What makes Nursing school hard?

merrywhiterose · Aug 5, 2009

I'm 1/2 way through a 2-yr. RN program. In the first year we never knew what we were going to have to do. We've had many individual experiences from going to a nursing home, to attending Alcoholics Anonymous. The answers to the tests changed, even though some of the questions were the same. If 75% of the class believed the answer should be one thing, and questioned the answer, most likely we wouldn't get an explanation why our answer was wrong. I had the clinical instructor from hell. She didn't like anyone her age (45?) or over, or males in her clinical group. She enjoyed putting down those people, by telling them their questions were "dumb", and even tried failing them on the last day of clinicals with outright lies. Even with bad evaluations, she's going to still be a clinical instructor this year for the 1st yr. group. The program itself requires all of your time. There's a LOT of reading, studying, etc., but it'll be worth it. :caduceus: Good luck!!!

ptaballnurses · Aug 6, 2009

What makes nursing school hard? I just graduated at the end of May, took the NCLEX July 1st and passed without the help of Kaplan. During my schooling I worked full time as a ER Tech (EMT/phlebotomist) during the first intro summer session (36 to 48hrs/wk[12 hr shifts]) and part time (24hrs/wk) through the rest of the program. During my second year I also joined the Nursing Club council as well as working. Is it doable? YES! But be prepared to have late nights on a regular basis. Nursing school credits/units are not the same as say a English class credit/unit. There is so much more work involved all of which is mandatory yet not really stated in the course description nor reflected in the units/credits for the class. A part time nursing schedule (8-10 units) actually seemed more like taking 12-15 units

To repeat some of what the previous repliers have wrote, Procrastination is NOT an option. You will set youself up for failure if you do. Buy yourself a calender that you can carry around and mark the dates where projects are due, all the test dates, quiz dates, clinical paperwork due dates, reading schedule, study group sessions, as well as any other school registration/ titers/ TB tests/ CPR card expiration dates. This will help keep you orginized. Also make copies of all the medical requirement paperwork that you turn in because someone is sure to lose some or all of it.

Next, if you can get a copy of the previous year's/term's course syllabus of each class to get a look at the lecture/reading schedule do so. You ALWAYS want to be ahead in reading the textbook. If you can get a head-start in the reading maybe a week or two, you'll be ahead of the game. This especailly is a good thing to do during the Summer and Winter breaks maybe getting in a good four weeks of reading before classes start.

Third, do not try to do it by yourself. You'll need study buddies (no more than 3 at a time) to bounce question off of, do projects together, review your papers (APA format)/presentations before you submit them. It'll be the same once you're working as an RN; There is no way to effectively do it on your own.

Fourth, pre warn your family. Let them know what you'll be going through. Also have a calender for them as well so that they can see your schedule and know when NOT to bother you and so that they know where you'll be (school/clinicals/library/Starbuck's) or not be (at home).

You'll have fun and fustration during the program but in the end it'll all be worth it. I actually miss it in part because of all of the new friends/family that I made during the program and don't get to see on a regular basis anymore and this is coming from a guy!

Best wishes,

Paul

fishermanIV · Aug 6, 2009

Hi, This is my first time asking for help ( i have read a lot of the threads ) . I finished my A&P courses 3 yrs ago, i got accepted into the nursing program for the fall at BCC. The test was the hesi ( I found 2 mistakes in their book ) but the book and the test are totally different. I am an A, B+ student, but the hesi test was BS.., I'm going for my A.A. in nursing.. My first question to all those threads from experienced RN's is , although I know my a&p very well and I am re-reading A&P again...should that be my main concern. I have the summer off ( i have My DAD w/ alzheimers ) I have gone thru the smells, fluids, etc ( Chronic diarrhea, which i went thru non dairy diet, all the time trying to maintain a sanitary environment,,,finally trying to tell my doc it was C. Diff....still waiting the results) ....it does not bother me. Should I go ahead and pre-read the chapters for the fall . I have heard about students going to clinicals w/o confidence....I want to know from all THOSE GREAT RN'S IN NJ ..what should I have memorized in-n -out

fishermanIV · Aug 6, 2009

BTW I Do kno w what C. Difff stands for

GCTMT · Aug 6, 2009

I went into school w/a 4.0 gpa....upon graduation it dropped to 3.4 I had to take co-reqs w/the nursing classes as I didn't complete them all before and since it was included I thought that'd be a great way to ....um no! I'd never recommend doing that.

Yikes! I am taking Nursing I, A&P II and Developmental Psych. Goodbye life.

inava · Aug 6, 2009

I took all my non-nursing classes before entering the program and even so it was not easy. I ended up taking only 2 classes per semester and that was a lot of work. I did have a toddler at home so I was busy.

What makes nursing hard is that you can't fall behind. You are building knowledge as you go. If your foundation isn't secure it's hard to build on.

It was very challenging but very rewarding and worthwhile.

It's been a while for me but I have never regretted my choice to go into nursing.

Keep positive thoughts. You can do it. And you are very much needed.

ptaballnurses · Aug 6, 2009

Hi, This is my first time asking for help ( i have read a lot of the threads ) . I finished my A&P courses 3 yrs ago, i got accepted into the nursing program for the fall at BCC. The test was the hesi ( I found 2 mistakes in their book ) but the book and the test are totally different. I am an A, B+ student, but the hesi test was BS.., I'm going for my A.A. in nursing.. My first question to all those threads from experienced RN's is , although I know my a&p very well and I am re-reading A&P again...should that be my main concern. I have the summer off ( i have My DAD w/ alzheimers ) I have gone thru the smells, fluids, etc ( Chronic diarrhea, which i went thru non dairy diet, all the time trying to maintain a sanitary environment,,,finally trying to tell my doc it was C. Diff....still waiting the results) ....it does not bother me. Should I go ahead and pre-read the chapters for the fall . I have heard about students going to clinicals w/o confidence....I want to know from all THOSE GREAT RN'S IN NJ ..what should I have memorized in-n -out

Physiology would be a great foundation to solidify before starting your nursing classes. It is the basis of Med/Surg Nursing. What electrolyte imbalance would a disease process create and how that imbalance would effect the patient esp. the pulmonary cardiac, cardiovascular, and renal systems. Also, what would you see upon examination with a pt. with a particular imbalance; i.e Soduim, potassium, calcium, Mg, blood pH, etc. whether they are high or low.

If you can get a hold of the med-surg textbook early and read ahead it'd be worth it. Then you could see how the material will be presented. Also, the end of the of the chapter as well as intra-chapter questions that are posed will help you focus on the material that you need to learn.

Best wishes

jonicampbellblue · Aug 6, 2009

I am in nursing school right now. I think what makes it so hard, when you go to school full time, is the load of work you have in addition to "real life." It's not that the course work is so difficult to understand, although some does make you think a bit, lol, it is finding time to study and really understand the topics.

Good luck to you.

Kurious RN · Aug 6, 2009

If you have time to study, nursing school won't be hard for you. You just have to be prepared for the exams. The hardest part is not having enough free time to do fun stuffs with your friends or family. But this change is only for 2 years (if you're getting associates) At the end, you will be proud of yourself because you did it and your family will proud of you because you are a Nurse.

nursemonika · Aug 6, 2009

ASN programs ARE hard, because they basically cram in 4 year's worth of learning into 3. I started nursing school later in life ( I was 38...oldest in my class ). I had 4 sons, youngest 5, oldest 12. I had already gone to an AA program and graduated with a 4.0 (going nights). I graduated from nursing with a 3.45 GPA, which took everything I had to do it. My most important piece of advice to you is to take all of your difficult mandatory pre-requisite courses before you begin the Nursing Process program ( i.e., Human Anatomy & Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Math for Nursing, Human Growth & Development, Microbiology, etc). Then, you will have only the Nursing Process and the Clinicals you will be going to, to deal with (which are hard enough on their own). My second piece of advice is to immediately start a Study Group made up of 5-6 other students. Most Nursing Process courses are based on Modules, which you have to read, which are followed by many questions, which you will be required to write out the answers to....there are MANY of them. Our Study Group met after class, split up the Modules so everyone did one or two, and then made copies of what we did for the rest of the group. That way, we all had all Modules completed quickly, with less effort and stress, and had more time to study for the exams (which were based on what we learned in the Modules). Beware! Choose your Study Group partners carefully! They should all be intelligent, dedicated nursing students.

And, lastly, if it weren't for my dear husband (who passed away 5 years ago) I could have never made it. Many a night he made supper for the boys, bathed them, helped with homework, etc....while I was holed up in the bedroom studying. His mantra for 3 years was: "Please don't bother Mommy; she needs to study". If I had not had that support, I couldn't have made it through. I hope your partner, spouse, boyfriend...whatever...is 100% behind you in your endeavor, because he will need to be patient, understanding, and giving: men are needy little souls, and they will not be getting the attention they are used to, and love to have, while you are in nursing school.

But, the rewards are worth it: not only will you have a well-paying, portable profession, but you have so many options in nursing that other professions don't have, and the good salary can only help you and your family realize your goals in life.

Good Luck,

Monika Reed, RN, CCM

harleyridingirl · Aug 6, 2009

I just finished my 3rd semester and we covered 158 chapters this semester. THAT'S what makes it hard! :typing

nursemonika · Aug 6, 2009

I feel your pain...believe me, I do!

~Monika