Pre-nursing to nursing program transition

RunBabyRN · Apr 20, 2014

"Gruesome" isn't a word I'd use. Overwhelming? Humbling? Yes. But also, rewarding, validating, scary, exhilarating, bond-forming... It's one of those things you can't really be "ready" for, because it IS so different from everything else you've done thus far.

Really, all of your prereqs will come into play at some point, and you will begrudgingly be like, "Oh, so THAT'S why I had to take statistics." (or at least, that was me :yes: )

Difficulty is so subjective. It's really more that it's a different approach. Your exams, all of the answers are right, but which one is the MOST right, or is the PRIORITY action. Lots of "Select all that apply" (SATA). These are to prep you for the NCLEX.

Don't be scared, keep your eyes and ears open, ask questions, use good time management, get two alarm clocks, and work WITH your classmates, not against them.

Good luck, and congratulations! :)

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Apr 20, 2014

Anatomy and Physiology is most relevant to nursing because everything (except Mental Health Nursing) pertains to a part of the human body.

Nursing school isn't necessarily difficult, it is different from the other classes you have taken. It requires you to build on and use the information that you have learned earlier in the semester, last semester, or two semesters ago. They start using critical thinking questions instead of knowledge based questions. A lot of "What is the priority assessment?" or "What do you do first?" All of the answers are what you would do for a patient, but only one is a priority or what you would do first.

Many nursing students complain that they study for numerous hours and get a bad grade, but nursing school is not about memorization of facts, it is about application of the information.

Everline · Apr 20, 2014

Some semesters will be easier than others. The semester I'm currently at the end of (thank goodness) has been about as grueling as it can get. Really difficult to get through physically, emotionally and mentally. It's not that the material is so hard as it is so much and as you progress, more is expected of you. One thing I've found about nursing school is it never lets you feel too happy or sure of yourself. If you excel at one thing, you have about a moment to feel happy about it. Then you turn around with that goofy smile on your face and a brick hits you. I might be exaggerating, but not by much, lol.

Not every semester has been this way, but they all have their challenges. Some people seem to breeze through, so this is only my experience, of course.

A&P was the most relevant subject. I find that nursing school is very different (and more difficult) than pre-reqs, particularly as you progress.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 20, 2014

To me: all of them, the sciences as a foundation to the human body the English composition for knowledge of citing evidence-based practice and formulating care plans, papers, and communicating clearly with others; philosophy/humanities/psychology to help think objectively in term of application of thought processes and understand thought patterns; and mathematics to understand basic nursing math. You need all of it.

Nursing school is all about the theory and the subsequent application of nursing education; it will require one to not memorize, but understand WHAT and the WHY of ones role as a nurse; nursing school difficulty is very subjective, but you will need to put work into what you do in nursing school; it is not like any other, "subject".

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 21, 2014

There's really no way to prepare for learning to "think like a nurse". It's unlike anything you've ever done before.

I wouldn't describe nursing school as grueling. There's just SO much you are going to learn and, at times, it can be overwhelming.

I do recommend the book "Fundamentals Success", since it introduces you to critical thinking. As mentioned above, learning to apply what you learn is crucial. You will have exams that are multiple choice and all the answers are correct, but which one is the MOST correct? It can be frustrating at first when you're used to straight up knowledged-based questions.

Best of luck to you :)