What is harder- nursing school or first year working?

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Hi! So I just finished my final final of first semester in nursing school, where I am also taking Anatomy and Physiology and a psych class, 13 credits total, and I'm wiped out. I was trying to give myself a pep talk, like only 3 more semesters and you will be done and life will be easier since you won't have to work part time while going to school and taking care of your family- just working and family! But then I thought, first year is supposed to be terrible as well! Which did you think was harder- nursing school or your first year on the job? I know there's still a ton to learn...

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Nursing school was traumatic for me. Lack of support from the school and a couple of clinical instructors who made my life miserable. Plus, I was dealing with other stuff in my life that made it tough.

Working was a walk in the park in comparison as I knew once I clocked out and went home that I was done. I know others will disagree but I think my senior preceptorship did a great job preparing me for real world nursing.

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Specializes in MH, ED, ICU.

Nursing school is like daycare, and being a new grad is like college. In nursing school, everyone watches out for you and makes sure you aren't messing anything up. People will answer your questions, and generally expect you not to really know anything. As a new grad, most others know you don't know a lot of things, but still expect you to learn most of it on your own. They may answer a question for you, but they're more likely to get annoyed by it. If you have to ask the same question more than once? Forget about it! Your patients are your problem once your orientation is over, and you better be ready to hit the ground running. You'll feel like a fish out of water for the majority of the first year, but you'll start to get the hang of it. Hopefully you have helpful coworkers like I did, and not the nightmares some of my friends had.

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Nursing school was much harder. I did a diploma program in the 1980's and I felt they tortured you for 2 1/2 years and if you survived, you were a nurse. The instructors were demeaning, they tore my beds apart if they weren't just right, you got sent back if you didn't have on support hose, so many stupid things. Plus all the homework. I do feel, though, that I was well prepared to work on the floor. Oh, and getting paid made it easier!

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I am currently 6 months into my first nursing job, and I have to say that working is much more stressful than school. I worked EMS while going to nursing school, so school was relatively easy. It has been stated before, but as a student you really don't have the same perspective as a nurse in charge of executing the care plan of the patient. I joke that I lost 15 lbs. since starting my new job because I walk around 5 miles a day and constantly worry about losing my job, and even though that is slightly hyperbolic it holds a little bit of truth; I never had the same sort of responsibility I have now, and managing that is much more complicated than I anticipated. So, hands down, working is much more stressful than school.

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Specializes in ambulant care.

Sh....

After the shool you just start to learn.

About theory and reality, human behavior,

posibilities and limits, reading contracts

carefully, .......

But don´t worry: In ´bout 25 years you´ll

get your feet to the ground.

;) Frieda

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Specializes in Infusion.

As an LPN going back to school for RN, and now my kids are teens and a little more independent, I too am hoping it will be easier transitioning to RN. I work in Urgent Care and just started ACS as well.

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Ok so I have to comment on this cause I think it will help a lot especially for those that are attempting to go for their Nursing. I have been working in healthcare for a total of 14 years, half being in positions like dietary, unit secretary, scheduler, specialty receptionist, and record keeper. The other half was being a CNA, Phlebotomist, and a QMA (Medication Administrator/Aide). I am currently pursuing my LPN and will stop at my FNP. Although I'm not a full nurse now, being a QMA preps you for that in many ways. The transition is minimal other than responsibilities. I honestly think school would be harder for someone that hasn't worked in healthcare or in the nursing setting. When you're in school you're so worried about passing that test and cramming information trying to retain it. In the actual workplace you're not necessarily studying, but you're implementing what you've learned into the care you provide. Another thing about actually working as a nurse is that there is always someone that you can go to if you're unsure and will have no problem showing you and steering you in the right direction.

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^ there were plenty in my cohort who weren't in a hospital setting (some were waitresses, some worked retail) who were excellent nursing students. I actually don't think being any kind of hospital worker makes you a better nursing student - there were those who were, and there were those who weren't. I think it boils down to what kind of student you are.

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When you work in a field that you're studying there is a difference. Fresh information sinks in different than information you're familiar with. That's not just in healthcare. If you're working as a chef and you go to school for culinary arts, you already have a basic understanding of food and how to prepare it.

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I've been a nurse for almost 9 years and have an MSN in nursing. I still wouldn't trade work for nursing school. LOL!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, post surgical.

In response to Shilmar: I was going to be a police officer, then got my real estate license before completing medical assisting school and doing a 2 week externship in a medical office before I enrolled in nursing school. I had no problems in school except for trying to make it through a psych clinical week while being sick as a dog and abusing ibuprofen and having a crazy psych teacher to contend with. My friend had tried the same nursing program years before and had to drop out because of academic issues which were not helped by her social life and needing to work. The big difference between the two of us was I have always been a voracious reader which helps with comprehension and having decent math skills. Oh, and I had two kids by then which gave me real life experience and I wasn't afraid of smells and stuff and I was very interested in the stuff I was learning. I think I got all A's. We are all different.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, post surgical.

To the OP, don't worry about the future, just plan for it. I still remember the day I got my job offer while standing in Albertsons. My first year me and another new grad were picked on by the evening shift and we cried. I'm still with the same floor even though we have moved to a new building and some faces have changed. We have a great crew and one of the previous bullies is on my shift and sweet as can be. I got hired on days on a different floor than I wanted, but it turned out to be great.

I'm thankful for the paycheck and to be doing something very worthwhile.

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