is Nursing School HARDER than Medical School?

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Whether is it from a Nursing Instructor or classmate, I keep hearing that Nursing School is HARD, HARD, HARD!!! This is no big surprise to me that is hard, but it seems strange that this is emphasized so much; it seems like people are trying to scare people away from Nursing, or maybe there are other reasons. I've never heard people emphasize this aspect of Medical School to the extent that I hear it about Nursing School. I think medical students know they are doing something hard, and I never hear anyone emphasizing again and again how hard medical school is. Why is Nursing School treated like the most difficult thing to do on the planet? OK, sure it is hard, but to keep emphasizing this makes it almost sound like the person saying it maybe didn't get any respect for how hard they worked, so they want everyone else to be impressed with how smart they are to have made it through. I just never hear Doctors going around saying how hard Medical School was, and I think it because everyone knows it is a hard thing to do. It sounds like Nurses have an inferiority complex. What gives?

Specializes in oncology.
6 hours ago, summertx said:

You can show up for biology and physiology and miss days. They aren't easy you are right, but I don't buy that 'without compensation' deal. 

I was talking about being an uncompensated lab assistant independent of classroom commitments. Yes, hours volunteered under a biologist are NOT compensated but show commitment to actual science investigative activities  in itself. 

Okay let me spell it out plainly: If you want to go to a top notch medical school you need to:

1) EXCELL in biology (all it's branches) , not just A & P, Microbiology. EVERY science course you can attend, Volunteer in the labs, Seek out graduate students for work together which may result in  you being a 4th author on a paper

2) Show interest in non-MD roles in health care...working in the ER as a PCT or a telemetry unit. Be Proficient in every thing you do. I do not  know if 'being a scribe' is a good attribute but it cannot hurt.

3) Show interest/ with supportive documentation in many volunteer activities;

4) Show obtainment of GPA achievement  scholarships

5) Make sure your GPA gets you into prestigious honor societies at your         university (not frats or sororities)

6) Develop an ease when speaking in interviews. Be able to articulate your education, achievements, goals and your future. 

7) When it becomes time for medical student interviews, dress that part. Get a well fitting suit (for both men and women) , sleeves at right length, complementary tie.  Also, figure out a way to pay for flights, rental cars etc to get to interview sites,  Get that frequent flyer credit card to rack up points well ahead of time. 

How many of these specific points relate to getting an entry into nursing school?

That is all that comes to me now. Any questions? I will happily answer.

 

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Medical school is harder. The hours are longer. The volume of material to learn is much greater. The stress is greater. I really do not believe the two can be compared. Medical boards vs the NCLEX?

 I have a close friend who’s a resident. He doesn’t have much of a life outside of his job. My sister’s an APN, an incredibly bright, accomplished lady. It’s not the same. It took her quite some time to proceed through each level of her education to doctorate. 

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Specializes in ED RN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
On 12/8/2022 at 1:43 PM, summertx said:

You can show up for biology and physiology and miss days. They aren't easy you are right, but I don't buy that 'without compensation' deal.  No one is keeping track if you show up. In NS, you best show up or your out. 

You should understand that there are medical schools with mandatory attendance and nursing schools that are blended format (no attendance tracked there), and once clinical rotations start for med students, they have mandatory attendance for the next 5-9 years depending on their specialty.

As to your comments about failing two math classes and being kicked out of nursing school, med students are also kicked out for failing their classes twice..

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, FiremedicMike said:

You should understand that there are medical schools with mandatory attendance and nursing schools that are blended format (no attendance tracked there), and once clinical rotations start for med students, they have mandatory attendance for the next 5-9 years depending on their specialty.

As to your comments about failing two math classes and being kicked out of nursing school, med students are also kicked out for failing their classes twice..

Actually it's 3 attempts at testing  with at least 90%, some schools are 100%, or you fail the program, not taking the whole  class over. I'm not sure what nursing school didn't require attendance. I'd like to know where that is.  Sounds like those will be the non accredited programs. 

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Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, summertx said:

I'm not sure what nursing school didn't require attendance. I'd like to know where that is. 

I agree. Every reference for a nursing graduate's job from a post school employer requires a question on attendance. So, it has to be tracked accurately which is a pain but it is in the best interest of student to give stats for employment. 

 

4 hours ago, FiremedicMike said:

nursing schools that are blended format (no attendance tracked there),

These I do not know about but I would question ahead of time, before enrolling, what is the employment rate post graduation. 

Frankly in any discipline, attendence rate and timely submission of assignments is important. I am digressing here, but I was grading papers that were submitted late, my husband who is a CPA said "It doesn't matter if your tax return is submitted on time, it matters if it is delivered late". 

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Specializes in ED RN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
11 hours ago, summertx said:

Actually it's 3 attempts at testing  with at least 90%, some schools are 100%, or you fail the program, not taking the whole  class over. I'm not sure what nursing school didn't require attendance. I'd like to know where that is.  Sounds like those will be the non accredited programs. 

There are several programs in my immediate area, a major metro city.  They all follow the same BON format of passing a class means an overall grade of 76 or better and failing 2 courses is removal from the program.  You didn’t respond to the fact that medical school has essentially the same requirement and dismissal standards.  
 

I do recall a math test somewhere along the way that you couldn’t miss a single question, but it was a single 10 question exam and so absurdly easy that there’s no excuse to not pass it.

 

blended classes don’t have attendance because the lectures are recorded and can be viewed at your convenience (or not at all).  I assure you my program is accredited and has been for the decades it’s been around.

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