How Hard Is Nursing School?

by Robyn Tellefsen

Nursing school isn't easy, nor should it be. There's a lot to learn to become a nurse, and you don't want to enter such a demanding career without adequate preparation. Just how difficult you find nursing school, of course, depends on you.

Choosing a Nursing Program
A major factor in the difficulty of nursing school is which nursing program you choose. To become a nurse, you can earn a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in nursing. It may seem that the longer the program, the more difficult it is, but one-year nursing programs can be especially challenging because a lot of information is crammed into a short amount of time.

Surviving the First Year of Nursing School
The first year of nursing school is often designed to be the hardest so that only the strongest, most motivated students make the cut. Nursing schools must produce graduates who can pass the licensing exam, so instructors are responsible for separating the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

Mastering Math in Nursing School
If math is not your strong suit, you might have a hard time with the numbers you need to master before you can become a nurse. You may not have to do complicated calculations in your job, but you will be administering medicine, so you should know at least enough math to give appropriate dosages.

Utilizing Technology in Nursing School
Medical records are going digital, which means you must be completely comfortable with entering and retrieving data from the computer rather than just reading a bedside chart. Remember that practice makes perfect: The more time you spend familiarizing yourself with electronic records now, the better off you'll be once you become a nurse.

Maximizing Your Time in Nursing School
Instead of becoming overwhelmed with the volume of material to be learned in nursing school, try to work smarter, not harder. Prioritize your schoolwork, determining which tasks are the most important, and budget your time accordingly.

Taking Nursing School Tests
As a rule, nursing exams are not easy. Written tests prepare you for the state board exam, which you'll need to pass in order to get your nursing license. And skills tests are graded strictly because if you can't get it right in nursing school, you'll never get it right on the job. Whether you're being tested on making a bed, starting an intravenous line, or inserting a urinary catheter, you'll need plenty of practice during nursing lab hours to perform your duties like a pro.

Nursing school, like anything else, is what you make it; no one can tell you what your personal experience will be like. But with a little sacrifice and lot of hard work, you can succeed in nursing school - no matter how hard it may be.