Nursing School Students...Is It Hard?

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2009

Congrats on the acceptance! I'm still in pre-nursing, so I can't say how difficult the classes are, but from what I hear they are tough! For the school I want to get into, I believe student retention is pretty good, many who start the program finish it and go on to pass the NCLEX. I think this might be b/c the program is fairly difficult to get into, so if you know how to work hard and study effectively enough to have a high GPA in your pre-reqs, you will still have those same skills for your nursing classes as well.

HappyMeNow · Jan 21, 2009

That's just it! All my school required to get in was the NET. I honestly don't think being good at math and reading comprehension is a good indicator of how well you'll do in nursing program.

My fear is that I have been out of school for over 10 years!!! I was never an A student either. I hope I do well. After all the hard work I put in for the NEt and all the changes my family will go through it would really suck if I don't do well.

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2009

Watch out, you may just surprise yourself! I was never an A student in highschool either and knowing that almost kept me from even trying to apply for the school I wanted. But I'm older now, have kids that dh and I have to provide for and this made me take my studies more seriously. I'm almost done with all my pre-reqs and currently have a 3.88 GPA. I would have never imagined myself doing this well when I was younger, but I'm a lot more motivated now

RNLola035 · Jan 21, 2009

It is hard in that it just takes a lot of your time and focus. Just stay positive and make sure you make time to relax, have fun and get some exercise! It helps me at least! Each person is different finding the right way to study. You'll find your way! Also I'm sure you learned and grown so much in those 10 years! you never stop learning right!! Good luck! You'll be just fine!!

NaomieRN · Jan 21, 2009

Nursing is challenging because there are so many materials that you have to know in a short period of time. If you can organize yourself and stay focus you can do it.

wyosamRN · Jan 21, 2009

I never got even decent grades in anything until I recently returned to school after 15 years away. Now A's come pretty easily in my prereqs. Hopefully that trend will continue through the nursing program. I think those 10 years of maturity and life experience will do nothing but help you! Good Luck!

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 21, 2009

Nursing school can be challenging at times, however I really love nursing school, no lie ! What is hard for me is working full-time, five days a week. I feel very overwhelmed at times, because I can't study on a regular basis. I just find time here and there to study at work, or when I have down time. However, that its not how much you study, its the quality of studying. Even If I study for 15 minutes at a time, I make sure that I get alot out of it. Well, just my two cents.

You will do well... All you have to do is study and keep up on assignments.

Nellifuturenurse2010 · Jan 21, 2009

It is as hard as you make it. It is definitely going to be somewhat difficult, but depending on how you pace yourself and manage your time and the effort you put forth will determine how hard it will be overall. I advise at the beginning of the course to look over all the important dates (i.e. tests and quizes or even papers) and making a schedule for yourself so you can pace yourself at a reasonable rate and still be ahead of the game. At least that way you wont be going crazy like some other students who wait until the last minute to get stuff done.

But I don't think getting good grades in pre-reqs is a good indicator of how well you will do in nursing. There are people in my class who had 4.0s in the pre-reqs and failed out of the program. I'm not trying to scare you, but I just think planning ahead, having good time management, and even getting involved in a study group will better determine how well you will do in the program. Congrads and goodluck!!

FLmomof5 · Jan 21, 2009

Here is my 'outlandish' take on it.....

In HS, the only classes I didn't excel in were History classes. I HATED history. If I liked the course and had a strong interest in it, I did very well. So, I believe your love of subject may play into how well you do.

Also, some nursing students have average IQs, some have superior IQs and some are at the genius level. (They just don't know because they were never tested!) I believe that ability could allow for a program, that others perceive as difficult, to be fairly easy. You don't know where you fall. You might just be surprised!

I was out of school 25 yrs since my Bachelors and 29 since my HS graduation. (Shhhhh! Yes, I am that OLD!) Like the other say, age brings wisdom. But, we don't think about partying with our friends on Fri/Sat - or dating - or any of these 'issues' that plague the younger students.

You can do this!:heartbeat

shrimpchips, LPN · Jan 22, 2009

:ancong!: On getting into your nursing program! :yeah:

Nursing school *is* tough. You will constantly being nothing but studying and they really like to cram a lot of material in such a short amount of time. You will be stressed out a lot of the time, and you will be sleep deprived, but PLEASE don't let that scare you! So far nursing school has been a very rewarding experience for me, and I hope it will be the same for you! Don't let other threads/posts on this website discourage you. :heartbeat

sproeber89 · Jan 22, 2009

I get better grades now than I did in high school and I've just been officially graduated for a full semester. I think it's the fact that I remind myself often that I'm paying for this out of my own pocket, no help from the parents. It keeps me going when I think about how many hours it took me at work to earn it.