What makes Nursing school so tough that many people end up dropping out???

firstyearstudent · Sep 21, 2006

Nursing school is tough because of the military style training that, personally, I don't think is a good way to go about training nurses or weeding out those who aren't fit. I don't see the point of it. It's like some ridiculous game to me.

Also, the quality of the teaching staff at my ADN program is poor, which makes things just that much harder.

Unlike what someone else who posted here (Timothy, I believe) it's been humility, not arrogance, that's seen me through so far. I am here to learn to take care of sick people. Nothing else really matters.

abundantjoy07, RN · Sep 21, 2006

It's just a lot to learn in a very short time.:penguin:

MIA-RN1, RN · Sep 21, 2006

I guess I am in the minority by thinking that yes it was difficult, but I did not find it to be boot camp, or military, or especially different from other liberal arts classes. Every class you take--no matter what major you are in--requires you to do the work and pass the course to move on. The expectations for every class are different. Maybe your sociology professor wanted a 10 page paper, maybe your anthropology prof wanted a 10 minute presentation, maybe your nursing instructor wants a 10 page care plan.

We go into nursing often with blinders on. After all, isn't one of the tenets of nursing to behave in a professional manner? So all the nurses we have seen as patients ourselves, have been acting professionally--doing their job, efficient etc. So we didn't see the paperwork, the time spent on the phone chasing down docs, etc. And then we have the media, which seems to think that not only do all nurses wear their long hair down and look great in scrubs, they are also capable at a drop of a hat to either know how to save a patient with a straw as an emergency trach or sleep with the doctors in the supply closet. There are not many shows showing the real world of nursing.

So then we get there and maybe a few people have the "ER" version of nursing in their heads and leave when the first six lectures focus on things like body mechanics and nursing process. After all, do the nurses on TV every write careplans or use nursing diagnoses? Of course not, they are too busy yelling 'stat' to everyone else and saving lives in ways that would in real life not be possible.

So then the first test comes and maybe a few more go. The material was simply too hard.

And the pregnancies, illnesses, injuries might lose a few more.

I personally thought all but one of my instructors was a gem and the one who wasn't was a fluke. Our instructors wanted us to succeed, and every pass was praised and every fail was consoled and offered extra help. I didn't feel like we were being weeded out, I felt that we were being taught as adult learners and held accountable. Do the work, hand it in on time and pass. Go to lecture, take the notes, learn them and pass the test. Show up. On time.

I guess I look at it all differently than many. It was one of the greatest experiences in my life. I did not cry over it, I did not give up all my free time and my family life (And I worked, and I volunteered, and I have two active kids and a husband). I just went to school, did my work, took my exams and went on. Just like any other major.

That said, Nursing has a lot of specific components. Therapeutic communications, titrating IVs and the whole issue that while other majors may be dealing with pushing paper or computers. So yeah, its gonna be a bit tougher. But boot camp? Nah.

LilSassyRN · Sep 21, 2006

I think a lot of students do not take the program seriously... getting the minimum grades required in pre-req's. Then the reality of what is expected hits hard when the first semester rolls around. It's a minimum of 76% on all tests just to continue, which sounds easy. Except that the tests are on multiple chapters (try 10 a week for us) and you are expected to build upon the information.

I'm in an accelerated RN program.... two years to learn it would have been a luxury. Try doing the first years worth of work in 5 months.... it's tough, but certainly doable. I know... I've done it.

Prioritizing everything is a must. There is no life outside of RN school for me.... it just has to be this way. Well, for the first 5 months it was, now, in my 3rd semester it's a little easier. My commitment is the same.... nursing school come first. My family, my friends and my community will be all the better for my work and dedication.

I kind of think of it as going off in the military, except that I get to sleep in my own bed at night!

Nursing school is what you make of it. In my class we've lost half the students. Some were not prepared initially and others just simply didn't put in the effort this course required.

The only thing that bothers me is the whining about how hard it is..... well of course it is. We are dealing with life and death... you better know your stuff. The demand for the instructors to "make it easier" just won't cut it when you have a patient who is coding in front of you. That patient will have wanted you to know ALL the information to save his life.

Given all that..... I have to say one more thing. If you try... you can make it enjoyable too. Caring for my patients is the most rewarding and humbling experience I've ever had. I thank each patient for allowing me to take care of them as I carry a piece of each of them with me in my journey.

That is what it is all about for me.... the journey.... and for that I will study.

Best wishes in your studies..... YOU can do it!

mixyplixy · Sep 21, 2006

Nursing schools subssitute quantity for quality, they seem to think if they give you lots and lots of work it means more, so people get burned out on writing papers on "three ways of knowing" and such nonsense.

mixyplixy · Sep 21, 2006

Nursing schools subsitute quantity for quality, they seem to think if they give you lots and lots of work it means more, so people get burned out on writing papers on "three ways of knowing" and such nonsense.

weetziebat · Sep 21, 2006

I realize you've gotten plenty of good responses so far, but just had to add my two cents worth.

I graduated as an LPN in 1971 and as an RN in 1986.

In both programs the main reason it was sooooo difficult was the instructors.

They seemed intent on weeding out as many people as possible. And not for reasons related to nursing - more like personality clashes.

In my RN program think we started out with 6 or 7 men, and we overheard the instructors say they did not feel men make good nurses, so they were going to get rid of them before first term was over. One guy had to drop out when work changed his shift, but the rest were dropped, one by one, for reasons that were totally invalid.

The instructors seemed like gods - they could do anything they wanted. Sooooo wrong! :madface:

RN1263 · Sep 21, 2006

yes, the instructors DO weed out students...those clinical "F"s are their back-up plan in case you are good on tests!....we lost 15 students last semester!

last semester my nursing instructor didn't like one of the students in our class (it was obvious) and when he got an "A" on her test, that same week she gave him an "F" in clinical .....

and also i agree that they substitute quality for quantity....maybe students could focus MORE on the hard material at hand, if they didn't have all the busy work projects! (big posters w/ picture cut outs like we're in 2nd grade do absolutely nothing for my learning!).....my 13 yr. old laughed at me and said "gee mom even i don't have to do projects that are THAT laim!!!!!! "

kenny b · Sep 21, 2006

In reference to the post:

"""In my RN program think we started out with 6 or 7 men,

"""and we overheard the instructors say they did not feel me

"""make good nurses, so they were going to get rid of them

"""before first term was over. One guy had to drop out when work

"""changed his shift, but the rest were dropped, one by one, for

"""reasons that were totally invalid.

I am glad you brought this up. It's actually a big concern of mine. I went to inquire about the RN-BSN program at a local university and (it may be my imagination), but the director appeared to be very haughty before I even described my background. I asked for information about the best way to prepare so that I could be competative in the admission decision (are certain requirements weighted more than others, etc.) She seemed (with distain perhaps?) to focus on the fact that I should provide evidence that I knew what I would be getting into. She wouldn't provide information abougt what I could do to get an edge assuming that this requirement was met by me and another candidate.

Well I'm okay with that. That saves resources in an already constrained system by lowering dropout rates. However, her attitude was disheartening because when another candidate walked in with the same questions she was very warm and forthcoming with a lot of information (I stood in the hall eavesdropping). And yep, the other candidate was a woman and I'm a man.

My concern is that I couldn't get any hard and fast criteria for admission and so the decision is essentially totally up to this director and her board. Perhaps I'm imagining it, and I hope so because I know I'll be a great nurse and this school is well known for a great program. Ahh well! Enough whining - on to business! (working on my pre-reqs now)

Pompom · Sep 21, 2006

I think the most difficult part is the exhaustion factor. School is time consuming, studying, working, raising children. It is difficult buy not impossible.

metalmom · Sep 24, 2006

Nursing school was the hardest thing I've ever done. But if you want it bad enough, you will fight to stay in. And as for a 4.0, well that went down the you-know-where. The good thing is that it all goes by really, really fast. Lots of luck. Copy%20of%20wink.gif mortar%20board.PNG

Elisheva · Sep 24, 2006

I know this is going to sound crazy, but I loved every minute of nursing school. Yes, it was hard work but I loved it because I had always wanted to go to college and didn't get to go until I was in my mid-30s. I almost had to pinch myself every day that I had the opportunity to go. I got tired of studying sometimes and the clinicals weren't my favorites, but I never dreaded going to class.

The best part was being with like-minded friends with warped senses of humor. It's been 10 years and I still miss our lunches at Applebee's after each test to gripe and moan and compare answers.