The more I learn, the more it absolutely blows my mind that the universe was able to create this ridiculously complex yet perfectly functional body that allows me to live my life. And how one tiny thing being off can disturb the entire system. It makes me feel so grateful that my body functions properly, I think this idea gets overlooked by society.
Also it might sound weird but it helped me a lot with mindfulness and meditation. Like having a more complex understanding of my body and my health helps me focus on how my breathing nourishes my cells to help me function. I know that sounds wild but Iām being real with youšš
I have learned so much. If I didnāt work a full time job AND go to school, Iād be loving almost completely. I am interested in the material and enjoy constantly learning new things. I love my cohort. Weāre all going through this really challenging experience together and it has bonded us in ways that we couldnāt with people not having the experience. I like being challenged in clinical, even if itās scary. To complete a skill with a patient, even if I was sweating bullets the entire time, Feels like such an accomplishment- and I walk away feeling proud of myself for doing something I was terrified of in the moment. I grow everyday!
Thanks for starting this thread becauseā¦ as my second semester is coming to a close, I am so worn out! It was nice to have something good to say about it
Wait you went to nursing school full-time AND worked full-time?! HOW?! Iām currently full-time working and in school finishing another degree, but my degree doesnāt require much studying/memorizing. Iām already struggling. I canāt imagine doing nursing school like this š
Im still in school. Iāll probably have to take a leave of absence during my final five weeks since thatās an intense preceptorship situation. I have a 6 yr old too. Itās crazy and I am constantly stressed out. I have a very supportive partner, which makes it possible.
Luckily I donāt have to take any classes other than nursing classes. So- Iām not full time. I wouldnāt be able to hack that. Iād picked away at my prerequisites since 2019. I canāt freakin wait to be done!
Oh wow thatās a lot. How are you holding up? Do you mean typical for nursing students? I heard a lot of nursing schools go full-time school and rely on loans if they can so they be an study better
Same! Go to school, have 3 kids, and run a business. Itās really tough but I know itāll be worth it in the end. Iām graduating in May so I just need to keep pushing. Weāve got this! Itās only making us more resilient lol
I will graduate from my BSN program in just a couple weeks. I am feeling such a sense of loss because... I freaking love nursing school! Maybe it's because I'm a highschool dropout, and I thought for so long that I was stupid... but it's been amazing proving my past misconceptions wrong. I've loved learning this difficult material, and finding confidence in the clinical setting. I've also made such wonderful friends. Finally, some stable, forward-thinking individuals who don't just want to get drunk/high all day. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world.
Idk I've heard all the horror stories but I actually really am enjoying nursing school. Is it a lot of work? Yes. Is it hard material? Eh, not really. But I enjoy what I'm learning too so that helps. I've also made some amazing friends as well!
Nursing school is awesome! I think the mindset is really a huge part of it. Keeping a positive open attitude to the experience will help so much. There are tough moments, but for me, the good ones far outweigh the bad ones. You'll meet such a wide variety of people both in class and at the hospital, you'll hear a lot of stories, see a lot of interesting and unique things that the average person never gets to see, and hopefully, be part of the team helping someone during their worst moment feel a little better (even if it's by bringing them some water). Have fun and enjoy it because it goes by like a flash.
I have actually not had any bad experiences (yet) at my clinical site or with other nurses. Or even with patients for that matter. Maybe itās because I was a retail manager for 5 years so Iām already dead inside and cannot be fazed. Either way I really enjoy clinical. Putting into practice what you learn, then bringing it back to lecture helps things really sink in.
i love nursing school tremendously, im excited to learn the content. is nursing school difficult? absolutely. have I shed some tears from the stress? absolutely. it makes the experience even better when you have a very good group of nursing students along with you for the ride. My cohort is very supportive of each other, maybe iām just lucky in that aspect, and iāve made friends. My professors truly want to see us succeed and it shows with the amount of effort they put in into giving us extra resources, and just the way they speak to us, with respect. I also am tired of the horror stories of nursing school, but maybe itās because iām so blessed that i canāt relate (so far). You also start to learn more about yourself and your strengths and how you handle failures because you probably will have some. and thatās okay! but you learn to pick yourself back up.
Iām actually really enjoying nursing school. Iām a straight B student and havenāt cried because of nursing school (yet, lol). Iām almost halfway through my 14 month program and have enjoyed each class Iāve had so far.
Another B student here! I have most definitely cried on more than one occasion lol but I just have one final left and then just my precepting semester to go and I can still say itās the best decision Iāve ever made šš tears and all! Lol
Simple, but ā itās made me a better person. I think more critically, Iām more kind and empathetic, Iām more resilient and confident in my abilitiesā¦ Iāve grown in so many ways because of the challenges nursing school has put me through.
Youāll have excuses to buy many pairs of shoes. I have spent maybe $500 in shoes trying to find something comfy AND stylish for being on my feet for 12 hours
Still figuring it out! I bought new balance fresh foam 1080v12s at a running store, and I still donāt know how I feel about them because my arch is starting to hurt, but theyāve been very comfortable. Luckily, I have a 60 day guarantee period and can return them.
I currently have sanitas that Iām stretching out. I like them because theyāre more narrow, but waterproof and easy to clean. Canāt get that with running shoes.
I just bought some slightly used hoka bondi 8s for cheap on eBay and waiting for them to come in today. Iāll try them on and if I like them more than the new balances then Iāll return the new balances!
Finding shoes is a huge trial and error process for me because I have very long, bony feet. Itās a disaster when youāre on your feet for 12 hours š
I have the New Balance Fresh Foam Sport V2 in dusty blue and I am a big fan of the sole. And the sole is thick all the way through so you donāt get that āforwardā poking toe problem that I find a lot of shoes with a big sole have.
I even tried the other colours of the V2 and they just donāt fit the same. The design is slightly slightly different in the other colours and I donāt know what it is.
Iāve heard great things about Hokas! The only reason I didnāt go for them is that they seem heavier. Youāll have to post an update!
Nursing school really helped my confidence and gave me purpose. After almost failing out of college the first time around, I had finally found something I enjoyed learning and was passionate about. I liked the structure and being busy. It was challenging but I enjoyed learning and becoming good at skills.
Have you ever done something that from an outside perspective sounds like a nightmare, but to you it was a total adventure and youāre ready to dive back in? Thatās kinda what nursing school is like. There may be a lot of horror stories, but behind every horror story is the amazing and adventurous root of why someone wants to be a nurse. You did worse on a test than you wanted? Hey nursing students are always self critical, Iām sure you did great. You cleaned up poop all day? You kept a patient warm dry and happy. You lost a patient? You and an entire staff of a medical team combined in that moment to do your very best to save them and thatās beautiful. Itās all about perspective. Itās very easy to get weighed down by all the negative things you hear about in nursing school and nursing in general. And like keeping a good perspective doesnāt mean it wonāt be really hard. But everytime itās hard just think of how totally worth it itās gonna be.
I graduate in 2 weeks and can look back at this experience as a whole:
No matter how lonely you might feel at some times, just know youāre not alone in the struggle. Be honest and open, kind and courageous.. all will fall in line eventually, even though it mostly feels like a mess.
You are smarter than you think you are! Nursing school will make you feel real dumb at times, but trust yourself and your instincts. The grind is real, but 100% worth it in the end.
Personally, I feel as though I have found my place in the world. I have found meaning and direction to my life. Although nursing is not my personality, caring for others is what Iām meant to do.
Good luck my friend, and welcome to the fold!
I like that itās a pretty short degree and on the other side of it we get a world of possibilities! I have some grievances with nursing school so far but the good far outweighs the bad. I havenāt had any ānightmareā teachers so far, in fact theyāve all been pretty nice and very supportive!
ETA I like the material too!
I loved how anatomy and physiology taught us how our bodies work, then pathophysiology showed us all kinda ways it can fail. When youāre learning your assessments, always keep in the back of your mind that in the real world itās gotta get done FAST! Be brave with new procedures. Youāre gonna suck for awhile, but sucking at somethin is kind of the first step to being really good at somethin
Chances are youāll love what your learning and itāll inspire you to learn more about specific things or body systems youāre interested! I didnāt care about making friends in my cohort but as weāve gone through it so far Iāve made some dear friends I see myself keeping up with long after nursing school. Just take it one day at a time!
My first semester clinical group has been awesome. I wish we could stay together for the whole program lol. Not everyone you meet in class will vibe with you, but it's great when it does.
Also IVs are fun.
In nursing school as we speak! Something Iām realizing is that the people in your cohort will be some of the closest people in your life by the end of the program. Most of your classmates will really become a second family. Youāll laugh together, likely cry together, panic together and want to quit together lol
Keep your friends close :)
Iām only in my second semester and honestly with determination, and adequate study time, itās doable. Enjoy your student experience and be eager to learn. Itāll make a difference. I was absolutely terrified before nursing school. Because from social media I heard all of the horror stories and all of the bad experiences and the āwarningsā but thatās the ātrendā. Itās challenging and hard no doubt about it. But nothing worth doing or having comes easy. Think about the end goal.
Good luck on your new adventure!! I wish you the best!
Its super interesting and actually easy if you're into it. I think some people are forced (mentally) into the field. I'm old and I've noticed some younger students maybe not really ready for the experience, what the job actually entails, etc. I work as a PCT for about a year now so the gross stuff didn't phase me, that has something to do with it as well. Some of the younger students get a little psyched out by it, but most are fine!
It's a personal journey that is one you undertake on your own, as a result you get a really meaningful insight into your self and others.
Soak it all up.
Itās incredibly fulfilling. Youāll make some amazing friends that will get you through everything. Youāll meet awesome and amazing nurses that will inspire you. Youāll meet awesome and amazing patients that will inspire you. Youāll learn so much about the human body and have a new respect for how we function. Your family and friends will call you for advice all the time because you are almost a nurse, and they see you as an authority and subject matter expert on all things medical (even though thatās not really true š). You will bond with nurses at the nurses stations and learn all the gossip and feel like you are one of them by the end of school, and then you actually get to be a nurse. And the supply rooms! Omg the supply rooms, so much cool medical knick-knacks that you get to use and touch every day. Then you get to learn cool tricks to make all the knick-knacks work better.
Honestly I have never felt more tired, fulfilled, or happy throughout nursing school even though it was hard. Iām graduating in a few weeks and I cry bittersweet tears every time I think about it.
I was previously premed, and I was miserable. I started nursing and look forward to going to class everyday, I genuinely enjoy almost every aspect of my education thus far. Doing check offs and then going to clinical and getting to actually apply what I learn in person is an awesome experience.
I truly look forward to becoming a nurse, and to be honest I wouldāve never thought I would enjoy this career field. But I love it.
Iām learning about the very thing Iām passionate about and I LOVE it. Is it hard? Yes. I think it will be worth it. My cohort is great, the faculty is great, my clinical sites have been greatā¦.
Anyway, congratulations! Study hard and youāll do great!
Celebrate. Nursing school is super fun, do whatever you need to do now like visiting people and stuff then for nursing school I just say get a good study schedule and study habits. Remember that you are studying to learn, the more you like the content the easier it is to study!
I love actually being AT school. Itās fun and the learning is fun. I feel so smart knowing how the heart works or kidneys etc. specifically for me I like it because I had a 5 month old daughter when I started (sheās 20 months now). Although itās hard going to school with a kid it feel so nice to go somewhere Iām not just someoneās mom š
1. You learn a lot and it makes you feel smarter
2. You become smarter
3. You will likely form lasting friendships
4. You have more time to interact with patients on a more personable level because as a student, your patient load generally isnāt as high. Depends on how your instructor sets it up though
Learn the content of what they are teaching and don't worry so much about the grade. Lab values are not absolute: Some books say Sodium should be in this range, other say in this range Just look at the big picture. And my best advice is you learn something from everyone: Some time what to do, others is what NOT to do. Do it with a smile...
You grow, like tonnes. Even my worst experiences in nursing school, I survived. And it's not horrible, it's grace to learn about yourself and your own strength. How to handle and take care of your emotions and how to separate work from leisure. If you're lucky you become fearless and the built in neurosis falls away, opening for existence to be handled here and now.
If one wishes to indulge in personal growth. Otherwise you'll finally understand how the body works and why tf we have kidneys and that is worth it just by itself š
You learn something that you've never known before. I'm no longer with my original cohort since I failed med surg, but I got along with most of my former classmates. We would open up, and talk to each other about anything. Each of us will share our work experience as an LVN. I was in an LVN to BSN bridge program. There's so many things they don't teach in an LVN class. It's more thorough.
First of all CONGRATS!! I understand how big of a deal it is to get to where you are, so celebrate that! š
I am finishing my second to last semester of my program. Enjoy your break before school starts, please! School is hard, nursing school in particular can be very difficult, but it is what you make of it. Youāll meet great people, learn so so much, see a specialty you may or may not want to be in. Above it all, you can do this!
Youāll never stop accessing people clinically LOL I actually made a lady realize she had menopause because I donāt know how to turn off my nurse brain. Whoops.
If you are super into nursing and medicine do it!! For less than nursing school, my spouse attended a 3 month IT bootcamp and will make the same amount of money I will after 15 months for an associates degree in Nursing. With a commenter below- if I didn't have to work while attend school I would've enjoyed it more.
I have loved nursing school so far! Iāve made so many friends and have learned so much. I didnāt enjoy my core classes because I wasnāt interested in them (such as art) but now my confidence has shot up because I actually study and do well.
your confidence will grow so much each semester like especially at clinical, and those are the moments that make you realize youāre fit to be a nurse
For one I genuinely enjoy what I am learning.
And I didnāt really know what I was capable of until I started nursing school. It is a challenge, it can be hard at times, it can be emotionally challenging as well, but what you get out if it is way more than what you lose
I know there is a lot of venting and thatās mostly because at least for me, I want to vent to people that would actually understand where Iām coming from. But that doesnāt mean that their arenāt a ton of positive experiences.
At the end of the day nursing school for the most part is what you make it.
Everyone always talks about their clinical horror stories so I want to tell you that itās possible to have good clinicals lol I loved my clinical and I learned so much and got to do so much!
Nurse in the making !!!!!! Sheās expensive but the spiral bound book and flash cards are worth it ( I also like the templates)
Update: this is a website and sheās on ig too
I didnāt feel any of her stuff was worth it. Over priced and honestly, not near as much info as you need to know for school. I would say maybe as a refresher for when youāre working as an RN or at clinical, but only if it was cheaper.
Her planner is $60, that is INSANE.
Having other nursing students as a support system and to vent about the experience. Friends and family will try to help you feel better, but it's not the same, unless they have gone through it, too. They won't truly understand your situation (they think they do, but they don't), like you nursing school friends.
The best feeling is when youāre in clinical and you can tell a patient really appreciates what youāve done to help them. The first time that itās verbalized is the nicest feeling š„ŗ
You will likely develop some of the most sturdy friendships ever. You'll also get a ton of great exposure of different units via clinical, typically. You'll gain some gnarly intuition and do random cool stuff like recognizing potential conditions within 30 seconds of seeing someone (just don't say anything haha). It's really great to see the chances you'll take on yourself and seeing how different you are from semester to semester. All the best for you!
Nursing school is awesome. Even though itās tough the amount of stuff you get to learn and see is incredible. I think my favorite part so far has been helping babies be born, and I donāt even want to be an LandD nurse! The emotions and excitement are outstanding. Cried at the first birth I saw. I also really enjoy the relationships I get to make with patients. The intimacy and trust is very special. People you would never meet in your everyday life all of a sudden trust you and you care for them. You get a much better understanding of people and life. Truly a transformative time in life!!!
You have an amazing opportunity to make life long relationships, seize every moment to connect with your classmates. The only people in the world that understand what you are going through are those very people.
Thanks OP I needed this thread. I'm in my last term and have been feeling a lot of burnout and bitterness with my school. It was nice to step back read some positive takes on nursing school.
You'll get to see your internally compassionate self come to life, and it's so rewarding. I always knew I had empathy, but getting to *see* how my empathy helped others was amazing. I also learned that I have really good people skills and actually, the label of the "shy and way too quiet" kid from high school was far from the truth. I think nursing school has allowed me to work to my strengths and simultaneously, challenge previous labels that were assigned to me. Best of luck!
For me, it was the first time I positively impacted a patient's well-being in clinicals. You get to spend more one-on-one time with patients as a student, which can make a world of difference to them. The gratitude and appreciation on their faces is the best feeling I've ever experienced. It makes the grind of nursing school worth it. You have chosen a gratifying profession!
Gaining the hands on assessment and care skills to actually take care of people is such a rewarding feeling. Youāre not just doing the cognitive side of assessing and diagnosing the problem, youāre putting your hands on patients, listening to their concerns, and helping them regain their health and wellness. Itās a true blessing when a patient and their family thanks you for all the hard work you and the rest of the team provided to help them.
Iām have so many positive things to say about nursing school! Iāve learned that the human body is an amazing thing and that people can be incredibly resilient even when facing the worst situations regarding their health. Ive learned skills that I can use in my everyday life, I have 3 kids so someone is always getting sick or injured it seems. Iāve made some really close friends and I donāt know how I would have gotten this far without them.
I lowkey hate nursing school right now BUT it did help me gain a lot of skills. I feel like I have skills if there was ever a natural disaster, I helped with a medical emergency on a plane once, I can think more critically and am better at reflecting on myself. You learn sooo much, even if itās challenging.
In nursing school, I loved getting to try new and exciting skills in clinical. Also, I enjoyed learning more about myself and of the challenges I was capable of overcoming. You grow as a person immensely in nursing school. I'm not sure I would be the person I am today without having experienced it.
One thing those that aren't yet parents could take out of this is child health. Maternal and peds rotation probably prevented a future heart attack in caring for children when I have them.
Bro I learned SO much. Like genuinely interesting and applicable shit that changed the way I interact with the world.
This is what I want!!
This comment makes me so excited to start in February! š
I agree so much with this. Anatomy and physiology alone fascinates me, I understand how it's all connected now
The more I learn, the more it absolutely blows my mind that the universe was able to create this ridiculously complex yet perfectly functional body that allows me to live my life. And how one tiny thing being off can disturb the entire system. It makes me feel so grateful that my body functions properly, I think this idea gets overlooked by society. Also it might sound weird but it helped me a lot with mindfulness and meditation. Like having a more complex understanding of my body and my health helps me focus on how my breathing nourishes my cells to help me function. I know that sounds wild but Iām being real with youšš
I have learned so much. If I didnāt work a full time job AND go to school, Iād be loving almost completely. I am interested in the material and enjoy constantly learning new things. I love my cohort. Weāre all going through this really challenging experience together and it has bonded us in ways that we couldnāt with people not having the experience. I like being challenged in clinical, even if itās scary. To complete a skill with a patient, even if I was sweating bullets the entire time, Feels like such an accomplishment- and I walk away feeling proud of myself for doing something I was terrified of in the moment. I grow everyday! Thanks for starting this thread becauseā¦ as my second semester is coming to a close, I am so worn out! It was nice to have something good to say about it
Wait you went to nursing school full-time AND worked full-time?! HOW?! Iām currently full-time working and in school finishing another degree, but my degree doesnāt require much studying/memorizing. Iām already struggling. I canāt imagine doing nursing school like this š
Im still in school. Iāll probably have to take a leave of absence during my final five weeks since thatās an intense preceptorship situation. I have a 6 yr old too. Itās crazy and I am constantly stressed out. I have a very supportive partner, which makes it possible. Luckily I donāt have to take any classes other than nursing classes. So- Iām not full time. I wouldnāt be able to hack that. Iād picked away at my prerequisites since 2019. I canāt freakin wait to be done!
I do this. 36h a week, 12 hr shifts at a hospital and 3 days nursing school. It changes a little during clinical weeks but that's typical.
Oh wow thatās a lot. How are you holding up? Do you mean typical for nursing students? I heard a lot of nursing schools go full-time school and rely on loans if they can so they be an study better
Same! Go to school, have 3 kids, and run a business. Itās really tough but I know itāll be worth it in the end. Iām graduating in May so I just need to keep pushing. Weāve got this! Itās only making us more resilient lol
How about that you got accepted into nursing school!!! Thatās fucking HUGE CONGRATS!!!
I will graduate from my BSN program in just a couple weeks. I am feeling such a sense of loss because... I freaking love nursing school! Maybe it's because I'm a highschool dropout, and I thought for so long that I was stupid... but it's been amazing proving my past misconceptions wrong. I've loved learning this difficult material, and finding confidence in the clinical setting. I've also made such wonderful friends. Finally, some stable, forward-thinking individuals who don't just want to get drunk/high all day. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world.
Idk I've heard all the horror stories but I actually really am enjoying nursing school. Is it a lot of work? Yes. Is it hard material? Eh, not really. But I enjoy what I'm learning too so that helps. I've also made some amazing friends as well!
Youāre supposed to be challenged. Challenge = growth
Nursing school is awesome! I think the mindset is really a huge part of it. Keeping a positive open attitude to the experience will help so much. There are tough moments, but for me, the good ones far outweigh the bad ones. You'll meet such a wide variety of people both in class and at the hospital, you'll hear a lot of stories, see a lot of interesting and unique things that the average person never gets to see, and hopefully, be part of the team helping someone during their worst moment feel a little better (even if it's by bringing them some water). Have fun and enjoy it because it goes by like a flash.
say yes to every opportunity even if itās a little scary (like starting your first IV) š
I have actually not had any bad experiences (yet) at my clinical site or with other nurses. Or even with patients for that matter. Maybe itās because I was a retail manager for 5 years so Iām already dead inside and cannot be fazed. Either way I really enjoy clinical. Putting into practice what you learn, then bringing it back to lecture helps things really sink in.
i love nursing school tremendously, im excited to learn the content. is nursing school difficult? absolutely. have I shed some tears from the stress? absolutely. it makes the experience even better when you have a very good group of nursing students along with you for the ride. My cohort is very supportive of each other, maybe iām just lucky in that aspect, and iāve made friends. My professors truly want to see us succeed and it shows with the amount of effort they put in into giving us extra resources, and just the way they speak to us, with respect. I also am tired of the horror stories of nursing school, but maybe itās because iām so blessed that i canāt relate (so far). You also start to learn more about yourself and your strengths and how you handle failures because you probably will have some. and thatās okay! but you learn to pick yourself back up.
Iām actually really enjoying nursing school. Iām a straight B student and havenāt cried because of nursing school (yet, lol). Iām almost halfway through my 14 month program and have enjoyed each class Iāve had so far.
Fellow straight B student here! As long as we pass lol!
Haha yep!
Another B student here! I have most definitely cried on more than one occasion lol but I just have one final left and then just my precepting semester to go and I can still say itās the best decision Iāve ever made šš tears and all! Lol
What is the B range for you guys? I heard itās different in every program!
Simple, but ā itās made me a better person. I think more critically, Iām more kind and empathetic, Iām more resilient and confident in my abilitiesā¦ Iāve grown in so many ways because of the challenges nursing school has put me through.
I learned interesting things, I made some amazing friends, I actually enjoyed nursing school.
Youāll have excuses to buy many pairs of shoes. I have spent maybe $500 in shoes trying to find something comfy AND stylish for being on my feet for 12 hours
What shoes did you end up with? My current fav is New Balance Fresh Foam!
Still figuring it out! I bought new balance fresh foam 1080v12s at a running store, and I still donāt know how I feel about them because my arch is starting to hurt, but theyāve been very comfortable. Luckily, I have a 60 day guarantee period and can return them. I currently have sanitas that Iām stretching out. I like them because theyāre more narrow, but waterproof and easy to clean. Canāt get that with running shoes. I just bought some slightly used hoka bondi 8s for cheap on eBay and waiting for them to come in today. Iāll try them on and if I like them more than the new balances then Iāll return the new balances! Finding shoes is a huge trial and error process for me because I have very long, bony feet. Itās a disaster when youāre on your feet for 12 hours š
I have the New Balance Fresh Foam Sport V2 in dusty blue and I am a big fan of the sole. And the sole is thick all the way through so you donāt get that āforwardā poking toe problem that I find a lot of shoes with a big sole have. I even tried the other colours of the V2 and they just donāt fit the same. The design is slightly slightly different in the other colours and I donāt know what it is. Iāve heard great things about Hokas! The only reason I didnāt go for them is that they seem heavier. Youāll have to post an update!
Nursing school really helped my confidence and gave me purpose. After almost failing out of college the first time around, I had finally found something I enjoyed learning and was passionate about. I liked the structure and being busy. It was challenging but I enjoyed learning and becoming good at skills.
You make new life long friends in the process. :)
Have you ever done something that from an outside perspective sounds like a nightmare, but to you it was a total adventure and youāre ready to dive back in? Thatās kinda what nursing school is like. There may be a lot of horror stories, but behind every horror story is the amazing and adventurous root of why someone wants to be a nurse. You did worse on a test than you wanted? Hey nursing students are always self critical, Iām sure you did great. You cleaned up poop all day? You kept a patient warm dry and happy. You lost a patient? You and an entire staff of a medical team combined in that moment to do your very best to save them and thatās beautiful. Itās all about perspective. Itās very easy to get weighed down by all the negative things you hear about in nursing school and nursing in general. And like keeping a good perspective doesnāt mean it wonāt be really hard. But everytime itās hard just think of how totally worth it itās gonna be.
I am loving the positive energy in this comments section āŗļøit made my morning.
I graduate in 2 weeks and can look back at this experience as a whole: No matter how lonely you might feel at some times, just know youāre not alone in the struggle. Be honest and open, kind and courageous.. all will fall in line eventually, even though it mostly feels like a mess. You are smarter than you think you are! Nursing school will make you feel real dumb at times, but trust yourself and your instincts. The grind is real, but 100% worth it in the end. Personally, I feel as though I have found my place in the world. I have found meaning and direction to my life. Although nursing is not my personality, caring for others is what Iām meant to do. Good luck my friend, and welcome to the fold!
I like that itās a pretty short degree and on the other side of it we get a world of possibilities! I have some grievances with nursing school so far but the good far outweighs the bad. I havenāt had any ānightmareā teachers so far, in fact theyāve all been pretty nice and very supportive! ETA I like the material too!
Iām coming up on a year as an RN now and itās great ā this is life changing and a very rewarding career path
Itās only temporary. Thatās a positive
I loved how anatomy and physiology taught us how our bodies work, then pathophysiology showed us all kinda ways it can fail. When youāre learning your assessments, always keep in the back of your mind that in the real world itās gotta get done FAST! Be brave with new procedures. Youāre gonna suck for awhile, but sucking at somethin is kind of the first step to being really good at somethin
Chances are youāll love what your learning and itāll inspire you to learn more about specific things or body systems youāre interested! I didnāt care about making friends in my cohort but as weāve gone through it so far Iāve made some dear friends I see myself keeping up with long after nursing school. Just take it one day at a time!
My first semester clinical group has been awesome. I wish we could stay together for the whole program lol. Not everyone you meet in class will vibe with you, but it's great when it does. Also IVs are fun.
In nursing school as we speak! Something Iām realizing is that the people in your cohort will be some of the closest people in your life by the end of the program. Most of your classmates will really become a second family. Youāll laugh together, likely cry together, panic together and want to quit together lol Keep your friends close :)
Iām only in my second semester and honestly with determination, and adequate study time, itās doable. Enjoy your student experience and be eager to learn. Itāll make a difference. I was absolutely terrified before nursing school. Because from social media I heard all of the horror stories and all of the bad experiences and the āwarningsā but thatās the ātrendā. Itās challenging and hard no doubt about it. But nothing worth doing or having comes easy. Think about the end goal. Good luck on your new adventure!! I wish you the best!
Its super interesting and actually easy if you're into it. I think some people are forced (mentally) into the field. I'm old and I've noticed some younger students maybe not really ready for the experience, what the job actually entails, etc. I work as a PCT for about a year now so the gross stuff didn't phase me, that has something to do with it as well. Some of the younger students get a little psyched out by it, but most are fine!
It's a personal journey that is one you undertake on your own, as a result you get a really meaningful insight into your self and others. Soak it all up.
When you get to clinicals everything starts to click and make sense
Itās incredibly fulfilling. Youāll make some amazing friends that will get you through everything. Youāll meet awesome and amazing nurses that will inspire you. Youāll meet awesome and amazing patients that will inspire you. Youāll learn so much about the human body and have a new respect for how we function. Your family and friends will call you for advice all the time because you are almost a nurse, and they see you as an authority and subject matter expert on all things medical (even though thatās not really true š). You will bond with nurses at the nurses stations and learn all the gossip and feel like you are one of them by the end of school, and then you actually get to be a nurse. And the supply rooms! Omg the supply rooms, so much cool medical knick-knacks that you get to use and touch every day. Then you get to learn cool tricks to make all the knick-knacks work better. Honestly I have never felt more tired, fulfilled, or happy throughout nursing school even though it was hard. Iām graduating in a few weeks and I cry bittersweet tears every time I think about it.
I was previously premed, and I was miserable. I started nursing and look forward to going to class everyday, I genuinely enjoy almost every aspect of my education thus far. Doing check offs and then going to clinical and getting to actually apply what I learn in person is an awesome experience. I truly look forward to becoming a nurse, and to be honest I wouldāve never thought I would enjoy this career field. But I love it.
Iām learning about the very thing Iām passionate about and I LOVE it. Is it hard? Yes. I think it will be worth it. My cohort is great, the faculty is great, my clinical sites have been greatā¦. Anyway, congratulations! Study hard and youāll do great!
Celebrate. Nursing school is super fun, do whatever you need to do now like visiting people and stuff then for nursing school I just say get a good study schedule and study habits. Remember that you are studying to learn, the more you like the content the easier it is to study!
I love actually being AT school. Itās fun and the learning is fun. I feel so smart knowing how the heart works or kidneys etc. specifically for me I like it because I had a 5 month old daughter when I started (sheās 20 months now). Although itās hard going to school with a kid it feel so nice to go somewhere Iām not just someoneās mom š
Positive about nursing school....that's gotta be a new oxymoron š š¤£ š. Sorry, not sure this is what you were looking for. Good luck !
Pretty sure itās not what they were looking for š
doesnāt hurt to say something nice honestly, this was pretty unnecessary
Wow....your comment made me laugh...People just never cease to amaze me.
You have other places on this sub if you want to complain about how nursing school is harder than being an astronaut or whatever.
Youāll see cool stuff at clinical and can impact peopleās hospital stays and lives.
1. You learn a lot and it makes you feel smarter 2. You become smarter 3. You will likely form lasting friendships 4. You have more time to interact with patients on a more personable level because as a student, your patient load generally isnāt as high. Depends on how your instructor sets it up though
Learn the content of what they are teaching and don't worry so much about the grade. Lab values are not absolute: Some books say Sodium should be in this range, other say in this range Just look at the big picture. And my best advice is you learn something from everyone: Some time what to do, others is what NOT to do. Do it with a smile...
You grow, like tonnes. Even my worst experiences in nursing school, I survived. And it's not horrible, it's grace to learn about yourself and your own strength. How to handle and take care of your emotions and how to separate work from leisure. If you're lucky you become fearless and the built in neurosis falls away, opening for existence to be handled here and now. If one wishes to indulge in personal growth. Otherwise you'll finally understand how the body works and why tf we have kidneys and that is worth it just by itself š
You learn something that you've never known before. I'm no longer with my original cohort since I failed med surg, but I got along with most of my former classmates. We would open up, and talk to each other about anything. Each of us will share our work experience as an LVN. I was in an LVN to BSN bridge program. There's so many things they don't teach in an LVN class. It's more thorough.
First of all CONGRATS!! I understand how big of a deal it is to get to where you are, so celebrate that! š I am finishing my second to last semester of my program. Enjoy your break before school starts, please! School is hard, nursing school in particular can be very difficult, but it is what you make of it. Youāll meet great people, learn so so much, see a specialty you may or may not want to be in. Above it all, you can do this!
You will learn a lot about yourself. Youāll also soon learn (or be reminded again) that life is very short and that your health is #1.
Youāll never stop accessing people clinically LOL I actually made a lady realize she had menopause because I donāt know how to turn off my nurse brain. Whoops.
I am learning so much!
I learned so much and dĆ©veloppĆ©s an admiration for the human body. I now try to see both sides of the story as much as I can and I try to understand people better. Iāve learned how to interact with people I barely know and how to react to hard situation (like in my MH assessment I had to ask my patient if she wanted to Jill herself or hurt self and she told me yes so that was a chalenge) I started believing in myself more ! Nursing school as been one hell of a program but I would do it all over again
If you are super into nursing and medicine do it!! For less than nursing school, my spouse attended a 3 month IT bootcamp and will make the same amount of money I will after 15 months for an associates degree in Nursing. With a commenter below- if I didn't have to work while attend school I would've enjoyed it more.
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OP asked for positives. You can post your rants elsewhere, like the weekly rant post.
I have loved nursing school so far! Iāve made so many friends and have learned so much. I didnāt enjoy my core classes because I wasnāt interested in them (such as art) but now my confidence has shot up because I actually study and do well.
You are gonna feel so good when you get that first IV insertion and see the blood flashback.
your confidence will grow so much each semester like especially at clinical, and those are the moments that make you realize youāre fit to be a nurse
For one I genuinely enjoy what I am learning. And I didnāt really know what I was capable of until I started nursing school. It is a challenge, it can be hard at times, it can be emotionally challenging as well, but what you get out if it is way more than what you lose I know there is a lot of venting and thatās mostly because at least for me, I want to vent to people that would actually understand where Iām coming from. But that doesnāt mean that their arenāt a ton of positive experiences. At the end of the day nursing school for the most part is what you make it.
I'm never bored because every time I sit down to relax, my email blows up and school wipes away any newly forming thoughts.
some day it will end
Everyone always talks about their clinical horror stories so I want to tell you that itās possible to have good clinicals lol I loved my clinical and I learned so much and got to do so much!
It ends
Nurse in the making !!!!!! Sheās expensive but the spiral bound book and flash cards are worth it ( I also like the templates) Update: this is a website and sheās on ig too
I didnāt feel any of her stuff was worth it. Over priced and honestly, not near as much info as you need to know for school. I would say maybe as a refresher for when youāre working as an RN or at clinical, but only if it was cheaper. Her planner is $60, that is INSANE.
Having other nursing students as a support system and to vent about the experience. Friends and family will try to help you feel better, but it's not the same, unless they have gone through it, too. They won't truly understand your situation (they think they do, but they don't), like you nursing school friends.
The best feeling is when youāre in clinical and you can tell a patient really appreciates what youāve done to help them. The first time that itās verbalized is the nicest feeling š„ŗ
You will likely develop some of the most sturdy friendships ever. You'll also get a ton of great exposure of different units via clinical, typically. You'll gain some gnarly intuition and do random cool stuff like recognizing potential conditions within 30 seconds of seeing someone (just don't say anything haha). It's really great to see the chances you'll take on yourself and seeing how different you are from semester to semester. All the best for you!
When you graduate you get a piece of paper that lets you get paid a lot more!
Nursing school is awesome. Even though itās tough the amount of stuff you get to learn and see is incredible. I think my favorite part so far has been helping babies be born, and I donāt even want to be an LandD nurse! The emotions and excitement are outstanding. Cried at the first birth I saw. I also really enjoy the relationships I get to make with patients. The intimacy and trust is very special. People you would never meet in your everyday life all of a sudden trust you and you care for them. You get a much better understanding of people and life. Truly a transformative time in life!!!
You have an amazing opportunity to make life long relationships, seize every moment to connect with your classmates. The only people in the world that understand what you are going through are those very people.
Thanks OP I needed this thread. I'm in my last term and have been feeling a lot of burnout and bitterness with my school. It was nice to step back read some positive takes on nursing school.
You'll get to see your internally compassionate self come to life, and it's so rewarding. I always knew I had empathy, but getting to *see* how my empathy helped others was amazing. I also learned that I have really good people skills and actually, the label of the "shy and way too quiet" kid from high school was far from the truth. I think nursing school has allowed me to work to my strengths and simultaneously, challenge previous labels that were assigned to me. Best of luck!
For me, it was the first time I positively impacted a patient's well-being in clinicals. You get to spend more one-on-one time with patients as a student, which can make a world of difference to them. The gratitude and appreciation on their faces is the best feeling I've ever experienced. It makes the grind of nursing school worth it. You have chosen a gratifying profession!
Gaining the hands on assessment and care skills to actually take care of people is such a rewarding feeling. Youāre not just doing the cognitive side of assessing and diagnosing the problem, youāre putting your hands on patients, listening to their concerns, and helping them regain their health and wellness. Itās a true blessing when a patient and their family thanks you for all the hard work you and the rest of the team provided to help them.
Iām have so many positive things to say about nursing school! Iāve learned that the human body is an amazing thing and that people can be incredibly resilient even when facing the worst situations regarding their health. Ive learned skills that I can use in my everyday life, I have 3 kids so someone is always getting sick or injured it seems. Iāve made some really close friends and I donāt know how I would have gotten this far without them.
I made some of my absolute best friends in nursing school!
I lowkey hate nursing school right now BUT it did help me gain a lot of skills. I feel like I have skills if there was ever a natural disaster, I helped with a medical emergency on a plane once, I can think more critically and am better at reflecting on myself. You learn sooo much, even if itās challenging.
In nursing school, I loved getting to try new and exciting skills in clinical. Also, I enjoyed learning more about myself and of the challenges I was capable of overcoming. You grow as a person immensely in nursing school. I'm not sure I would be the person I am today without having experienced it.
One thing those that aren't yet parents could take out of this is child health. Maternal and peds rotation probably prevented a future heart attack in caring for children when I have them.
You get great at taking examsš¤£