Nursing School Suggestions

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So, here's the story: I am currently a high school senior but will be garduating early and beginning college next semester. While in high school I took online college courses and I only need four pre-requisite classes before I begin nursing school in the fall. I have spent six years volunteering in an emergency department and my mom has always worked in a hospital setting so I have a good deal of experience to the hospital setting. I know that I want to work MICU or SICU after graduation but my question is regarding nursing school. I need suggestions from all the nurses who have been there and made it through successfully. Was it really as hard as everyone makes it sound? Are all the typical horror stories you hear true? Also, any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt

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Was it really as hard as everyone makes it sound?

For me it was not as intellectually challenging as it was physically and emotionally challenging. Learning to think and act like a Nurse was a challenge for me. I liken Nursing school to boot camp, I was thoroughly beaten down and torn to pieces, then the school reassembled me into a Registered Nurse.

Are all the typical horror stories you hear true?

For the most part, yes.

Also, any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

You are young, do not stop school! If your goal is a MSN then go straight through and get your MSN, if your goal is a DNP then go straight through until you have that DNP. Do not take a break to become a LPN/LVN or ASN RN.

It is 1,000 times more difficult to go back to school once you stop and very rarely ever done...

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
my question is regarding nursing school. I need suggestions from all the nurses who have been there and made it through successfully. Was it really as hard as everyone makes it sound? Are all the typical horror stories you hear true? Also, any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

I didn't find nursing school to be anywhere near as hard as the horror stories made it out to be -- in fact I LOVED nursing school, I thought it was a ton of fun -- both clinicals and classes. I learned so much that it was AMAZING, and I love to learn! Would do it again in a heartbeat!

It sounds to me like you are far more knowledgeable about hospitals and nursing than most nursing students, given all of your past volunteering experience plus having a parent who has worked in hospitals. If you still think you want to be a nurse, then go for it!

Different people have different experiences of course, but my own experience was that the horror stories were not even remotely true. So, my main advice is to take anything anyone else tells you (including me!) about nursing or nursing school with a big grain of salt, and find out for yourself. If you don't love it, you're young enough to figure out something else to do, and if you do love, it's a great profession.

Good luck!

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

Just wanted to add, since this will be your first time in college (nursing was a second degree for me) -- be sure to read and study ahead as much as you can in all of your classes -- don't wait till the night before the exam to try to do all the reading and studying! This applies in any discipline, but it took me all of my freshman year and about half of my sophomore year to figure it out my first time around. You'll be a much happier camper and will get better grades too!

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Thanks for the advice :) I'm usually really obsessive about studying and I have to be honest and say that I am definitely a perfectionist. I made it my goal to graduate high school a semester early and I worked my butt off until it happened. It wasn't always fun but I wanted to get a jump start on RN school and get to work ASAP. I can't wait for nursing school, I just want to make sure I do everything I can to prepare myself.

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I've heard a lot of horror stories about other nursing programs. I was thankful my nursing school wasn't near any of the stories I heard. All my instructors wanted to see us succeed and was always willing to work with us. Of course, there are instructors who will really challenge you and those who are a little more easier. There will be times when you wonder if you will ever get thru, but you do. I know some nursing program dropout rate is pretty high, but for my program, we started with 40 and graduated with 40. :yeah:

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"I have spent six years volunteering in an emergency department and my mom has always worked in a hospital setting so I have a good deal of experience to the hospital setting."

So, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but, if you're a high school senior, you're what 17 or 18 years old, right? If that's the case, and I'm assuming that it is, then how could you have volunteered in an ED at 11 or 12 years old? :confused:

But, as far as nursing school I'd mimic the other posts, but my thoughts may change, considering that I'm just getting started myself!

Julie

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Specializes in ICU.
"I have spent six years volunteering in an emergency department and my mom has always worked in a hospital setting so I have a good deal of experience to the hospital setting."

So, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but, if you're a high school senior, you're what 17 or 18 years old, right? If that's the case, and I'm assuming that it is, then how could you have volunteered in an ED at 11 or 12 years old? :confused:

But, as far as nursing school I'd mimic the other posts, but my thoughts may change, considering that I'm just getting started myself!

Julie

I volunteered in a hospital the summer between 5th and 6th grade, when I was 11. It happens. Granted, I was just volunteering in medical records....

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