Was RN school easy for you?

Rionoir, ADN, RN · Nov 28, 2019

I didn’t find the content itself difficult at all, it was just a matter of figuring out how and WHAT to study sometimes. Also learning to take your time on tests and thoroughly read the questions and think about each option carefully.

**CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN** · Nov 29, 2019

It was easy for me. I have always been good at school, so the tests and the NCLEX prep were just nothing. Clinicals made me nervous going in, but I soon learned the three keys:

1- Just go when you are supposed to. Don’t be late, don’t leave early, don’t be absent. You’d be surprised how far that takes you.

2- Have a good attitude and always be smiling. Any time someone asks you to do something, say “Of course!” and get right to it.
3- Be willing to learn stuff and ask questions. Nobody really expects you to know anything. Don’t apologize 400 times a day, just say “I have a question” and then “Thanks so much!” I literally had to ask someone what a “vitals cart” was. Nobody expects you to know stuff, just to LEARN stuff.

Nickc58 · Nov 29, 2019

Just learn what your instructors like and show it to them. Nursing school is a joke and taught me next to nothing besides how to pass meds safely. You learn real nursing on the job, seeing it every day.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Nov 29, 2019

I worked full time and raised my kids as a single parent, graduated with a 4.0. Like another poster pointed out, difficult is a relative term. Some of my classsmates 20+ years ago swore it was the hardest thing ever. Others, like me, just rolled with it and did the best we could.

1 of the techs at my clinic states that it's so hard (just the prereqs), but she's online gaming with her friends a lot of the time, constantly going out, and doesn't like to study, and can't understand why she's failing (she's failed all prereqs at least once), but she knows that she's a shoe in for nursing school and she's going to set them straight on how they teach. I have a hard time being supportive, but I at least don't make negative comments.

For some it will be hard, for others not so much. It's like anything else, it's what you make of it.

ThatChickOmi, ADN, RN · Nov 29, 2019

I'm not gonna lie and say it was easy but I wouldn't say it was impossibly hard either.

Aprils · Nov 29, 2019

It was not as difficult as I was told by some of my peers who attended the same program as me. An acquaintance of mine swore that I would never see another A again and I should be happy to get a B in nursing classes. The joke is on him because I never really got As during my first undergrad degree lol. Long story short, I graduated nursing school with a 4.0 GPA. The content wasn't difficult if you study, it was just a ton of busy work that took away an excessive amount of time that could be put towards studying for the exams. Also, I held a part time position as a tech at my local hospital throughout nursing school. There were single moms in my cohort who worked full time graveyard shifts while going to school and raising their kids...like how can you complain about your struggles after hearing stories like that!? Once you get the routine down you'll be fine.

SpaceCowgirl, BSN · Nov 29, 2019

13 minutes ago, abcheyitsme said:
An acquaintance of mine swore that I would never see another A again and I should be happy to get a B in nursing classes. The joke is on him because I never really got As during my first undergrad degree lol. Long story short, I graduated nursing school with a 4.0 GPA.

If only I had a nickel for all those things people told me would happen during nursing school that never happened! ? My first semester, my fundamentals teacher told me I'd have to go prn at my job, because there was no way to work full-time and succeed in school. I explained that if I didn't work, I couldn't afford my tuition. She just shook her head while I was explaining my financial situation, which really annoyed me. I told her I had worked full-time all through college when I got my first bachelor's, had been the vice president of my sorority, played on an intercollegiate sports team all 4 years, and still graduated cum laude from a top 20 university. She looked at me with the most patronizing little smirk I have ever seen, and said, "Well nursing school isn't like regular college." Ok ma'am. 2 and a half years later, I finished my BSN with a 3.93 GPA, and never missed a day of work the whole time.

No one can tell you if it will be hard or easy, simply due to the fact that everyone is different. In my opinion, you can do it if you have the right mindset, because 90% of it is just showing up and doing what is asked of you. The people who started off on the wrong foot by not completing the most simple tasks (although they all thought they had very good excuses) dropped like flies.

Waiting for Retirement · Nov 29, 2019

15 hours ago, Nickc58 said:
Just learn what your instructors like and show it to them. Nursing school is a joke and taught me next to nothing besides how to pass meds safely. You learn real nursing on the job, seeing it every day.

The part I bolded, this is unfortunate. It's obviously not the case with all schools or even most schools; I'd think it would be the low minority that are like this. You either did learn more than you thought (because you at least passed the NCLEX..?) or you have had to learn the test material on your own. Sorry to hear it if the latter is true. ?

As for the first sentence and the last---yes, agreed! ?

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Nov 29, 2019

From an academic perspective, I found my ABSN program the most challenging course of studies I have ever done. However, I made it and inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society.

There were many things I enjoyed about nursing school. We were fortunate to have great professors and clinical instructors. I only had one "difficult" clinical instructor. I really enjoyed interacting with my fellow students, who were generally very kind and supportive, and made some good friends. We had fun social events. I enjoyed my clinical rotations, except for L&D (not my cup of tea). We had some great simulations and drills, like making CPR a competitive team sport (whew!), simulating a natural disaster very realistically, etc. I traveled cross country for school and enjoyed getting to know a new city.

EV1518 · Nov 30, 2019

Its funny how when asking for positive stories, people frequently offer up "its different for everyone", but when people voluntarily offer up their negative experiences, its projected as if everyone will have the same experience! Lol I know what's easy for some wont be easy for others....much like child birth! That isn't my point. I just want to hear positive experiences and what people feel helped them along the way. ??

murseman24, MSN, CRNA · Nov 30, 2019

Had my first kid, worked full time as a tech during night shifts, Nursing school full time and pre-reqs full time as full of a load as fast as possible. Went to a really good nursing school. Was tired sometimes but graduated with only 1 B the rest A's. Just be dedicated and have good study habits. A couple of my pre-reqs were more difficult academically than nursing school.

Laci_love, ADN · Nov 30, 2019

I am in nursing school right now and I too was scared because of the horror stories of students, but it really matters on how much experience you have and how much time you dedicate. I am actually doing quite well in my program and I know a lot of stuff to the point other students are asking me questions. I have 10 years experience in the field 4 as a CNA and 6 as a medical assistant. I use a lot of study books and free testing sites to practice questions. And it’s true there is the NCLEX way and then there is real life. Wish you the best you should do fine