You're going to think I'm nuts

Nursing Students General Students

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I. LOVE. Nursing school.

There. I said it.

No, the NCLEX style questions aren't awesome. But they make you think! And when you learn the rationale behind the answer you should have picked, you learn how to be a better critical thinker. I actually LIKE that!

I've also decided I'm a B student in nursing school. I am okay with that. I have kids. I have responsibilities beyond school. I can only dedicate so much of my attention to nursing school. But I'm okay with it! I have Bs in my classes right now and that's just fine by me!

My school has a super interactive curriculum and I feel like if you don't learn it, you must have just slept through it completely because what we learn in theory is reinforced in practice. The assignments might get overwhelming some days, but we learn from them. Maybe it seems crazy to write up a teaching plan on one drug, but you now know about that drug and how to think through a teaching plan. There is a difference between learning how to do a teaching plan, and actually doing one.

Our clinicals will finally be taking us to the hospital the week after this coming week. So far we've just done skills and a senior center experience. Maybe my first semester excitement is giving me a premature boost in enthusiasm for the program, but we're halfway through the semester and I find myself excited that we still have 7 weeks left. I love learning. I love my instructors (even when we don't see eye to eye).

Yup. I'm one of THOSE people. :)

Specializes in geriatrics.

That's great! You're not nuts....I really enjoyed nursing school also. Beyond my BSN, I took a post RN course in geriatrics. I'm hoping to return to school again. Have fun with your studies!

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I loved nursing school too! I was the one who had to ask that one last question when everyone was trying to pack up and leave. I didn't do it to be annoying or an apple polisher, my hand was just always in the air. I was always insatiably curious, I found EVERYTHING fascinating, plus I had an amazing instructor who never was embarrassed whens she didn't know something, she would just say "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you." And she would, and she'd be glad that she learned something new, too! Some people were bored for those three hour lectures, but not me- I was wide-eyed on the edge of my seat.

I always suspected that the bored ones were just in nursing school because they had heard nurses make a lot of money. How could somebody NOT be fascinated with the material? I'd always wonder.

Yes, I'm a total geek.

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Specializes in critical care.

Yay for the fellow dorks!!!!! hahahah

Lacey, here's what I've realized. Even if I didn't have kids, I think I'd still be a B student, not just because that would probably mean I'd be working while in school, but also because I think that I'm grasping this material at a "B" level. I've streamlined my studying process to the point that I feel it works for me. If I went deeper into it, I'd go nuts and never have time. I'd feel overwhelmed and frustrated, and the level of organization I have now between time and my studies would go right out the window because I'd be trying to read absolutely everything. I've found the exact balance that works for me, and I doubt I'd do it very differently if I didn't have my little ones.

Echo, I don't think you're in the minority at all. I think those of us who love it are. lol Seriously, all I ever see on here is how much nursing school sucks--bad clinicals, bad instructors, too much work, too vague test questions.... I think you're very much in the norm with your feelings :)

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Sweet! I've been waiting for you to come and update on your NS adventure!

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Specializes in L&D.

I don't think you are crazy! I love nursing school too! I am also a B student, although am happy to be making an A this quarter :) I also have 4 kids as well :) glad to not be alone!

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I am so glad to be reading this. I am not currently in nursing courses, but I am waiting on that acceptance letter any day now (I hope). I am a perfectionist. I worked for nothing less than an A in all my general courses. My A&P instructor said to me one day, "In nursing school it is okay if you are a B student." That was preposterous to me. He is a doctor; how could he say that? It didn't resonate with me at the time, but the closer I get to those nursing courses the more I realize he was right. I have stressed myself out to the MAX! trying to ensure my acceptance into my program. Hopefully I will get accepted, but I really hear what you all are saying. It will be nice to let that anxiety go and just enjoy learning the material, and a B will be fine with me as well.

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Specializes in CCRN, ED, Unit Manager.

I don't think I've met anyone who dislikes nursing school, honestly. I've just heard some griping about getting "burnt out" (how do you get burnt out in a 2-3 year program? I personally can't) or something similar. Glad you're enjoying it, too.

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Specializes in CCRN, ED, Unit Manager.
I am so glad to be reading this. I am not currently in nursing courses, but I am waiting on that acceptance letter any day now (I hope). I am a perfectionist. I worked for nothing less than an A in all my general courses. My A&P instructor said to me one day, "In nursing school it is okay if you are a B student." That was preposterous to me. He is a doctor; how could he say that? It didn't resonate with me at the time, but the closer I get to those nursing courses the more I realize he was right. I have stressed myself out to the MAX! trying to ensure my acceptance into my program. Hopefully I will get accepted, but I really hear what you all are saying. It will be nice to let that anxiety go and just enjoy learning the material, and a B will be fine with me as well.

Honestly, grades in nursing school are what they are. There's plenty of people in my class with A's that are terrible hands-on nurses, or great hands on nurses that get B's. Which one would you rather be?

I didn't get A's in my first semester (except pharmacology), but have gotten all A's ever since. I realize that it's far less important than being good with patients and with hands-on skills. When you get accepted, remember that your A's and your studying should be a means to an end -- being a good nurse, not a good student, per se.

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i am half way thru my first semester and LOVING it!.. I have a b+ average and very happy with that. even though I received all A's on pre reqs and the co-req sciences.....

i have kids and grandkids that come and go,work and help out running a hunting preserve...also find time to go to dinners with my family. that will probably all change once we get deeper but who knows...for now my way is working for me. i get together with a few girls every other week to compare notes and go over nclex style questions and pick them apart. i do put in quite abit of effort for those B's.

good luck to all!!

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I hate nursing school and everything it stands for. get me out of here ASAP. everything from the finagling instructors and haggered nurses I deal with at clinicals to the NCLEX style trickery.

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Specializes in critical care.
I hate nursing school and everything it stands for. get me out of here ASAP. everything from the finagling instructors and haggered nurses I deal with at clinicals to the NCLEX style trickery.

Oh no!!!!!! Chester do you like the clinicals at least? I'm sorry you're hating it :( I have 2 friends, 1 in a program in Texas and the other in an accelerated version of the program I'm in now, who both are committed to seeing it through but have already decided they pretty much hate nursing. I guess you're either in it or you're not.

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Specializes in ..

I loved nursing school, too! It was, until now, also the most difficult educational experience of my life (including law school... which I delighted in telling fellow law students when they complained, "If you think law school is tough, you should have gone to nursing school!!!")

Nursing school might also be the most useful education you ever get. You don't have to be an A student, in my experience sometimes the best nurses were the B (and even C) students who rocked it in clinicals. That's not to say the A students didn't become good nurses, it's just a comment that you don't have to be an A student to be a great nurse).

There is a correlation between grades and understanding/ mastery of a subject, but it's not a perfect relationship. Usually, if you understand something really well, the your grade will prove it. But, even if you don't strive for A's, strive to learn as much as you can. It's your one opportunity to really learn the information. If you master it now it will be to your advantage later.

Yep, I loved nursing school so much I've gone back... to become an NP. And, I love this even more!!!

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