Is Nursing School Hard? An Honest Assessment

Are you looking to have a career as a nurse? Confused about how hard nursing school really is?

This write-up will cover everything you need to know, so hop on for the ride!

Nursing school is difficult to enter and may even be difficult to complete. Nursing students sometimes must take numerous tough courses in one semester because programs need many credit hours. Consider late hours preparing for examinations and clinics where you will receive hands-on nursing experience.

If you want to be a nurse, the rigor is worth it!

Nursing is considered of the most fulfilling professions. Nurses’ work typically takes on a personal touch, with patients remembering their nurses warmly years after their treatment.

The world of nursing is not all fantasy, so let’s look into whether it is worth trying:

The Demands of Nursing School

Nursing school can be very demanding, from the advanced-level courses to the time commitment which goes into the whole learning process. The complexity of the curriculum and the amount of labor required are two aspects that contribute to how difficult nursing school is in comparison to other degrees. You should expect a busy schedule during your schooling, which will demand you to prioritize studying, memorization, and focusing on the enormous amount of knowledge you’ll be acquiring.

Almost everyone finds nursing school exams difficult. They will assess your knowledge of the course material and your ability to apply that knowledge in a patient-centered setting. After graduation, you’ll only have one big exam to take: the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX). Passing the NLEX is fairly difficult; the pass rate on the second attempt for domestically educated students taking the test was 45.56%. These scores show that it is a challenging test.

Compared to business school, nursing schools involve clinical hours where hands-on experience plays a major role. This takes up considerable hours of a student’s day and can be physically draining. 

Overall, you have to spend a lot of time and do a lot of work, which makes the field very demanding. 

The Challenges of Nursing School

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Most student nurses feel overwhelmed during the practical part of nursing school, especially when they must show important skills to supervisors and other students. Moreover, nursing school is expensive: a bachelor’s degree in nursing can cost anywhere from $8,000 to more than $30,000. In addition to tuition, students are also required to purchase textbooks and materials and pay lab fees and other incidental expenses.

Nursing careers can be physically demanding and necessitate a wide range of functional abilities. From standing for long hours to climbing several stairs continuously, the job can be physically draining when you are doing your clinical hours. Many nursing students regard clinical as the most demanding aspect of their education. You’ll be working with live patients in clinics, using the skills you’ve learned in the classroom and laboratory.

While in nursing laboratories, you will be in a controlled environment, but you will most likely feel overwhelmed, especially at first. Laboratories will put you through realistic patient care simulations, requiring you to take blood, give injections, perform catheterization, and complete full-body exams on mannequins built to behave and look like real-life patients.

Beyond the academic pressure, mental and emotional strain comes with dealing with numerous patients. Sometimes you will be exposed to gut-wrenching experiences that may become emotionally taxing for you. 

Ways to Cope With the Demands of Nursing School

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We acknowledge that nursing school can be very demanding, but there are ways to make it easier. Here are some tips we encourage you to follow: 

The academic stress of nursing school can get to a lot of people. Here are some ways you can reduce it: 

Create a study group with your classmates.

Nobody understands nursing school stress like your classmates. Form a peer study group with other students who are taking the same classes as you. You can express your thoughts and ideas regarding the facts you learn in class and encourage one another when things get tough.

Make use of your professors and academic advisors.

Even the most difficult nursing professors have one thing in mind: to see you succeed. Please take advantage of every opportunity to learn from them and seek them out for assistance if you feel overwhelmed or anxious. When you are stressed about school, your academic advisor is a terrific resource to turn to. Sometimes you just need to chat with someone who cares about your success.

Eat well

A healthy diet can help to increase your immune system and improve your overall health. During long study sessions, choose healthy snacks like carrots and hummus or string cheese, and eat various proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy throughout the day.

Ask for help 

Nobody said you had to go to nursing school on your own. Along with social support from friends and family, you can get help with your schoolwork right in the middle of nursing school. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone involved in your nursing education doesn’t want you to fail.

Improve your study skills

Good study habits are critical for classroom, lab, and clinical success. Avoid cramming and rushing through tasks. Instead, make a regular study routine in which you do at least a little bit every day to keep on track and avoid being overwhelmed.

Self-care and Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Overall, you should focus on self-care. Self-care makes nurses less stressed, gives them more compassion and empathy, and improves the quality of their care. The American Nurses Association also recommends it in its Code of Ethics. Make sure to take time out for yourself to do what you love, exercise regularly, eat well, and rest properly. Just because you are in nursing school does not mean that you do not have a social life. Always ensure that you maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Dealing with Stress

Stress levels can be high when you are studying at a nursing school. For recovery, it’s important to notice warning signs and bad habits and act on them as soon as possible. If symptoms are left untreated, they might become crippling. In extreme situations, nurses could get acute stress disorder, secondary traumatic stress, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

To avoid the situation getting out of hand, here are some resources you can look into to manage your stress:

How to cope with stress: The CDC offers advice on how to deal with stress during a pandemic.

Healthcare Workers and First Responders: Managing Stress and Building Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic explains the signs of stress and gives tips on how to build resilience.

Ways to reduce stigma: This CDC publication talks about different groups, like healthcare providers, who may face stigma during an outbreak of an infectious disease.

Resources to Support the Health and Well-Being of Clinicians During the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Academy of Medicine has a list of resources, including the World Health Organization, US government agencies, universities, and many healthcare groups.

Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: The SAMHSA tip sheet talks about how feeling socially distant, quarantined, or alone can make you feel.

Telehealth is being used to increase access to essential health services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC said telehealth was an important service for the general public and healthcare workers.

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Conclusion

Nurses are susceptible to acute stress. After all, they often work long, unpredictable hours in high-stress environments while caring for multiple patients, and sometimes the stakes are life or death. Stress can hurt a nurse’s health and well-being, drain their energy, and make it hard for them to think critically. While nurse stress is unavoidable, some steps can be taken to mitigate it.

It is critical to recognize that school is temporary and remind yourself that you can do it! When you’re feeling overwhelmed, keep your eyes on your ultimate educational goals. Most importantly, don’t give up. Before you know it, your nursing credentials will be attached to your name.

You can easily get through the more difficult times by staying committed with the right mindset and resources. Several success stories are out there for you, and you can be the next one!