Nursing School Students...Is It Hard?

Cilantrophobe · Jan 22, 2009

Congratulations!

From what I have heard it isn't the material that is hard so much as the amount of material.--This is sort of a question for those who would like to comment.

I am waiting to finish this semester so that I can apply. I can't wait!

anewday · Jan 22, 2009

Nursing school is very difficult in my opinion. Afterall people's lives will be in our hands and we must know what we are doing. Several classmates dropped out of my class. Take it very seriously. I personally have had to make a few sacrifices. I had to cut back on a lot of social activities. I figure nursing school is only two years. That is short sacrifice for something that will be so rewarding in the end. It is challenging, but it can be done. Good luck!

RadfordSN · Jan 22, 2009

In a word, yes. It has to be. There's a lot of information to cover and clinical time to complete to prepare you for patient care. I personally find it helpful to not stress out too much about everything. I still question my choice of entering nursing school, but every time I'm with a patient my doubts are put to rest. If this is what you want, no matter how hard it is, you will make it.

Blove86 · Jan 22, 2009

Nursing isnt hard, well the concepts and information isnt. Its just the amount of time required, the work required, the studying required, the sacrifice required that is hard. But like a person in the desert, if they are thirsty enough, they will fight and keep moving until they get that drinking water no matter what. Thats what I equate to nursing school, we who want will do no matter what to achieve this goal!!!

mommyjskns · Jan 22, 2009

Nursing school, like anything worth having, takes alot of work. That being said, I love my classes, and find them very interesting. I also was out of school for awhile before returning, and I am doing very well in my classes. Organization is crucial, but because you have "lived life" for awhile, alot of the material may come naturally. If you really want it, you will do well. Good luck!

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Jan 22, 2009

My theory is that if millions of nurses have survived nursing school before us, we can do it as well. It may not be the easiest thing we do in life but it obviously is doable when you sit back and think about it.

That is what is keeping me going. :yeah: :heartbeat:heartbeat

HappyMeNow · Jan 22, 2009

Thank you guys for such great support and encouragement! I am going to save this post and in the future if I'm ever in doubt I'm sure your words will keep me going. :)

shrimpchips, LPN · Jan 22, 2009

Oh, and another thing that I would like to add that makes nursing school more difficult than pre-reqs/HS classes - we, as students, have spent all of these years memorizing information. Memorizing isn't going to get you very far in nursing school - you need to learn the material and learn how to apply it to your practice. Memorizing will help with a few things, such as lab values, but nursing school is generally about applying what you learn.

missjennmb · Jan 22, 2009

We generally learn 5 chapters a week, and w/ no review days at all, have a test every 3rd class. In our Pharm class, our first test is on 9 chapters. Some of the test questions come from an obscure side note like a table that goes on for 3 pages ect. Its not hard. But it is a LOT of information that you have to totally internalize. They wouldnt say "list the symptoms of x disease" they would say "patient presents with x, y, z, a, b, c symptoms. What would be your first response?" Half the symptoms correlate to 3 or 4 diseases and the other half correlate to another 3 or 4 diseases but only ONE has them all. So you have to know which one that is. Then you have to know how critical it is (i.e. if its something that can adversely affect airway, you ALWAYS chose airway/breathing first or if its something that may require a certain test, you can chose that you will expect the doctor to do such and such a test and prepare to get informed consent if its invasive ect)

I think its hard, and I have a 139 IQ, which is not brainiac, but its not bad either. I have NEVER had issues in pre-reqs. My class average in my last math class was a D and I had a 97 or 98 average. Its just an issue of so much to do and so little time.

Do what I do. One foot in front of the other. Don't look forward and dont look back and you'll be fine. :)

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Jan 22, 2009

Congrats on being accepted into your program. There are a few pointers I would like to make about nursing school. First, don't go into the program with the expectation of having straight A's. Nursing school is stressful enough and having that expectation just adds to the stress load. Rather, you should go into your programs saying, "I am going to do my best to become a great nurse". I think everything else follows. There are students in my class who become upset when they don't get an A on an exam. Some even argue with the instructors to try to get them to omit the question so that it doesn't count against them. What I do is take a look at my exam, find out what I missed and understand why I missed the question. I don't make straight A's, but I can tell you that I hang tough with the straight A students when it comes to clinical and classroom theory. Nursing school isn't designed to be "easy". After all, you are dealing with people's lives. However, if you find yourself engrossed in the material and really wanting to become a great nurse, you will find it not difficult at all.

bamagt · Jan 22, 2009

First off, I barely graduated high school (1.9 core gpa) and I made A's and B's in all of my pre-reqs.

IMO the pre-reqs were almost harder than nursing school.

The first two semesters were hard, but they are only as hard as you make them. People talk about not having a life and not having fun all the time, SCREW THAT! I didn't have as much fun as I did before nursing school but I still had a good time when I could. I also work full time.

After the first two semesters nursing school is eaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssy. I find myself not studying half as much as I use to and making better grades!

So basically what I'm saying is that the first 2 semesters were hard and after that it's easy. This is coming from someone who isn't that smart.

Word of advice: If you're going to work while in nursing school, work at a hospital. If you can work in an ER, you will be gold!

missjennmb · Jan 23, 2009

First off, I barely graduated high school (1.9 core gpa) and I made A's and B's in all of my pre-reqs.
IMO the pre-reqs were almost harder than nursing school.
The first two semesters were hard, but they are only as hard as you make them. People talk about not having a life and not having fun all the time, SCREW THAT! I didn't have as much fun as I did before nursing school but I still had a good time when I could. I also work full time.
After the first two semesters nursing school is eaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssy. I find myself not studying half as much as I use to and making better grades!
So basically what I'm saying is that the first 2 semesters were hard and after that it's easy. This is coming from someone who isn't that smart.
Word of advice: If you're going to work while in nursing school, work at a hospital. If you can work in an ER, you will be gold!

I would probably agree with you to a point, on it getting easier. Now that I have figured out how to study and how the teacher's style is (thankfully we only have 2 possible instructors so we have a lot of time to learn their methods/preferences/ect) it has become a LOT easier. I just got a 97 on my first quiz and I am waiting on my first test result (for this semester) and I'm feeling really confident about it. I guess the issue with having SO much content, is in knowing that you need to find an efficient way to study. Heaven help you if you study the "important stuff" and only learn after the test that your version of important and your teachers are not remotely the same (I have learned that the hard way!) I'm still fine tuning my study style even after 5 months.