Nursing education consists of theoretical and practical skills to prepare a nurse for patient care. The curriculum of nursing school has similarities with that of medical school and is deemed extremely difficult.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year degree and it is considered to be one of the most competitive and challenging programs.
Is Nursing School Hard?
Nursing school is hard. Nursing school is deemed difficult because is very demanding, requires incredible dedication, expects strong practical skills, has a huge curriculum and calls for strong time management skills.
Nursing is a very demanding field, hence you will need to study a great deal. Nursing students will find themselves shuffling between classes, clinics, and labs. Initially, you may feel overwhelmed with all the work but once you get used to the expectations of nursing school it might be a little easier.
The versatility and depth of the course material make nursing school rather challenging. You will study several subjects including physiology, pharmacology, health ethics, patient assessment and care, and much more.
Although memorization plays a big role in nursing school there is much more to it. You must fully understand the material and apply the acquired skills in various scenarios.
Time management becomes a real issue during nursing school. Nursing schools nearly top the list in student burnout. It would be best if you learned to study efficiently otherwise you will be studying all day. It is important to keep track of all school material, assignments, homework, quizzes, and exams while still finding time to relax and socialize otherwise burnout is imminent.
An essential part of a nursing degree is clinical work. Clinicals are hands-on training of what you learn in school. You go to hospitals and work with real-life patients. More than any tests or classes, this can be the breaking point.
While the theory is extremely important, it cannot be a substitute for training under supervision. It can be intimidating going for clinical work initially, but you will get used to the burden.
When it comes to exams and tests, it’s a bit different from other fields. Here, you will be tested on knowledge but also how you apply that knowledge in a practical situation. You will be given situations in which you must think critically and apply the most appropriate patient care. After completing your degree, you also need to give an exam to practice professionally.
The stressful nature of nursing school adds to its difficulty. The work and life balance are hard to maintain since the workload can be too much. Multiple topics from different areas of nursing can be taught and tested within the same week.
Nursing is a whole new language with complicated terminologies. There are tons of prerequisites and core requisites that you must study for. It is better to prepare for the class by going through the material beforehand. Similarly, it is very crucial to be attentive during the lectures otherwise you are doomed.
Although nursing school is hard, it is not undoable or impossible. You can do well in the field with the right determination and time management.
Is Nursing Harder Than Medicine?
Nursing is not harder than medicine. Nursing is slightly easier than medicine since the material in nursing is not very in-depth, the classes are less challenging, and you can become a nurse in less time since there are fewer requirements as compared to becoming a doctor.
Medical school provides more detailed learning. A doctor’s job is to perform diagnosis and treatment, while a nurse’s job is to give hands-on care and administer treatment. Therefore, the material taught at medical school is much more depth than what is taught at nursing school
Becoming a nurse is somewhat easier than becoming a doctor. It can take you anywhere between 1 year to 4 years to become a nurse depending on whether you are going for a diploma or BSN. On the other hand, there is no easy way to become a doctor, one must complete five years of medical school and then pursue further studies in whatever field they plan to specialize in.
What makes nursing school hard is the fact that a lot of information is divulged in a short period whereas medical students get more time to absorb the knowledge due to a longer study period.
Medical school is like nursing schoOner. In fact, one can also go to medical school after finishing nursing. The clinical part of medical school is much harder than nursing school, as it pushes you far out of your comfort zone. You will be taking more classes in nursing school as compared to medical school.
Both nursing and medicine are difficult in their own ways. They both require hard work and effort. Likewise, both can lead to successful careers. You should choose whichever field you find more interesting. However, you should expect the medical school to be harder and longer.
Is Nursing School Harder Than Engineering?
Nursing is as hard as engineering. Nursing is difficult due to a large curriculum, complex medical terminology, and clinical work. Students find engineering hard due to the complicated mathematical concepts and harder material to understand and apply.
Engineering is all about application and comprehension. It has far more math and numbers included than nursing. The material is also harder to understand.
Nursing can be more stressful since you need to devote additional hours to clinical work which can make time management challenging. Furthermore, you will need to spend more time dealing with people and patients.
If your strengths lie in memorization and interpersonal skills then nursing will be an easier major. However, if you have strong mathematical and technical skills then you will find an engineering degree to be less difficult.
What is the Hardest Year of Nursing School?
The hardest year of nursing school is the first and fourth years. The first year of nursing school is hard due to the jump in difficulty and workload from high school to university. The fourth year is difficult because you will learn the most advanced and challenging material in nursing school.
Getting used to the massive jump from high school to university can be quite challenging. In high school, the average class size is smaller and you get more individualized attention. Moreover, the subject material is much more complex and advanced at the university level. These factors combined make the first year of nursing school rather difficult.
Contrastingly, the fourth year of nursing school is also very difficult. During the fourth year, you will be learning the most advanced topics and concepts. Luckily you will get a wider choice in terms of the courses and electives you want to study.
What Are the Hardest Classes in Nursing School?
The hardest classes in nursing school are pharmacology, pathophysiology, medical-surgical 1, and health assessment. Since these courses are considered to be quite difficult; you should try your best to not take them together.
Many people say pathophysiology is the hardest of all the classes in nursing school. It has a mere 50 percent passing rate. Pathophysiology is the study of disordered physiological that are associated with a disease or injury.
Pharmacology is another challenging class that focuses on the effect of medicines on the human body. You will have to familiarize yourself with a wide range of complex vocabulary and also study side effects and safe doses.
Similarly, Medical-Surgical 1 is considered to be a difficult course since it breaks down the study of the human body into smaller systems such as the cardiovascular or the gastrointestinal. The course is incredibly detailed and intricate.
Does Nursing Have Math?
The field of nursing does have math. However, the math involved is straightforward. If you want to pursue nursing you should be comfortable with high school-level math, especially probability and statistics.
During your nursing degree, basic mathematical calculations will be required at each step. You will have to learn metric tables to perform drug problems. Nursing students will come face to face with math throughout their training as it is needed in determining the measurements, dosages, and keeping a check of IVs and medications.
You may also have to study one semester of calculus depending on where you do your nursing degree. Similarly, your nursing program may also require you to take an additional class in statistics and probability.
Although nursing schools do require math, the calculations are rather straightforward. Therefore, being weak at math should not hold you back from pursuing nursing. You will have sufficient time in nursing school to enhance your mathematical skills as long as you are determined to put in the work.
