Nursing school does get harder, right?

[Scrubz]

My nursing fundamentals class wasn't really a cake class or anything, but for the most part it was pretty easy. Aside from the first theory test I didn't really study that much for class. The lab part of class was stressful at times because we were learning skills all the time, but I think a lot of the stress came from the unknown rather than what was really going on.

I know that's a vauge paragraph but does that look familiar to anyone? Please tell me that this gets tougher because I really want it to. The tougher it is the more I learn and the better I do so I can't stand these easier classes. I know it has to get tougher but when? Next semester I take OB and Peds, plus a non-nursing microbiology class. I know I'll be putting way more time into nursing, but I'm not afraid of that, I just want it to be more involving. There's too many of my classmates thinking we've already done so much "nursing" stuff but I know we've barely scratched the surface (some fundamental skills, the nursing process, the other crap in theory that you'll never use again).

Oh, and I'm in an ADN program and I have three semesters left: OB/Peds, Med-Surg I, Med-Surg II (general class names but we'll study different areas within each "Med-Surg" class). Then after this I plan to get my BSN at another school. Can anyone help me out on figuring out what I should expect from here on out? Becuase I seriously expect it to be more challenging but my fundamentals class didn't really offer it. It does get tougher from here on out though, right? What can I expect based on your all's experiences?

[BoonersmomRN]

It sure got a lot harder at my school. I thought Fundamentals was very very easy compared to even some of my pre=req's. Fundamentals was also an entire semester (14 weeks) so it was pretty drawn out.

After that the classes became 7 weeks long and the pace picked up on day one- it was like " whhhhattt just happened???". Along with faster more jam packed lectures came longer clinicals with more responsibiliy and more assigned clients. I found Med/Surg 1 to be easy ( my school splits M/S into 3 sections) but then Psych came a long and those test questions were enough to actually drive me to the brink of a mental breakdown.

So, yeah, it got a lot harder...for me at least:).

[BoonersmomRN]

I will be spending 3 weeks on diabetes

3 weeks? Heavens- how long is the class?

We spent 2 4 hour. lectures on diabetes.

[OnTheRoad]

Another reason I hope it's harder (this might seem mean) is because some of the students in my class don't really need to be in nursing school (in my opinion). Such as, when asked why they want to be nurses they really don't give a concrete answer and it borders a "I just decided right before school started" kind of thing. I want it to be harder for them to make them make a decision if it's really what they want to do or not. Because most of them don't work in hospitals, or any healthcare setting for that matter, so all they know to this point is what they've learned in fundamentals. And so far what we've learned in fundamentals doesn't come close to touching what's out there. And I work at a hopsital as a CNA and I've gotten to witness some of the real world situations and all I can say right now is most of them are going to be in for a rude suprise. Because from what I can tell and from what I've heard from other RNs, the real world is way different than what you learn in school. I just thought I'd throw this rant in there .

... If anyone feels the same way about their class please share..

The real world is different than fundamentals sure. What's to say though that these students you don't think belong and are in for a rude awakening won't do even better than you and YOU will be the one in for a rude awakening because you think you know what you are getting yourself in to?

The first thing I learned in nursing school was humility;)

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

It's just that our dean kept telling us that we'd have to "eat, drink, and live" nursing for the next two years, and honestly, the first semester was almost a joke to what she said. Sure it was a little difficult from time to time, but nothing like I expected. Of course I'm not speaking for everyone on this, but for me it wasn't hard at all, rather time consuming. Some parts were fun, but a lot of it was just boring.

... If anyone feels the same way about their class please share..

Well, the fact is, some people are just good at school. I took 1st semester and thought, well-that was easy. I kept expecting more. Each semester got easier for me, because I was more comfortable in the program and taking tests.

Some students really do eat, drink, and breathe nursing school. I worked as a tech every day I wasn't in school. I planned my destination wedding over 3000 miles away, watched my 1 year old nephew on school days, and yet still found school easy.

I thought for a while that it was just my program, but after I graduated I thought my critical care class (for work) was too easy and I was a little upset by that. ACLS easy too. I just think some people have the ability to do well in school. You shouldn't be made to feel badly about that. You're just lucky!

Now....the first few months on real world nursing will blow you away!!!

[Sheri257]

I find it really interesting that you would say something like "the other crap in theory that you'll never use again". How would you, as a greenhorn with no RN experience, possibly know that?

I agree ... material I thought I'd never use actually came in pretty handy in clinical situations.

:typing

[Sheri257]

I agree that Fundamentals is not hard material, what makes it hard, is when you go to class and feel like it was a waste of time. Then you have to go home and basically teach or read everything for yourself (our teachers do not cover half what is on the tests) to make sure that you have everything covered for the upcoming tests. For one of our tests we had at one time 28 chapters, unreal, and it is just so time consuming. This and the endless care plans, clinicals and lab practices, is what makes it hard, to me.

This is what people tend to forget time and time again ...

The reality is: any class is as hard or as easy the teacher makes it ... period. It always depends on the individual instructor.

While fundamentals can generally be easier and it was for my class, it hasn't been for the classes that followed us because they got a new teacher who intentionally decided to toughen up on first semester.

And some teachers don't teach ... they just give you a bare bones outline and expect you to do the rest. No matter what semester you're in ... that's going to be a lot tougher than having an instructor who spoon feeds everything in lecture.

:typing

[NaomieRN]

3 weeks? Heavens- how long is the class?

We spent 2 4 hour. lectures on diabetes.

From January 16-April 30

I am in a evening part time program. I know the day students will spend maybe one lecture on diabetes. I guess I am lucky.

[moongirl]

:) yes, it gets harder. Wait till you hit Pharmacology

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

I didn't find it "easy", but it didn't kill me either....I think the first half of the semester I spent just getting comfortable with the whole NS environment...I had worked myself up quite a bit from reading posts here about how horrible it was going to be!! I lost 8 lbs. in the first two weeks of school just worrying!!

From what I hear about second semester, it's not going to get any easier...we'll get 2 patients in clinicals, have clinicals every week, and the material will get a bit harder -- hence, it's no longer "fundamentals"....we lost about 20% of our class this first semester....so it's obviously not a cakewalk for everyone...

I don't take it for granted that things we learn won't be applicable when we get in the "real world"....I understand much of what we will need to know is learned on-the-job and some of what we learn won't be used in all situations...but the bottom line is--I need to learn it to get out of school....therefore, 3 more semesters of doing whatever needs to be done!!

[scholar]

For the people that are bored and find nursing classes to be extremely easy why not change your major to premed and go to medical school instead of an ASN program.

Well, that's what I would do. But to be honest I dont think I could handle studying so much information at one time and I get bored when the material gets so deep.

[Kemccanha]

I just passed my second year Med/Surg. I thought it was ridiculously hard! Not sure if it was the class though or the instructor and her wording on the test! I'm onto my Peds/OB and Community and I am done! :monkeydance:

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

2nd semester coming up here and here it goes. I do well on tests and find more of the hands on fake demos harder than real patient care...I got the label of the "smart guy" just because I got A's this semester and the one test I did bad on 42/50 was because someone from another class said oh we did that test, here's what you need to know (WRONG!).

I've got 8 weeks of Med/surg 1 and then Peds...which I think also tosses in the OB clinicals. But apparently only 5/8 weeks are at hospital. We have some sort of off-site clinicals and then some other thing to do in place of 1 clinical(I think State legislature nursing day). I'm not too worried yet....more for Pharm 3rd semester and Micro during the 6 week summer session.

Clarise....OB/Peds was easy for me, as I have a lot of children and love OB. But most of my fellow students found it difficult, especially if they haven't had children or if they were male.

I usually don't play the "I'm offended" card...but what reason does being a male play on the OB/peds rotation? I too love kids, and figure that actually being a male may help (especially with boys). Was it a patient issue? Like female patients being uncomfortable with male nursing students..or what? I'd like to know.