What Did You Think Of Nursing School?

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Specializes in Med-Surge.

Hello! I'm going to be starting Nursing School in one month and have one question...What is it like? Is it challenging because of the time it takes? Or, is it challenging because the subject matter is difficult? Is it more like physics or anatomy and physiology( I thought physics was REALLY tough)? I'm going to be starting the ADN program with all of the preqs done. Please let me know what you thought. I'm so nervous I won't be able to cut it.

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Cross between Fear Factor and America's Top Model. Every time you thought you had those high heels mastered they throw you off a cliff. :p

No, seriously, very challenging, intense, there is just so much to learn, you can't even absorb it all, but for me, I actually do a lot of studying outside of what goes on in nursing school. Always on the Internet looking up diseases. So sometimes I get bogged down and need to redirect myself, but school always pushes you to want to know more.

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Specializes in L&D.
Hello! I'm going to be starting Nursing School in one month and have one question...What is it like? Is it challenging because of the time it takes? Or, is it challenging because the subject matter is difficult? Is it more like physics or anatomy and physiology( I thought physics was REALLY tough)? I'm going to be starting the ADN program with all of the preqs done. Please let me know what you thought. I'm so nervous I won't be able to cut it.

Hi there... in my opinion, it is tough for both reasons. Tough material (although, I found Biochem much more difficult). The time it takes up in your life is huge! Now that school is over, I have much more time to spend on my personal life. Good luck to you! It's worth it!

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I just graduated from a 2 year diploma program. I wished I had completed all of my prereq classes before beginning nursing school, but that would have put me back an entire year. I finished he few classes I still needed while attending nursing school. I have never heard anyone say that nursing school was easy. In fact, I believe it is more difficult that most college degree programs. It takes up a lot of your time. It uses up your energy. In the end, it makes you a better, wiser person so its well worth it. The biggest thing I figured out from nursing school once it was over is that they have taught you to think and look at things in completely new way and you don't even realize it until your done school. CRITICAL THINKING!! And you will use this skill in every aspect of your life, not just nursing. I didn't realize everything that I actually knew or retained from school until I took the boards. I felt I was guessing at a lot of the board questions, but in retrospect....I would have a "feeling" about which answer to choose for questions that were not strictly knowledge questions. Almost like an instict, if you will. This was the result of my education in nursing school. Wishing you the best of luck!

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I thought it was fun, I loved my classes and instructors, sure it was difficult at times but overall.... FUN. I finished my LPN program in 3 semesters but I had some credits that transferred over from a different school so i got through it pretty quick. Nursing School, it's definitely an EXPERIENCE :rotfl:

~Crystal

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Specializes in Cardiac.

If you have any kind of hospital experience then it is easy. I think it is because of the exposure to the flow of the hospital and with the terminology, etc. If you possess critical thinking skills, as mentioned above, then you will do fine on the tests. I found A&P to be a harder class than any nursing class, and I loved pharm! Clinical instructors can tell if you have confidence with yourseld and with pts and they love you if you do.

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Specializes in Med/Surge.

For the most part I enjoyed nursing school. It was challenging, tough, frustrating at times, draining, time consuming, and all absorbing. Great lecturers make a huge difference but I loved clinicals the best. Actually working with the pts, but you have to know your stuff b4 you can do that so lecture made me want to learn more. Each semester got a little harder and more was expected of you. You will be amazed though at how much you really remember once you get out and start working in the real world of nursing. Just remember that NS is just adding to the foundation of your education b/c you will really begin your learning when you hit the floor as a new nurse!

Good luck and enjoy the ride. Most importantly have an open mind when dealing with the various personalities that you will find at school and in clinical settings!!

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Hello! I'm going to be starting Nursing School in one month and have one question...What is it like? Is it challenging because of the time it takes? Or, is it challenging because the subject matter is difficult? Is it more like physics or anatomy and physiology( I thought physics was REALLY tough)? I'm going to be starting the ADN program with all of the preqs done. Please let me know what you thought. I'm so nervous I won't be able to cut it.

I loved nursing school (and I miss it). It was difficult but in a very different way than A&P and chemistry. I didn't find the content in nursing school difficult (except maybe when it came to learning about electrolytes and fluid balance which was a little bit challenging). What nursing school is about, though, is absorbing content while learning to think like a nurse in the application of it. It's a dual-pronged approach, and I think the sooner you realize that the more successful you will be (and you will avoid spending the first semester or two complaining, "Where did they get these stupid exam questions? I didn't study *that* stuff!")

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I graduated from my LPN program in June 2003, (it was a 11 month program) and am in my last three months of RN school. After graduating LPN school, I started work at a nursing home and was very surprised how differernt real world nursing practice was compared to what they teach you in school. And I think its important to keep that in mind. Nursing school is the foundation for what you will really learn once you start working. School can be difficult, but not impossible to finish.

There is also a lot of stuff to know, but remember to take a deep breath and remember that your not going to know everything there is to know once you start your first job. I felt like I knew NOTHING my first day, I felt lost and like I was out of my league. But over time you develope those skills, and also be open to learning at all times. Join nursing journals and organizations that you interested in a learn all you can (like if you maybe go into ER nursing, join the Emergency Nurses Association). This is a little soon to tell you I suppose since your just starting school, but just keep that in mind for when you finish.

good luck!!

-Annie :)

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I found nursing school more like physiology than any other class I had taken before. Physiology only different.... more like a mixture of physiology with hands on caring.

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Well, nursing school is just building the foundation. You can either choose to get everything out of it and enjoy it or fight it and complain about the amount of time. I prefer to go the positive route. Besides when you get on the floor, it is totally different, but it is because of that foundation that you will be able to build on.

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I had worked in the medical feild for 10 years before I went to nursing school and still found it very tough. I went many nights with 3-4 hours of sleep, always had my nose in a book and felt guilty when I would do things for myself like getting a hair cut. It is very doable, there are millions of nurses out there who have all done it. I think the most importatnt things to remember are to keep organized, don't get behind, and give it 110% and you will make it. Best of luck to you.

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