Will I have a social life as a bsn student at a four year college and as a nurse

Published

Hi im thinking about getting my bsn at a state school in my homestate (NY) after highschool, but am a little worried at the amount of work. I want to have a fun college experience while also finding myself but im afraid nursing will restrict me in discovering what else i want to do. Im willing to work to get my degree and don't expect it to be easy, but i also dont want to be miserable for 4 straight years. Im really into the outdoors and want to have time as a nurse not just as a student but in my career being with nature. Thats why I'd also like to know what its like being a nurse, meaning will i have enough free time to enjoy the outdoors, and is nursing alot of paperwork or more hands on working with patients? Thanks so much for anyone who chooses to respond, you'll be helping me alot with my efforts to decide what i want to do out of life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Time management is vital! I also got my BSN at a four year college while playing collegiate soccer and powerlifting at a local gym. Will you have a social life? yes and no. There will many times where your friends are out, adventuring, partying, etc. and you will not be able to attend but there will be times that you have extra time on your hands to relax and have fun. I learned very early to get my work done and to study ahead so that I could enjoy my college experience to the fullest!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Bottom line in science degrees require more time and effort. It is why they tend to pay more. I have two bachelors degrees. Business admin and nursing. My nursing degree required FAR more effort and time than my business degree.

If your number one concern going into nursing is whether you will have enough free time then this may not be for you. I don't know any medical students whos decision to be an MD comes down to whether they will have enough "free time" during medical school to go hiking.

It is cool if that is your priority...we all get to make decisions. Just understand what nursing is and what it requires.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The short answer to your question is "yes."

BUT you will have far less down time than some of your other peers in college.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.

I found nursing school to be tough but doable. I was in a BSN program & took 15-18 credits per semester. I worked per diem, had a social life on weekends & was very involved in activities at my university.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

I've never understood the posters on this site who claim that it's not possible to have a life in nursing school. I attended a 4 year BSN program straight out of high school and I don't feel that my college experience was far different than that of my friends. The biggest difference was that 1-2 days/week I had to wake up at the buttcrack of drawn to go to clinicals but students in the school of Ed did that too. My roommate who was a finance major spent a lot more time studying than I did. I drank just as much cheap beer on weekends as everyone else, went to football games, ran on campus blood drives, led retreats, made extra beer money by participating in random psychological studies around campus, spent every school break on a service trip, etc.

Why would you think nursing would inhibit your ability to enjoy the outdoors? I go hiking almost every weekend.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, there are going to have to be sacrifices because nursing school is a bit different. The grading scale is a bit different than traditional programs, so you will have to work and study harder for those As and Bs which you definitely need in your science pre-reqs. Sorry, but Cs in A&P and Bio will not get you into the nursing program. Many schools will admit you to the college but you will need to apply separately to the nursing program. And once you get in the class work load changes drastically. Nursing students do work harder. However, knowledge is power, and time management is your friend. My best friend played college softball, dated regularly and worked part-time while in nursing school. I worked full-time and traveled. A social life is possible. Those in the program with you become your family and your closest friends, and trust me, nursing students figure out how to have fun. Don't worry, and go for it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A nursing degree will require time, dedication to the program, priority in your life. It will not consume your life.

You will need to choose, from time to time, whether to meet your friends or whether to study. At times you will need to forgo an activity if it interferes with class/clinical time. You will need to be flexible in your plans and diligent about making time for everything; not everything will always be allotted the same amount of time every time.

This is how it is in the working world after school as well: your friends may want to do something that conflicts with a workday on your calendar. You will need to choose which days you can/will take off and which you cannot. You will plan AROUND your obligations.

If you want to be a nurse, this is simply how it is. You don't need to GIVE UP anything, but you DO need to give up the idea that it will always be on your own timetable, that's all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You and I are the same. I am only 20 years old and already going into my fourth year of nursing. I was always the fun partying type and I worried about the same thing whether I will be able to have a social life or not alongside having a part time job.

Nursing school teaches you many things but one important thing it had taught me the most was TIME MANAGEMENT. I was horrible at it in first year but as years went by I became an expert. I went through the hardest year (2nd year) of schooling studying and partying at the same time. You will learn when would be the right time to study, and when would be the right time to go out with friends. My friends totally understood my situation and they never made me feel bad about not going out. Work allowed me to take days off to study for exams. You HAVE to make nursing your first priority no matter what. It even came before my family because it is very easy to fail the program.

The agenda saved and continues to save my life. It was like my bible. I had a small one so I can bring it everywhere with me. I put the dates I HAVE to make sure I study and set goals on what materials need to be studied and completed by certain time and day.

Also, you will make TONS of friends in nursing school and you guys will never let go of each other. Don't you worry, nursing is the way to go. Remember, dont do it for the money do it for the passion of helping people. Hope this post helped a bit and goodluck in the future :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You and I are the same. I am only 20 years old and already going into my fourth year of nursing. I was always the fun partying type and I worried about the same thing whether I will be able to have a social life or not alongside having a part time job.

Nursing school teaches you many things but one important thing it had taught me the most was TIME MANAGEMENT. I was horrible at it in first year but as years went by I became an expert. I went through the hardest year (2nd year) of schooling studying and partying at the same time. You will learn when would be the right time to study, and when would be the right time to go out with friends. My friends totally understood my situation and they never made me feel bad about not going out. Work allowed me to take days off to study for exams. You HAVE to make nursing your first priority no matter what. It even came before my family because it is very easy to fail the program.

The agenda saved and continues to save my life. It was like my bible. I had a small one so I can bring it everywhere with me. I put the dates I HAVE to make sure I study and set goals on what materials need to be studied and completed by certain time and day.

Also, you will make TONS of friends in nursing school and you guys will never let go of each other. Don't you worry, nursing is the way to go. Remember, dont do it for the money do it for the passion of helping people. Hope this post helped a bit and goodluck in the future :)

It's highly likely that many of you will never see each other much after graduation. You may stay close to a couple of your nursing school peers, but it's certainly not true that all of you will remain lifelong friends.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

If you love what you're studying, it's not going to be miserable and you will find great balance. Why are you already expecting school to be an awful chore?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes you can have a social life if you manage your time correctly! I am in a sorority and I also work at a hospital and I have been able to manage. There will be times when you will feel like crap because all of you friends are out having a good time and you are in studying or writing a care plan for clinical the next morning. I have felt like this and so many nurses tell me that it will be worth it. Your freshman year may not be so bad. As a pre-nursing major I found it hard initially to buckle down with so much freedom, and only maintained a 3.0 but I was taking 18 credit hours, so I managed but as time got closer to apply I had to get serious.:writing: You will be fine honey, and all your friends and the communication majors will praise you for your dedication :D . Think about it like this, while others are still looking for a job you will pretty much be set. Especially if you are employed as a CNA/STNA and get in good with the nurse managers. The grass is not always greener. Some students will look up to you and wish they were in your shoes. Appreciate that :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion