When are you officially a nursing student?

Published

As the title says, when are you officially considered a nursing student? When you get your acceptance letter? When you start your first day of class? Looking for opinions on this.

But see, they OP said when do you call your self a "nursing student" not a nursing major. Which is what I mean as far as that Gray area. It can be misinterpreted really fast. I agree with not calling yourself a "nursing student" until your actually in the program. But as far as the major. I don't see anything misleading about saying it's nursing. Most if the time that comment is followed by the question, "how much longer do you have? " then that's when I would clarify that I'm taking pre reqs.

I guess I don't see the gray because there's the designation of pre-nursing. Most schools have nursing majors/programs that require an application separate to the university, or at least that's how it is in California. A nursing student is someone who's been accepted into a nursing program that leads to a degree. So, for one to call oneself a nursing student when not accepted into a program is inaccurate in my opinion. Just like others said, we wouldn't call someone taking gen chem, English comp, and calculus a medical student.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I guess I don't see the gray because there's the designation of pre-nursing. Most schools have nursing majors/programs that require an application separate to the university, or at least that's how it is in California. A nursing student is someone who's been accepted into a nursing program that leads to a degree. So, for one to call oneself a nursing student when not accepted into a program is inaccurate in my opinion. Just like others said, we wouldn't call someone taking gen chem, English comp, and calculus a medical student.

But there are nursing students who are accepted into a university as Nursing student that go through the pre-read their freshman and sophomore years, and that includes those classes; they are not lying-they are nursing students and have their acceptance but have not started their nursing courses yet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They were accepted into a nursing program right? Hence, the nursing student designation. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CTICU/ER/Dialysis.

I have to agree with that. But to further prove my point of the gray area. Everyone has their own opinion about when you are officially called a nursing student. There is nothing stopping a freshman or sophomore from saying they are a nursing student, when they are one. But at the same time, if you're going into an ADN program and your taking anatomy as a pre req then I'd say that's not exactly a nursing student. But it's up to the discretion of the person what they want to call themselves. They could just be speaking it into existence lol. Either way it doesn't matter to me because it's not my life, it's theirs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have to agree with that. But to further prove my point of the gray area. Everyone has their own opinion about when you are officially called a nursing student. There is nothing stopping a freshman or sophomore from saying they are a nursing student, when they are one. But at the same time, if you're going into an ADN program and your taking anatomy as a pre req then I'd say that's not exactly a nursing student. But it's up to the discretion of the person what they want to call themselves. They could just be speaking it into existence lol. Either way it doesn't matter to me because it's not my life, it's theirs.

Precisely to the bolded. I don't know why anyone who isn't in a program would lie and say they're X student though. The people who feel a need to say they're nursing students when they're in English Comp and Micro aren't far off from those who end up telling everyone they're nurses when they're CNAs/PCTs/MAs or walking around in lab coats as "med students" when they're on their way to gen chem lab lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As soon as I got my acceptance letter into NS! It grinds my gears when Pre-Nursing students call themselves nursing students :madface: I always address myself as a pre-nursing student before getting in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Renal, Diabetic.

You're a nursing student when you are admitted into a program and accept, not any time before. How awkward would it be to tell people you are a nursing student, and then find out you didn't get accepted?

And as an CMA, it totally grinds my gears when the other MA's call themselves nurses. A lot of them don't see the difference, which is my opportunity to kindly educate them. I just finished my first semester, and I learned things that an MA would never be allowed to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This reminds me of an aid I met at a nursing home. The resident's daughter didn't like something that the aid was doing and he said, "I need you to trust me ma'am. I'm a nursing student." I asked him what courses he was taking.

"English and Math."

Exactly. Just like the distinction between pre-med and medical student. Pre-nursing until you are accepted and enrolled in nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You're a nursing student when you are admitted into a program and accept, not any time before. How awkward would it be to tell people you are a nursing student, and then find out you didn't get accepted?

And as an CMA, it totally grinds my gears when the other MA's call themselves nurses. A lot of them don't see the difference, which is my opportunity to kindly educate them. I just finished my first semester, and I learned things that an MA would never be allowed to do.

I too wish people would stop misrepresenting themselves. It muddies the perception and public opinion of nurses who don't realize there are so many levels of nursing staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh you'll know

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Maternity & Well-Woman Care.

At my school, one becomes a nursing student the moment they begin taking classes that ONLY nursing majors take for degree completion. Anyone can take micro or A & P and move onto other programs such as PA or dental hygiene.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
When one is accepted and have paid their deposit for a spot in the nursing program, they are officially a "nursing student".

Some students have been accepted into a program and start out with pre-regs like A&P, math, English, etc, and then progress to the nursing courses.

That's how my program does it. I just say I'm doing the gen-ed portion of the program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion