Ok, this is to all you current nursing students put there.

studentnursepupmom · Jul 31, 2012

The hardest thing for me was realizing that it's not the difficulty of the material as much as its the amount of material in proportion to the time you have to absorb and apply it. Also the way the nursing test questions are asked. Multiple choice is fine when there's only one right answer, but when more than one is right and you have to pick the "most right," that's just tedious and an acquired thinking pattern.

You'll also have to deal with burn out. Right now everything is new and exciting, but soon you'll be studying for tests and check offs and writing care plans and wearing an awful uniform you'll just be like WHY DID I DO THIS?!? And that's when you should just step back and try to remember how happy you were when you decided this was what you wanted to do.

And if you want to possibly end up enjoying nursing school, just focus on your own learning and don't get caught up in the nonsense that the "know-it-alls" try to drag you into by making everything out to be a competition. Everything is not a competition. Just focus on being the best student you can be and you will survive :) Just me 2 cents...

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mistydbuffa · Jul 31, 2012

Thanks! I understand about competition. In our program usually about 200 apply. Only 40 make the cut, it is all competive entry on a points scale. GPA and entrance exam and no do-overs, transfers, or fails, or withdraws is the only way you even have a shot to get in. That competition was very stressful. Now we should act more like a team and help each other learn. I can dream right? Lol... but again thank you.

Benedina · Jul 31, 2012

Mistydbuffa wrote:

"Thanks! I understand about competition. In our program usually about 200 apply. Only 40 make the cut, it is all competive entry on a points scale. GPA and entrance exam and no do-overs, transfers, or fails, or withdraws is the only way you even have a shot to get in. That competition was very stressful. Now we should act more like a team and help each other learn. I can dream right? Lol... but again thank you."

My school is very hard to get into as well, but it has almost a 100% retention rate. If your program is similar, I think you have a good chance for mutually supportive behaviors from your classmates. (If half your classmates are going to flunk out, the competition will have to continue.) I value my close friends in the program highly, but I would have counted on any of my classmates in a crisis.

And, of course, you have the opportunity to set the tone yourself. "We're all in this together..." is a message you can send in many small ways.

Dina

~passionateSN~ · Aug 1, 2012

The hardest thing for me was realizing that it's not the difficulty of the material as much as its the amount of material in proportion to the time you have to absorb and apply it. Also the way the nursing test questions are asked. Multiple choice is fine when there's only one right answer, but when more than one is right and you have to pick the "most right," that's just tedious and an acquired thinking pattern.
You'll also have to deal with burn out. Right now everything is new and exciting, but soon you'll be studying for tests and check offs and writing care plans and wearing an awful uniform you'll just be like WHY DID I DO THIS?!? And that's when you should just step back and try to remember how happy you were when you decided this was what you wanted to do.
And if you want to possibly end up enjoying nursing school, just focus on your own learning and don't get caught up in the nonsense that the "know-it-alls" try to drag you into by making everything out to be a competition. Everything is not a competition. Just focus on being the best student you can be and you will survive :) Just me 2 cents...
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You took the words right out of my mouth! This is exactly right!!