nursing program vs. prerequisite courses?

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i am currently working at completing all the prerequisite courses for nursing. I have heard from others that getting through the prerequisites and then getting accepted into a nursing program is the hard part. And they say that getting through the nursing courses is the easier part. I am curious to know what your views are on this? thanks! :wink2:

No doubt about it, nursing school itself is far more demanding, overall. I think what people mean about pre-reqs being the hardest part is that you're building your knowledge base from scratch, so many of the concepts may be entirely and completely unfamilaiar, making them seem scarier than they really are. Nursing school, while you learn a lot of new things, in many ways builds upon a foundational knowledge that you already have. I'm pretty sure thats the point people are makeing, as I doubt anyone would claim that the overall xperience of nursing school is easier than taking a few biology classes....

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i am currently working at completing all the prerequisite courses for nursing. I have heard from others that getting through the prerequisites and then getting accepted into a nursing program is the hard part. And they say that getting through the nursing courses is the easier part. I am curious to know what your views are on this? thanks! :wink2:

They're different kinds of hard. Getting in can be hard because of competition, waitlists etc. But those are mostly factors outside of your control. The prereqs are academically hard because there's alot to know. Nursing school is academically easy, but it's hard because they inundate you with too much paperwork!! But yeah I consider the prereqs to be the "hard" part.

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While it is tough getting good grades on your pre-req courses and making it into the program, I would say that nursing classes are hard and it only becomes tougher as each semester/year goes by. There is nothing easy about nursing school!

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I miss taking pre req classes. Those were some good times, when we weren't so isolated from everyone else at the college, where you could go to your first day of class and not fail out of a course for not getting two questions right out of 10 on a math test, Where you didn't have to get up at 5am to start clinicals at 6 30 in the morning, Where failing or withdrawing a class wasn't a problem, where you weren't worried about getting audited and fearing that you would be kicked out of a program for some silly reasons. Pre-reqs are hard, nursing classes are even harder, and more stressful. If pre-reqs were the hard part, then nursing classes would be impossible for me.

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-BC.

So far the nursing courses I've taken have been way more intense than my prereq's. We never did case studies in prereq's except for Patho. We never had something due every week (test or case study) in prereq's. The questions in prereq's (except Patho again) were NOT critical thinking questions. Plus the instructors in the nursing program are more strict and they really do expect a lot out of you.

Nursing instructors want your best.:yeah: Prereq instructors just want you to pass.

I think that sums it up.:bugeyes:

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Other way around for me! Nursing school is totally different from prereqs..once you catch on to the way they test you, all the tests are pretty much the same.

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Bump

:specs:

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You guys have given me a lot to think about. I have been trying to learn the "critical thinking" it is not easy. We don't naturally think this way and to do so means you must learn a whole new way of looking at things. I am looking forward in getting into nursing school. I am not looking forward to all the work. But I will do what ever it takes to successed. I joined this site some time ago and wanted to go to NS but life got in the way and I never really got things going. Well this time I am not going to let nothing stop me. I am taking the time to do what I need to do to complete this process. I will be a nurse. It is all I have ever wanted to do. No matter how hard it is I am going to do this.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
You guys have given me a lot to think about. I have been trying to learn the "critical thinking" it is not easy. We don't naturally think this way and to do so means you must learn a whole new way of looking at things. I am looking forward in getting into nursing school. I am not looking forward to all the work. But I will do what ever it takes to successed. I joined this site some time ago and wanted to go to NS but life got in the way and I never really got things going. Well this time I am not going to let nothing stop me. I am taking the time to do what I need to do to complete this process. I will be a nurse. It is all I have ever wanted to do. No matter how hard it is I am going to do this.

I like your attitude! :D

The learning/testing style is definitely different in NS, but you'll get used to it. Good luck on getting into a program, and be sure to ask us questions if you need anything.

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It might be hard just study study study, you can do anything you put your mind to. When you are finally a nurse you will then be rewarded for all your hard work.

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My nursing courses are much more difficult than my prerequisite courses.

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