What to expect in nursing program?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I want to be prepared with the horrors of nursing programs. When I finally get into on what should I expect?

Are the classes difficult to comprehend or is it mostly memorization?

How many credits does the avg nursing student take per semester?

And after I graduate nursing school what do employers look for in prospective nurses?

This summer I've been busy with a summer internship for new york methodist hospital. Its more like a volunteering gig (stocking cabinets and bring specimens down to the lab) but its a good exposure to hospitals and the nursing world. I plan to volunteer for new york presbyterian hospital starting next summer, this will last for six months.

Am I on the right track?

I'm going to apply in the spring semester. If I don't get in I would have to wait to apply in the fall and if I get accepted then I would have to wait for next fall to enter the nursing program.

I'm really anxious about this. I really don't want to waste a year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Really quick:

Don't worry about the "horrors" of the nursing program. Yes it is VERY hard, but if you love it, it's worth it and it's manageable.

Also, the classes will vary in type. A lot of pre-reqs, like anatomy and physio are all about memory. Then when you're taking actual nursing classes like med-surg then all the tests are going to be NCLEX style, which means it's much more about comprehension versus just repeating information back. I think that average nursing student takes about 17 credits a semester.

Also I don't know about after graduation, but getting experience in the hospital will definitely help with your clinicals.

Don't worry! Nursing is amazing and you'll make it. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the info, very helpful!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing school is what u make it... if u give a higher priority to things that prevent u from studying then u will not succeed. All the horrors really are created by us (the students)... if u know that u didn't understand wht the prof was saying for the past hour and half then u know that u have the beginning of a problem and u should take steps to fix it. You should make sure ur reading the chapters b4 hand (yes there will be a lot of reading).Talk to ur profs at the beginning of the year so they know that ur not just coming to them as a last resort when it's too late:scrying:.

Sometimes ur clinicals will be in less then ideal locations :banghead:so u have to start saving up for a car rite away (as in now would be great lol)...learn to be professional when ur at clinicals or speaking with the facualty and staff. That way they will be more inclined to listen to any issues u may be having rather than just thinking that ur some annoying student who complains too much.

Keep urself in check and take rite amount of time to relax and u should be fine. Dont worry, if u really want this, then u'll make sure that u get it.

hope it helps.:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing school is not near as bad as some posters here are leading you to believe. Yes, it's hard...but anything worth having is worth working for...right? You need to be prepared to study, study, study...but not too much. Please make sure that you schedule a precious few hours every day with your loved ones...it keeps you sane. After you get home from NS...do something that is not related to Nursing. Clean the house, take a bath, read a book, cook, exercise...just anything that comes to mind. Take a break from the stresses of the day...even if it's just for 30 minutes. Eat right and get enough sleep...these things will make all the difference in the world the next day during lecture.

Finally...listen to the advice that your instructors and advisors are giving you. They really do know what they are talking about. Don't take their criticisms personally...they want you to succeed.

One more thing...don't put alot of stock into the posters here who are saying that they are being treated unfairly by their intructors. I've been in college for 3 years now and it's been my experience that the ones who complain the most about how unfair they are being treated are the ones who really aren't doing ALL they are capable of doing to succeed. Sure you may run into a difficult instructor from time to time but it's not often that happens. But it is normal to run into fellow students who like to play the victim in their lives. If it's not an instructor, it's a classmate or a family member who is treating them unfairly.

Go into NS with a good attitude and you will be rewarded for it. It won't be easy...but it will be GREAT!!!

Blessings and good luck!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Really quick:

Don't worry about the "horrors" of the nursing program. Yes it is VERY hard, but if you love it, it's worth it and it's manageable.

Also, the classes will vary in type. A lot of pre-reqs, like anatomy and physio are all about memory. Then when you're taking actual nursing classes like med-surg then all the tests are going to be NCLEX style, which means it's much more about comprehension versus just repeating information back. I think that average nursing student takes about 17 credits a semester.

Also I don't know about after graduation, but getting experience in the hospital will definitely help with your clinicals.

Don't worry! Nursing is amazing and you'll make it. :)

I have a quick question for you. I completed all of my pre-reqs and co-reqs prior to my nursing program, so I will only have 8 credit hours of nursing classes/clinicals each semester. Would you expect this to make a big difference?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just from a logical stand point, I'd say yes. 8 credits and only doing the strait nursing classes should be way more manageable than taking, for example, nursing foundations I, psych, and A&P all at the same time.

My school now has no co-reqs as everything is done before hand and you just take the nursing classes each quarter, about 10 units. That's enough work for full-time right there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Really quick:

Don't worry about the "horrors" of the nursing program. Yes it is VERY hard, but if you love it, it's worth it and it's manageable.

Also, the classes will vary in type. A lot of pre-reqs, like anatomy and physio are all about memory. Then when you're taking actual nursing classes like med-surg then all the tests are going to be NCLEX style, which means it's much more about comprehension versus just repeating information back. I think that average nursing student takes about 17 credits a semester.

Also I don't know about after graduation, but getting experience in the hospital will definitely help with your clinicals.

Don't worry! Nursing is amazing and you'll make it. :)

I just wanted to add that I too have taken all pre-reqs and co-reqs (competition is really tough here to get into the program!). I will average between 8-10 hours every semester while in the nursing program. Hopefully, that will help us out in the long run!!

Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in medsurge.

my advise to you if you want to go to nursing school, take all your pre reqs first why? because if you do all you will have to focus on is your nursing classes and you will have time to study and prepare ur self more for those classes, nursing school is not easy but if you dedicate ur self to it you will do just fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i am also very nercous about starting the program.. my first semester we take foundations (which i think is online) and A&P along with their labs..i have heard that these two classes are ridiculously hard... is this true? what is the best way to study these classes? also, how are the labs in terms of grading? are they easier than lecture?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
my first semester we take foundations (which i think is online) and A&P along with their labs..i have heard that these two classes are ridiculously hard... is this true? what is the best way to study these classes?

I had to take anatomy and physiology as a prerequisite. Anatomy really is just a ton of memorization so be prepared to put in the hours with flashcards and such.

Physiology is a lot more conceptual, but it's not a class you should be afraid of. It's really a class you should look forward to, because it describes how the body works and that is the machine you are going to be fixing for a living! I am re-reading sections of my physiology textbook while I wait for classes to start because I really want to know that information well. Savor it, I say!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment