were easy for me, so I hope my nursing classes are similarly doable. it's encouraging to see people on this site who aren't freaking out about how hard everything is.

And I think those students who "freak" out about school do poor because they are constantly thinking about the negatives of their entire situation, rather then focusing on the positives and focusing on ENJOYING this awesome once-in-a-lifetime experience. And of course focusing on learning as much as possible to assure they will be an awesome RN one day.

I say bring it on. It's got to be like anything else. The more time you put into it, the easier it's going to be.

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