What is nursing school like?

pixierose, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2016

OP, you're going to have one heck of a time in nursing school. Why? You're practically guaranteeing yourself a tough time with the "glass is half empty" attitude.

Is nursing school tough? You betcha. I'm in my last semester now, and yes -- I'm tired. It's a lot of work, sure. But so is a lot in life. When I was studying to become a teacher (I'm a second-degree nursing student), that was a lot of work too. Question is, is it worth it to you? If so, shrug all the negativities off and get working.

I'm not entirely clear on your question(s), but check out the student boards. And calm down -- you're not doing yourself any favors.

Sour Lemon · Sep 6, 2016

No, but when you take the class to learn how to do it, are the teachers condescending or are they helpful in showing you the entire processes on how to calculate dosage? Are there some instructors out there who teach for the paycheck and lower workload? or are a majority of nursing instructors helpful and friendly? If that's a weird question, it's because to me nursing school is not business school hence why I ask. Are nursing instructors passionate people.

My impression is that they're not "passionate" about anything except getting away from patient care and into something else. Anything else. That being said, we need them ...and following their direction gets us through the program, licensed and employed.

There was not a lot of hand-holding, for me, but I feel like I got enough information to get started and teach myself the rest.

We had our first dosage calculations test on the first day of class within the first hour. The students who didn't pass did get one more chance a few days down the road (if I remember correctly). It's a relatively simple thing that most programs probably don't spend a tremendous amount of time on, so count on preparing yourself.

InfirmiereMaybe, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2016

I'm not in nursing school yet but I took pharmacology with dosage calculation this summer and I can assure you, dosage calculation should be the least of your worries. It's simple math.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Sep 6, 2016

You should stop listening to what other people say. You'll be much happier entering into the experience with an open mind and no expectations.

Yogsdaleo,RN · Sep 6, 2016

Yowsers!! 100 pct in math? My program was not set up like this AT ALL!! You have to have a 75pct, total passing grade, including pharm, and SIM LAB. I know some people who got 40's on a pharm exam, but rocked the lecture exam, and passed. Dosage calculations, to me, you definitely need to know, but the safety of the person is much more important. If it were that serious, then the NCLEX would have everyone do dosage calculations. And they don't.

As far as professor, there are going to be some you love, and some you hate. Depends on how bad you want to be a nurse. I choose to let those who were uptight, and a lot of them were, just be uptight and not let if affect me or my clinical experience. I cried a many of days. Thats how bad I wanted it.

You have to decide for you, is it worth it. And if you can only think about being a nurse, stop being crabby, and just go for it.

loriangel14, RN · Sep 6, 2016

Yep we had to get 100% on our calculation tests. That weeded out a few.

WCSU1987 · Sep 6, 2016

I don't know I have taken classes with 20 question quizzes a week helps reenforce the material. Been in claases that offer cumulative finals to ensure you known the material.

Usually read 2 chapters a week for classes, sometimes 4. It encourageseems self learning and independent study skills. You skim over it, I do, then reread it pull out important stuff.

Math isn't to bad unless it's calculator or stats. I was applying for a nursing program that made you take pre calc it was brutal.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Sep 6, 2016

I had dosage calculation exams each semester. First semester required an 80% to pass (two tries). The last semester required a 100% to pass (two tries). Med errors can be fatal especially in the NICU when 0.05 mL is ordered and you give 0.5 mL. 10x the prescribed amount.

djh123 · Sep 6, 2016

That is a very large number of questions, and as someone else commented, you definitely have a lot of preconceived notions as well. My very short answer is: it's not as bad as you think, and no, the BON does not 'hate' nurses, and you DO learn a lot (if you're paying attention and trying hard) in school - but not enough, generally - and what I mean by that is that nursing school is a a big basic foundation topped by a wide/general intro. to many types of nursing, but no matter what kind you get into, you'll have to still learn a lot of stuff that is particular to that type of nursing, or something that nursing school simply didn't have time/facilities/materials to get into.

For just one example of the last thing I was mentioning: wound care. I've done a fair amount and variety of wound care in my LTC/rehab facility, and I think I'm pretty decent at it, but I received ZERO training on wound care in school.

Oh, and in my school, dosages & calculations tests required a 92% passing grade, not 100%... but I see some others saying their school *did* require 100%.

Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA · Sep 6, 2016

I don't know I have taken classes with 20 question quizzes a week helps reenforce the material. Been in claases that offer cumulative finals to ensure you known the material.
Usually read 2 chapters a week for classes, sometimes 4. It encourageseems self learning and independent study skills. You skim over it, I do, then reread it pull out important stuff.
Math isn't to bad unless it's calculator or stats. I was applying for a nursing program that made you take pre calc it was brutal.

Was it necessary? I mean did pre-calc help you? Why do we have to take so much math?

emmjayy, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2016

What is nursing school like? How do you get through a program that makes you take 3 exams in one day a week and math tests 100%? How do you study for that? How do you read 7 chapters in a week? and then 2 quizzes the following Monday? Does the board of nurses really hate their students that badly?
Why is the program accelerated? Quantity over quality is more important? It seems like the instructors don't teach you anything. Is it pretty much a "knife to your throat while you cut a wire to disarm a bomb" type of education? It seems like nursing school is for those who were born with luck. Or am I completely wrong? Is it doable? can you pass tests with 100% with no problem like you could in a biology class? I hear nothing but students that look like they're living in fear. What is this? The Soviet Union? Where you and your family can't smile in family pictures, businesses have to share their success with other businesses and people can only wear dark colored clothes? Are you not supposed to have confidence while in nursing school? What about the math test that requires you to pass with a 100%? What kind of god awful idea is that? Is that the schools way of saying "we taught you the easiest way possible and if you can't get a 100%, you're ridiculous and not advancing"? Or "Because **** you is why"? Does the school pretty much teach you the job or is there more for you to learn to where you can't actually know the job?
I can see saving lives being the staple of being a nurse so then that means there's no OJT when you work at a hospital? It seems like a job that is hard to maintain beside maintaining the mental and physical part of it?
It seems to me in my experience from nurses and nursing students that the school doesn't teach you **** except slam heavy deadlines and tough tests in your face.
The nursing students I know never speak to me and never come off as positive...
Is being in nursing school make you a snob? Where you're better than all the others except the nursing students you're supposed to graduate with?

Jeeeeeesus, calm down. Where did you get all these ideas? Holy crap. If you walk into nursing school with this extraordinarily large chip on your shoulder, you are guaranteed to have a really bad time.

I'm a first semester nursing student, so I'll say so far, it's been doable. The math test I had to get a 100% on was laughably easy (think.... basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, and finding x in very simple equations. Could have done it without a calculator and in my head, but a calculator was supplied). I had my first fundamentals test the other day and got an A after studying a moderate amount for it. Yes, the first couple of weeks were very overwhelming in terms of the amount of reading to be done, but I feel like I've gotten into the swing of it and am figuring out a study plan. This all is probably going to be thrown into disarray once clinicals start next week and I have to make care plans, but you know what? I don't care. I'll adapt and overcome, whatever it takes. Nursing school is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done academically, but it's not hard because the material is hard, it's just hard because of the sheer volume of material to study and get through. BUT IT'S DOABLE.

I can understand why you might see nursing students as stand-offish. Once school started it basically consumed my brain and I know I've been less friendly/open than normal because I'm so preoccupied with thinking about what I just studied, what I'm about to study, stressing a little about clinicals starting, thinking about tests, etc. I have developed a little bit of an attitude towards people in easier majors because nursing school is an entirely different beast (and I can say that because I have a degree in another field and know what a typical college experience is like). As a nursing student, it is easy to just talk crap about school because it's a bit overwhelming most of the time, but if it were really as terrible as people say, no one would stick with it.

As for how each school operates, that's up to the school. Mine has been absolutely amazing (albeit a tad disorganized at times... I swear if they change the topical one more time I'll cry haha). In terms of support though, all the faculty, administrators, tech personnel, librarians, etc. have been so nice and helpful. The goal of the school is to make us good nurses, but also to get us to pass NCLEX on the first try (we had a 90% pass rate last year!) But, that's my school - different schools have different values and outcomes. Do your research to find the one that's right for you.

ErikaD360 · Sep 6, 2016

Good point.