I've been reading through the forums a bit over the last few days, and have noticed a general consensus on the high difficulty level of Nursing school. I'm curious: How difficult are the nursing classes specifically?
You see, I already have all of my prerequisites and co-requisites for my degree complete. The only classes I will be taking from this point on will be my nursing classes. Which at my school means four 8 credit nursing classing taken sequentially over the next four semesters. Can I think of it as being comparative in difficulty and workload as last semester for instance, when I took Human A&P 2 and Microbiology for 8 credits? Or, will the Nursing classes be considerably more? Has anyone else been in the same position as myself and taken their nursing classes without any other classes simultaneously?
It's the amount of time one has to learn and understand the content... as well as numerous projects.
While the content can be complicated, there is no reason a reasonably intelligent adult cannot learn it... and in a normal 16 week class with (maybe) one major project... no (real) sweat.
In nursing school, the content is crammed into a mere 8 weeks, with multiple presentations, reports, lab demonstrations/returns, clinical and all the paperwork and prepping that is required in clinical...oh, and the exams, of course.
I haven't really seen someone fail because they could not grasp the content.
I have seen people fail because they became so overwhelmed that they slid down the slippery slope until they could not function anymore.
I agree with what another poster said.. I think people sometimes blow it out of proportion. I'm an older student and have a previous Bachelor's in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I am working on a BSN now. I have only completed one semester of actual nursing classes. (I start the second semester on August 27th). I found the first semester to be (dare I say?) easy. I think it helps that I find everything that we are learning so interesting, makes it stick easier. I studied about 8-10 hours for each test and made straight A's. I never even picked up a book except for the two or maybe three days before a big exam. Sure we had to write a couple of papers and do a practicum, but as long as you didn't procrastinate those things were very doable and not difficult, just time consuming. It's not the difficulty level of the information you are expected to learn....it's the amount and the way in which you are expected to be able to apply it that I think people find difficult. I, of course, expect the semesters to progressively get harder as the program progresses, but I am more than ready for the challenge. (And yes I understand I have only completed one semester of nursing classes so some people probably think I shouldn't be commenting, but I am just letting the OP know my opinion about the first semester)
I was this same student. Breezed through pre-reqs. Again, as eleectrosaurus said, "Different animal". Nursing classes aren't taught in that "direct, learn this info & you will be tested directly from this information type of class". It's more like "here are the general concepts, hope you can glean what's important and be ready to be tested not only on the notes but any random thing in the book" type of class. Also, the questions on the tests are different, they're more of a generalized question that you have to PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION to. The devil's in the details and that's what makes nursing school harder than pre-reqs. Clear as mud??
oh my gosh! I have to agree with everyone's post on here, except the ones saying it was easy. For me, it's extremely difficult. i am almost done with the first half of my session, and I wanna scream! haha. I got all A's in my pre-req's and was expecting A's. nope. on my first nursing test I got a 98, only because I cracked open a book 3-4 weeks before class started and started preparing. once class starts you don't get that time. you have a test every single week between your classes; sometimes 2 tests (one week we have 1 test and the other week we have are other 2 tests) so time management is difficult. they expect you to read the book, detail by detail and KNOW IT. and like the others say, the most difficult thing in nursing is how much you have to know in ONE week. I study every day all day, about 8 or so hours a day. there is just so much to do! For example, next week- Monday we have skills validations for one class, then another validation on Thursday for another, then 2 HUGE tests that determine whether or not youre gonna pass or fail. to get all that studying done in the next few days is going to be rough. especially because if you don't pass validations you fail the class and lab and have to retake the whole thing...
I think its all subjective, obviously. We really can't predict how well you are going to do, because we are not you. LOL I honestly hear different things from different people all the time. Whether they are nursing students who are coming in, or senior students, nursing instructors, and even nurses in the hospital. They all had a unique experience with school. I haven't started school yet. I will next month. Nursing school is going to be an experience that will compare to no other! You can't classify nursing school as other programs (computers, law, business, social sciences etc). Because, nursing school is its own breed and monster.
I personally feel my challenges this upcoming semester will be time management. Only because, I have been out of school for so long and I'm used to doing my own thing at my own pace. Now, I will have to conform to the school's schedule and way of doing things which is going to be a shock to me. I am an adult learner who is almost 40 who is going back to school for nursing. I don't see it as being a walk in the park but I know I can do it.
I am an older student with no degree. I am finding nursing school to be easy so far.... I am at the end of my 2nd quarter and I barely study. In fact, I keep thinking I am missing something because I am not stressing. I have spoke to a few LPN's in our class and they have all said the same thing to me, it is about common sense. I listen closely during lectures and I take good notes. I do ALL my homework and I participate in ALL labs. One more thing that is very important is go to class. If you miss a class you miss a lot!
I was on the Dean's List and had perfect attendance in my first quarter and I am on target for the same thing this quarter.
I am also of the mindset of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Keep it Simple!
I'm a nontraditional student and I'll say it - those of you who are saying you hardly opened a book scare me.
I suppose it depends on how you look at things. I could cram information into my brain, take the test, pass the test and be fine, but how would I apply it later on? I read, and more importantly I research. Medicine is constantly changing and not just the things that we do on the floor but how our jobs are evaluated. I think it would behoove all students to really read the ACA now and know how it is going to affect them professionally down the line.
You get out of nursing school what you put into it. If your goal is simply to have the fancy letters after your name, and you don't require a good deal of study time in order to do well; more power to you, but I'd rather you not be my nurse.
I di dc nt open a book but thats because our instructors tested over the powerpoint and im a very auditory learner-if I heard it, it stuck. I thought in my program the classes were difficult. I did take statistics along with the nursing classes but math is a strong area for me also. I think its what you are comfartable with and what type of learner you are
I have been where you are. I did not find my classes difficult at all. I had much more time to focus on just my nursing classes than my fellow students. I truly believe that getting all other classes out of the way first is the way to go!
I am an older student with no degree. I am finding nursing school to be easy so far.... I am at the end of my 2nd quarter and I barely study. In fact, I keep thinking I am missing something because I am not stressing. I have spoke to a few LPN's in our class and they have all said the same thing to me, it is about common sense. I listen closely during lectures and I take good notes. I do ALL my homework and I participate in ALL labs. One more thing that is very important is go to class. If you miss a class you miss a lot!
I was on the Dean's List and had perfect attendance in my first quarter and I am on target for the same thing this quarter.
I am also of the mindset of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Keep it Simple!
Good luck to you!
:bowingpur I certainly hope I have this attitude about it all. I start my first semester of nursing school in 5 days and can't put my books down. The material is so interesting to me, a lot of it I know so far from being a CNA. I'm worried about running out of study time when classes start!
I'm a nontraditional student and I'll say it - those of you who are saying you hardly opened a book scare me.
I suppose it depends on how you look at things. I could cram information into my brain, take the test, pass the test and be fine, but how would I apply it later on? I read, and more importantly I research. Medicine is constantly changing and not just the things that we do on the floor but how our jobs are evaluated. I think it would behoove all students to really read the ACA now and know how it is going to affect them professionally down the line.
You get out of nursing school what you put into it. If your goal is simply to have the fancy letters after your name, and you don't require a good deal of study time in order to do well; more power to you, but I'd rather you not be my nurse.
Just sayin'.
I hope you do not think that because I find nursing school to not be difficult or stressful that you think I am not learning and don't care about anything other than "fancy letters" behind my name. That is the farthest thing from the truth. I can't learn about changing things in the field if I am not in the field yet. I have learned a lot so far and I apply it when I can, I just do not sit and study with an open book.
Why do you think that if I put in more study time I will be a better nurse if I am learning with my style. Everyone learns differently and my way is not with my nose in a book.
:bowingpur I certainly hope I have this attitude about it all. I start my first semester of nursing school in 5 days and can't put my books down. The material is so interesting to me, a lot of it I know so far from being a CNA. I'm worried about running out of study time when classes start!
ProudStudent, I find the nursing stuff to be very interesting as well, which is probably why I am not stressing. I am learning in class because it all interests me and I absorb so much of it. I am like a sponge. lol
I really do believe that all students need to relax. Sometimes you can psych yourself out!
Hygiene Queen
2,232 Posts
It's not the content.
It's the amount of time one has to learn and understand the content... as well as numerous projects.
While the content can be complicated, there is no reason a reasonably intelligent adult cannot learn it... and in a normal 16 week class with (maybe) one major project... no (real) sweat.
In nursing school, the content is crammed into a mere 8 weeks, with multiple presentations, reports, lab demonstrations/returns, clinical and all the paperwork and prepping that is required in clinical...oh, and the exams, of course.
I haven't really seen someone fail because they could not grasp the content.
I have seen people fail because they became so overwhelmed that they slid down the slippery slope until they could not function anymore.
Stay organized and stay on top of things.