Is Nursing School Hard?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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How hard is nursing shcool? Did many of you have difficult times when you went to nursing school? What motivated you and how did you make it through?

I went back to school in my mid 30's, and having been out of school for a long time, the first semester was hard - learning HOW to study again.

At that time my focus wasn't on nursing, but pharmacology - I didn't decide to go into the nursing program until the end of the first year.

I really think the studies SHOULD be hard. Nursing requires a lot of knowledge - not just 'bodies'.

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Yes it is hard. I went through and ADN program, and everyone with a BS and one with a masters in ed. claimed that nursing school is much harder. Its doable. You need to know how to study well and understand what teach wants from you in clinical.

BUT...

First year is more difficult. School prepares you for the NCLEX, and the basic fundamentals of nursing.

Nothing prepares you well enough for the first year.

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.
How hard is nursing shcool? Did many of you have difficult times when you went to nursing school? What motivated you and how did you make it through?

Yes! Just like I don't lie to my patients when they ask if something like a heparin shot will hurt, I'll be straight with you. It's hard. I gained many gray hairs in nursing school. My BP went up to 150/100. I cried a lot. (Editing this post to add in- my kids were 4,3, and 1.5 when I started nursing school, and my mom was diagnosed with cancer while I was in school, so that all added to the stress.) I nearly dropped a couple of times, and my care plans went flying across the house more than once.

BUT...... I got through it, and so will you if you have the determination.

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I've read the first few posts about nursing school seeeming not so hard. I really don't get it. NURSING SCHOOL IS HARD. Many of my classmates have dropped, thrown-up, cried, had nervous breakdowns, lost or gained weight. Nursing school is the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I had a 4.0 GPA until i went to nursing school. It has butchered my GPA. I'm not sure if it is my school that is difficult, but i have worked my butt off for many a measly B's. NURSING SCHOOL IS HARD. BRACE YOURSELF!!!

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I've read the first few posts about nursing school seeeming not so hard. I really don't get it. NURSING SCHOOL IS HARD. Many of my classmates have dropped, thrown-up, cried, had nervous breakdowns, lost or gained weight. Nursing school is the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I had a 4.0 GPA until i went to nursing school. It has butchered my GPA. I'm not sure if it is my school that is difficult, but i have worked my butt off for many a measly B's. NURSING SCHOOL IS HARD. BRACE YOURSELF!!!

They must have amnesia!

Im out of school since May, and I have forgotten somewhat the stress of nursing school. But I will never claim it easy. Nope, no way. Untrue.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Nothing prepares you well enough for the first year.

Amen. NS has nothing on the first year of nursing.

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Specializes in CCRN, TNCC SRNA.
What the heck is up with this thread? It seems like I've read so so so many threads here on this board about the horrors of nursing school. You know - everyone ends up on psych meds because it's so stressful, half drop out/fail out, the stress of clinicals, etc. Then comes along this thread and it sounds like...nursing school...eh...it was fine.

What gives?!

I didnt say it was fine and I dont think that anyone here is saying that either. We were just pointing out the harder part of nursing school. For me it was getting up extremely early for clinicals compared to going to class and studying. We were relaying our own experiences during school. Overall, generally , it is not easy at all. Just seems since I have studied hard for pre courses as I have in the actual ADN program,the class part didnt seem as grueling as the clinical part., but I didnt have 0615 clinical start times during pre courses. The BSN program I am in now (graduate in April 07) consists of research and writing papers. That I could handle better.

Overall, yes the ADN program was not easy, but I have no regrets on doing it. Its one of those things that you are glad you did it, but do not want to go through it again. But then again, no one handles stress the same way. I just didnt let the ADN program stress me out.

People have different perspectives on NS, the majority can think it was hard, but there are a small few of us that didnt have a coronary while in the program

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Specializes in Med/Surg, PACU, ICU, CCU,ED,ENDO.

I went to nursing school after a busy combat tour in Vietnam as a ranger.

Nursing school was harder.

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Specializes in L&D all the way baby!.

Did someone say it was EASY? Gosh I hope not EASY. I would never say EASY. I said it was time consuming. The didactic piece isn't hard for me, for some it is, others it isn't, that is what it is... BUT I think we ALL agree it IS stress provoking. I have cried my fair share (mostly out of sheer exhaustion). I am enjoying the journey but I will be glad when it is over.

And to the poster who wondered about church activity... my spiritual well being (and the well being of my family) helps me keep an eternal perspective. Very important stuff when life is a laundry list of care plans and research.

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we all have different definitions of HARD. IMO nursing school is not HARD & i'm not saying it's easy either. i do find it very time consuming & combined with everything else going on in my life... stressful, overwhelming, & exhausting.

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One of my classmates had NINE children going through school. She drove over an hour to get there and was planning to divorce her husband at the time (hence the return to college). I had just gotten a divorce, was raising two children, had no car for four years, my mom and best friend died the day before I started. I hauled laundry and groceries any way I could, worked in a bar, sold shoes and prayed a lot (cried too). But I made it....if you want to you will, if there is no drive then you won't. Good luck to you - there are tons of stories of "survivors of nursing school" out there. Another one of my classmates gave birth to twins the last semester of school :) You'lll make it, don't worry. Have fun !

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It depends on the school you go to, The school I went to I heard was very hard to pass the 1st semester of Nursing it was a 2 yr program, some schools are 4 yr not as hard because it's spread out. I found it very hard, very demanding and alot who get in drop out the in the 1st 2 semesters because they didn't pass the tests. The Younger you are the better because the tests are everything. They prepare you for the Boards/ It's all about the tests. the younger you start the easier, as you get older memory gets difficult.

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