Pre-Nursing vs. Nursing?

[Exhuasted]

I've spent the past year doing all my pre/co-requisites for nursing as a full time student, and I've been so bogged down it's hard to imagine surviving much more. Just HOW much harder is the nursing program than a full time semester of pre/co-reqs? This past semester I took A&P II, college algebra, growth and development, speech, and psychology. I never had a minute of down time. How much harder does nursing school get? I am SO nervous! I haven't even been able to enjoy my winter break for fretting over it. I start Jan 12. Everybody acts like nursing school is just the most brutal thing on earth, all the horror stories have me terrified. Really. As in, can't sleep at night because of anxiety. Which is why I'm on this site at 3:30 in the morning. Any words of wisdom?? Is it really that much worse?

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

I can't speak for nursing school, as I haven't started my program, BUT any bachelor degree program in the sciences will be rigorous and take up all of your time and you will feel like you can't breathe until graduation. I know this because I have a bachelors in chemistry and masters degrees. You just have to ask yourself "is the juice worth the squeeze?" Aka how bad do you want it.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Oh and anxiety is normal and completely manageable - seek help. Go to your schools counseling center. You can manage stress and anxiety with therapy and/or medication and there is NO shame in doing so.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

It depends on how many credits you'll take and what kind of student you are. If you've done well with the 5 classes you just finished, I think you'll manage. I didn't find my first semester of nursing school that bad. There were a few intensely busy and stressful weeks but we all pulled through. You just have to work hard and manage your time well. Don't stress yourself out too much and neglect sleep. Your classmates will be in it together with you so you won't be alone.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

If you managed that courseload fine, you'll probably be ok. First semester is hard mostly because of the adjustment to the massive amount of material. Third semester practically killed me! And like the PP said above, your classmates are a blessing, because it's truly hard for anyone else to understand.

[dorkypanda]

I haven't officially started either but from what I make of it people say that prereqs are like stepping stones to NS. NS is something else different. Exam styles are not the same.

[RunBabyRN]

Nursing school is just a very different feel. The approach is very different, the exams are different, the expectations are different, there's a ton more reading, there's a gravity to the subject matter that is not there with most subjects. Stressing out about it won't help anything. In fact, use the time you have to hone your stress management methods that work for you, and take some time to enjoy yourself. Nursing school is intense, but it's not impossible. The first semester was a shock for me, but I adjusted. It was fine. :)