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

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What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)

Members are discussing which semester of nursing school is the most challenging, with opinions varying between the second, third, and fourth semesters. Some find Med/Surg II to be the toughest due to the shift from memorization to application, while others struggle with Peds and OB. Different programs have different structures, but common themes include heavy workloads, challenging exams, and the need to apply knowledge rather than just memorize information.

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?

I am going to be starting my 4th semester soon...but so far, the second semester was the hardest.

First semester was fundamentals/nursing home clinical.

Second was med-surg clinical and several disease processes. It was hard because I am not good with the technical stuff (flush what line? With what? And then push which buttons on the pump? lol )

Third was 1/2 ob and 1/2 psych (that was my FAVE semester yet)

This last one is more involved med-surg but strangely looks...dare I say it... fun!

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Specializes in Geriatric.

Going into my 4th semester I heard it's the easiest. I have community, critical care (acute care), and ethics. I don't know how to read ekg's yet so I'm kind of nervous about all the cardiac stuff and being in icu. I got to go to the ER one time for management clinicals and that was alot of fun. A friend of mine who just graduated said that acute you has many light bulb moments. I just can't wait till graduation!!

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Specializes in LDRP.

I keep hearing peds is the hardest-especially drug calcs and all the pre clinical paperwork.

Amazingly, some students in my class opted to take an 8 week peds class over the summer and passed it! I dont know how they did it.

Take care!

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Specializes in Home Health Care.
I am going to be starting my 4th semester soon...but so far, the second semester was the hardest.

First semester was fundamentals/nursing home clinical.

Second was med-surg clinical and several disease processes. It was hard because I am not good with the technical stuff (flush what line? With what? And then push which buttons on the pump? lol )

Third was 1/2 ob and 1/2 psych (that was my FAVE semester yet)

This last one is more involved med-surg but strangely looks...dare I say it... fun!

Same with me, these words are right from my thoughts! (Coopergrrl, do you go to IHCC?)

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Same with me, these words are right from my thoughts! (Coopergrrl, do you go to IHCC?)

Nope, I go to MCC in Rochester NY.

Glad to know I"m not the only one w/ med-surge nerves lol

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Specializes in Surgical/Telemetry.

Semester 2- community health, psych, therapeutic communication, research methods. No particular class or clinical was individually tough, but combined, the amount of time spent out of class researching for papers was unreal.

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