Will my nursing school be stressful? *Schedule for semesters included*

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hey guys, this my first post, i will be applying to nursing school in fall, 2 weeks, and i have a general question for ya. i'm 20, male, in college finishing up prereqs if that information means anything. okay so i'm asking this mostly because i keep hearing how dreadful, how tiring, how horrible nursing school is and from the look of the schedule it doesn't look too bad. tell me what you think, comment, suggestions, anything. i don't care, i like feedback, it helps me.

prerequisites to nursing science courses (aa-gps) i'm taking these right now and will have it finished before school starts

blo 2511 human anatomy and physiology laboratory i ..................................1 sh

blo 2513 human anatomy and physiology i ......................................................3 sh

blo 2521 human anatomy and physiology laboratory ii ..................................1 sh

bio 2523 human anatomy and physiology ii ......................................................3 sh

soc 2113 introduction to sociology ....................................................................3 sh

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total 11 sh

the ones crossed out are the ones i have already taken and do not need to take

1st semester - freshman (aas-adn - when selected or admitted to nursing science)

eng 1113 english composition i ..........................................................................3 sh

nur 1140 professional development ....................................................................0 sh

nur 1119 nursing science i ................................................................................9 sh

psy 1513 general psychology i ..........................................................................3 sh

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total 9 sh

2nd semester - freshman (second semester in nursing science)

eng 1123 english composition ii ........................................................................3 sh

epy 2533 human growth and development ........................................................3 sh

nur 1220 professional development ....................................................................0 sh

nur 1229 nursing science ii ................................................................................9 sh

fine arts or humanities elective ........................................................3 sh

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total 9 sh

3rd semester - sophomore (third semester in nursing science)

blo 2921 microbiology lab ................................................................................1 sh

blo 2923 microbiology ........................................................................................3 sh

nur 2130 professional development ....................................................................0 sh

nur 2139 nursing science iii ..............................................................................9 sh

total 9 sh

4th semester - sophomore (fourth semester in nursing science)

nur 2241 professional development ....................................................................1 sh

nur 2249 nursing science iv ..............................................................................9 sh

nur 2242 nclex-rn® preparation ..................................................................2 sh

spt 1113 or spt 2173 public speaking or interpersonal communication................................3 sh

total 10 sh

so what do you guys think? manageable? clinicals are monday and thursday..i think..just two days a week for now is all i know. so let me hear some feedback my fellow nurses!

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Don't you have any pharmacy classes, assessment classes, or pathophysiology classes? Seems like you have a skimpy schedule.

Wait till you start doing nursing care plans for clinicals. Those take as long as 6 hours to do when you are first starting out! I found the first semester of nursing school the least stressful. I don't believe anyone will find a stress free nursing program though!

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This doesn't look too bad. However, what will get u is the fact that you have clinical paperwork that'll be due q week, assignments and don't forget bout ur nursing exams!!! Get ready bc I promise u, u will not see exams like nursing exams!! When I was in nursing school ( I just graduated in May 2009 and passed boards in June), I spent countless hrs a week (believe I probably spent at least 40 hrs a week) dedicated to school stuff. This included going to class, clinicals, paperwork, studying, reading, etc... Plus I had 3 young kids on top of that! All I can say is work hard (bc nursing school is truly hard), keep ur focus and you can make it too! Best of luck!!

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Many associate's programs integrate all of their pharm/patho/assessment/etc. curriculum into "Nursing Science" type courses that you only take one of per semester - I assume that's how the OP's school is structured. OP, all nursing schools are stressful. You've relieved as much as you could have by taking available courses early, and if you don't have to work full time or support any children you have another advantage over many of the most stressed out students. Nursing school IS doable, most of us have gotten through it. Try to get ahead and stay on top of the reading and projects, and make sure you get to know your instructors and ask for help early if you need it. Good luck!

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Yes, I'm single, not married, no children but I work at a part time job.

Would you recommend quitting to focus on nursing studies? I will quit anyway just because I'm becoming a nurse. Its just a little Deli anyway haha.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Would you recommend quitting to focus on nursing studies? I will quit anyway just because I'm becoming a nurse. Its just a little Deli anyway haha.

If you don't need to work then quit! I can guarantee you will be busy doing LOTS of homework. Personally, I did not work in nursing school and didn't have any children. Between my aging parent's medical problems and nursing school, I was plenty busy.

If you can do homework at work - then I would keep the job.

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Specializes in CTICU.

I worked all the way through nursing school at a nursing home. If you can get some sort of healthcare job, the experience won't hurt. You can't study all the time and extra money is nice.

I didn't think nursing school was that bad but it was a while ago (so the nightmares have faded...!). Only kidding.

The problem as mentioned is that things like careplans and nursing-type questions are not something intuitive that you can just memorize - they are really more difficult to figure out and get good at, and the only way is repetitive practice.

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I didn't think nursing school was that bad but it was a while ago (so the nightmares have faded...!). Only kidding.

Which part are you joking about ... having nightmares .... or the fact that the nightmares will eventually fade away?

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Where are the clinicals in this schedule? I am going to be taking a hospital based program and while my coursework looks similar to this we start clinicals the first semester with an hour and half and proceed quickly up to 20 hours of clinicals for a 32 hour 4th quarter. I think mine is like 1.5 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 20 hours ... something like that .. the school is tri-semester and 2 years long.

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These are the pre-requisites, everyone! (Hence no clinicals, etc.)

Johnemmons, does your school allow you to take A&P I and II at the same time? I always thought that A&P I was a pre-req to A&P II. I hope you are at least doing one the first 8 weeks and the other the 2nd 8 weeks because you will drown in A&P II without having taken A&P I first.

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Nursing school = stress.

Congrats on your decision and good luck!

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Definitely doable. You seem to be handling a good course load as it is, and the fact that you have completed many of the General Ed requirements is a plus. I don't think you need to quit your part time job, unless it interferes with your clinical schedule.

My program is about 15 hours a semester and we have several students that work full-time...........now that's tough!

Good Luck!!

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