Nurses... What is harder or more stressful: being a nurse or nursing school?

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I'm just wondering. I'm in a BSN program, but the same way you can't explain how difficult it is to be in nursing school unless you are in it, I don't know what being a 'real' nurse is like yet. What are the pros and cons of each?

Thank you! :)

Lauren

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

I'm in nursing school so I can't differentiate the two but I have heard from numerous nurses that I work with that being a nurse is nothing like nursing school. Like anything you do over and over again, you will become somewhat comfortable in what you're doing. Of course, there's always the challenge but most of the time, it's great.

I'm hoping they're right. ;-)

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Specializes in Infection prevention and control.

NURSING SCHOOL!!! I am 3 weeks away from applying to a LPN to ADN program and school is nothing like practice!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

im not a nurse yet, but i would have to guess school---the stress that we put upon ourselves to excel is unreal...i work in another field of healthcare and when im with my patients my goal is to give 110% and make sure that i deliver the highest quality of care to them..yes it can be very stressful, but i dont feel the gut wrenching, anorexia inducing, pull my hair out stress that school has brought out in me hahah.

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NURSING SCHOOL!!! I am 3 weeks away from applying to a LPN to ADN program and school is nothing like practice!

I know... I'm sooooo stressed in this BSN program. I wish you the best in applying, I hope you get in!!! :)

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
I'm just wondering. I'm in a BSN program, but the same way you can't explain how difficult it is to be in nursing school unless you are in it, I don't know what being a 'real' nurse is like yet. What are the pros and cons of each?

Thank you! :)

Lauren

That is kind of like asking, "Which is harder, going through the birth canal or junior high school?"

You have to get through one to do the other and sometimes that second one is no fun. But fun or not, you sure as heck ain't doing the first one again.

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That is kind of like asking, "Which is harder, going through the birth canal or junior high school?"

You have to get through one to do the other and sometimes that second one is no fun. But fun or not, you sure as heck ain't doing the first one again.

I'm asking what is more stressful... You CAN compare the stress levels of each. Also, PROS and CONS is what I asked for each.

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let's see.... school is stressful due to tests, reading, careplans, etc. You are responsible for yourself.

& real nursing is nothing like it- no more tests, reading, careplans- yeah. BUT now you've got 8+ total care patients, meds, treatments, charting, docs to answer to, managers breathing down your neck, customer service issues......etc, etc. & YOU are responsible for all of it.

school vs job is like comparing apples to oranges..........the stress comes from different sources.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
I'm asking what is more stressful... You CAN compare the stress levels of each. Also, PROS and CONS is what I asked for each.

It depends on the person. Which is more stressful:

1. Doing an assessment and med administration on a manikin (thats a brand name) with an instructor glowering over you during a check off that if you fail you are out of the program.

-or-

2. Having two gangbangers who shot each other (one of whom is your patient) and their entourages get into a fistfight at the nurse's station.

I'm sure there are pros and (ex) cons to each. Have fun picking them out.

But in the end....who cares which is more stressful? It's not like you can choose one over the other.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Nurse - Its your ass on the line 24/7

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

School= saving your a$$

Work= saving, kissing, cleaning a$$ses :lol2:

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

NURSING SCHOOL! What's nice in NS is that you aren't ultimately responsible for your patients. In the real world, you are. But I'd MUCH rather be a nurse than a student and clinicals are NOTHING like real nursing (thank goodness!!!).

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