for those in a 4 sem. program, which semester was hardest??

Published

I am getting ready to start the second semester of nursing school - and I've heard that it is the hardest of the four. It will include Peds and OB and our first Med/Surg rotation, as well as pathopharm II. While I know we all have different programs, I wonderd if others who were in a four-semester BSN program had thoughts on which semester is the toughest and why?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

I am in a 4 semester ADN program and the 3rd one is definitely the hardest in our school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU-CVICU.

I graduate in May, so I haven't finished semester 4, critical care....this post is subject to change in a month from now, lol.

So, I'll tell you what most of the people in my BSN program think...semester 2 (Med/Surg II) was the most difficult. At this point, the tests went from mostly knowledge to mostly application. We lost a lot of students who had never in their academic lives been asked to apply information. Big 'ole wakeup call that memorization doesn't work anymore.

Best of luck!

May

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Transplant.

The dean of the nursing department told us at the beginning of our 1st semester that the hardest semester, "is the one you are in". She was not lying. LOL.

:wink2::wink2::wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i thought the second semester was the hardest. ob/peds is the section most people that failed out, failed out in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatric.

I would say for me it was first semester. Next to that I would definately say OB and pediatrics together. They crunched it into 12 weeks with only 3 exams. All exams weighed heavily. Third semester has the highest failing rate. I did enjoy Ob but hated pediatrics. We had 20 pages of information to fill out by the end of the clinical day. I had to care for a child and at the same time bother them or the parents to get all my information I needed. I've heard ppl say med-surg is the most difficult semester but after first and third I think med-surg is easy. I enjoyed all the pathophysiology it was really interesting. I'm a thyroid and cancer expert! LOL Doing nclex questions the day before the exam helped me. I would strongly advise it. I've always done nclexs question so by the time I graduate I should be done with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
I am getting ready to start the second semester of nursing school - and I've heard that it is the hardest of the four. It will include Peds and OB and our first Med/Surg rotation, as well as pathopharm II. While I know we all have different programs, I wonderd if others who were in a four-semester BSN program had thoughts on which semester is the toughest and why?

Im going into my third semester of four. So far semester one was harder than semester two. Semester three includes Peds/OB/Psych/Research II. YAY. We also have clinicals and "alternate experiences" which we have to follow home health nurses and work in an immunization clinic.

Second semester included: Leadership, Research I, Theory, Community health and Med surg, oh and clinical.

My last semster only includes a six week seminar and then our preceptorship.

I think that the first semester was the hardest in my program...we had sooo many classes and were in class about 40 hrs/wk plus study time! Yikes.

Med surg was tough. We had med surg for two semesters. I dont think peds and OB will be as hard but we will see!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rural Health.

3rd for us. We are in a combo class. We are learning the patho behind 100+ diseases in 1 class on one day - the next day we are switched to OB/Peds where we learn all about OB/Peds is great detail - it can get rather confusing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU.

accelerated BSN program:

1st - summer: Pharm, skills lab, fundamentals, and a combo class of theory, teaching, yada..yada...yada. + M/S Clinical

2nd - Fall: Psych, Maternity, M/S (Adult Health I), Research, & Clinicals -- not too bad, but I reaaaaally HATE psych and "psyched" myself out over the clinical....pardon the pun :chuckle

3rd - Spring: Peds, Critical Care, Gero, Community Health & clinicals - our schedule is really TIGHT (busy) this semester. I think it will be hard just because we are sooooo busy. But look on the bright side, it is our last semester of official classes

4th - Summer 06: residency (work 3 shifts X 12hrs each) + management class (online)

I think it depends on what your strengths are and what you enjoy. Naturally whatever you don't like will be a challenge (for me it was Psych). No matter how bad it is, just remember, it is only about 13 weeks.... and it is not like you have to be in that class every single day. ... Take it one day at a time. That has worked for me in the past.

LifeLONGstudent

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For me the last semester was the hardest. I did psych and it was hard for me. Others found 0b and peds difficult, in our second semester. It depends on the student.

Grannynurse:balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical, Surgical, Cardiac.

For me semester 3 was the most difficult. As a previous poster stated you go from regurgitating information to acctually having to apply it on the exams. I am a smart student and have never had to sweat any test (did I mention I also am very modest...lol), but in semester 3 I nearly failed out of nursing school. It is over now and I now have only one semester left til graduation, and I CAN"T WAIT!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

For me it was the 1st semester....just getting used to everything. I have just started my 4th so that could change!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion