How Hard Is Nursing School? Challenges & Tips to Succeed

Have any of you ever thought about being a nurse? It is a profession aimed at restoring and protecting people’s health. Which is critical! Yet, before joining a nursing school one might ask the question, “is it hard?” Many people who have gone through one will tell you that nursing education is challenging. How so? Well, today I’ll tell you all about it. Yes!

In this article, I am going to present some of the challenges and what you need to know about them beforehand. By the end of the article, you will understand what is involved in nursing as a discipline and whether nursing school is the best option for you.

Is Nursing School Challenging?

Yes, nursing school is challenging. This is likely to happen. It requires hard work, dedication, and determination. But it’s also justifiable. They can, however, be prepared for it. Knowing the difficulty of nursing school will help them to prepare and ease the nursing process.

How difficult is nursing school: 8 important things that you should try to bear in your mind

1. Many Subjects That are learned in Nursing School

There are many subjects to study when nursing. A lot, but very distinct. From anatomy to pharmacology and microbiology, you will learn a lot. Each one is important for performing nursing care for patients. For instance, in anatomy, you will study the systems of the human body, which will aid you in diagnosing and treating patients, which will be learned and understood more thoroughly.

2. Short and Intense Coursework

The tempo of the nursing school is quick. You have to keep pace with lectures, practicals, and assignments. Such a quick pace has its advantages for it ensures learning of a lot of things in a very short time but it can be daunting. For example, you may have to implement several subject areas, such as medical-surgical nursing and maternal and pediatric nursing, within just one semester.

3. There is a High Amount of Commitment Needed

Nursing education is time-consuming. This will involve sitting for several hours reading, going to classes, and undertaking clinical practice. For most nursing students, it may add to more than 40 hours’ worth of engagement in school-related activities every week. It is such a level of commitment that is needed to learn the content and practice the necessary skills required for effective and safe nursing practice.

4. Strategies in Coping with Academic Responsibilities

Managing your academic responsibilities with your family life can be stressful. It is not uncommon for a lot of students to have some difficulties in balancing clinical rotations, homework, and self-time. Time is of the essence and planning and organization become key. In a bid to remain focused and purpose-driven, students normally begin using planners or apps to arrange their work schedules.

5. Limited Private Time

Learn to accept the fact that there is minimal free time. Nursing students have to deal with a lot of commitments owing to busy schedules, social events, and personal time activities that have to a great extent been neglected. Say, for example, going for that weekend engagement simply because it seems more important to study for an examination or finish a project. This is hard sometimes, but having your objectives in mind will make it possible to endure.

6. Learn Science not Just Facts

In as much as nursing school, requires a person to learn a lot of things, the organizational structure encourages the acquisition of new information through comprehension of concepts instead of fact remembering. You also have to know how other systems of the body interact with one another and how certain drugs alter patients. It ensures that you appropriately use your knowledge in practice especially in times of emergencies when fast actions are required.

7. Hands-On Learning Helps You Grow

While self-directed or independent learning is important, clinical practice experiences are equally important. The self-directed models prepare you for clinical and surgical skills. It is an active participation, working with real people while supervised by professional nurses. These can be stressful, but they are also important to understand what actions should be taken in various medical emergencies. NCSBN had this to say, “As a result of these experiences, students can apply their theoretical learning to clinical settings.”

8. Steps Toward Passing the NCLEX Exam

Once you have completed nursing training, then the next step will be passing the NCLEX-RN exam as the requirement to be a licensed nurse in the country. Essentially, this is also an exam to assess how well one has trained to be a nurse. This exam is considered tough and around 80% in the US pass it. Every year, you can observe thousands of students gearing themselves with ample study plus practice exams for this test.

How Long is Nursing School?

Nursing school should take approximately two to four years. In the case of Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), 2 years is usually sufficient. About Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), can be completed in about four years. An increasing number of students, on the other hand, seek to earn advanced degrees thus extending the amount of time necessary to complete this program. For instance, it may take an additional two to four years to earn either a Master’s or a Doctoral nursing degree.

Is Nursing School Worth It?

For many people who seek this profession, the value is indeed present, so the answer is yes. It’s tough but very rewarding. Nurses can help a lot of people and the profession is highly sought after. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Registered Nursing gross annual median salary was about $77,600 in 2023, the last available. Moreover, prospects for nurses are also good, with demand growth expected at 6% between 2021 and 2031, which is above the average for all occupations.

FAQs

Which is the hardest aspect of nursing school?

Many students complain of the compressed course and clinical experiences which many may find to be the hardest part of their degree. They may find it difficult to combine study and practice.

Do you have the ability to work while studying nursing?

Yes, but in such cases, it can be difficult due to a challenging timetable. Many students work either part-time or on a flexible schedule to be able to deal with such responsibilities.

What should be done in advance of nursing school?

First of all, spend enough time on your studies and learn how to manage your time efficiently. It is also preferable to get a bit worked up in the field before you commence nursing school.

Am I allowed to feel overwhelmed, especially given the rigors of nursing school?

Certainly, it is frequently overwhelming. The material is diverse and dense, and the workload is rather substantial. Talking about it and getting connected with friends, faculty, or appropriate help can be beneficial.

What sort of assistance is offered to nursing students?

You will surely get help because several nursing schools provide aid in the form of past paper reviews, counseling assistance, and organized study sessions. You have every right to assist.

Last Words

There is no questioning how difficult it is to attend nursing school, however, the feeling is equally rewarding. Dedication, time, and effort are necessary. There is no doubt nursing school will prepare students with the necessary tools they require to work in such a challenging career field. If you have a desire to assist people and are open to overcoming academic hurdles, nursing school may just be the place for you.