By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Nursing School Is More Challenging Than Many Graduates Realize
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Education > Nursing School Is More Challenging Than Many Graduates Realize
Medical Education

Nursing School Is More Challenging Than Many Graduates Realize

Larry Alton
Last updated: April 14, 2019 11:38 am
Larry Alton
Share
6 Min Read
Nursing School Is More Challenging Than Many Graduates Realize
SHARE

 

Nursing school offers incredible opportunities, for career, salary, and life experiences. The extreme satisfaction of helping others and making a difference makes it one of the most rewarding careers around.

However, this expertise comes at a price, and you don’t want to underestimate the challenges of nursing school. There are countless hours of study as nurses are required to memorize bones, muscles, neural routes, and so much more. There are also lengthy clinical hours where nurses learn from mistakes and strive for perfection.

Parents should be very proud of their children who graduate from such a prestigious and difficult process. Students and their families should also be aware of the work that goes into it.

More Read

ACOG’s Dysmenorrhea FAQs: Evidence of Propaganda?
Competition Entries Show Future of High-Value Care Is Bright
Is Pharma “Educating” U.S. Patients in the Wrong Way?
Mental Care: Practical Preparation to Pass the MCAT Exams
How To Prepare For A Neurosurgical Operation

Be Prepared for Rigorous Coursework

The difficulty level of coursework for every student is hard to measure. Some students find the coursework very manageable, while others are extremely challenged. Most will say that it poses somewhat of a challenge at the very least.

Nursing programs are designed to challenge students. Nobody wants a barely trained nurse to take their blood or attend them during surgery, so the coursework must be rigorous in order to achieve perfection.

One registered nurse who graduated with a BSN shared his story of going into nursing school and the difficulties he faced. He spoke about being a naturally good student with a 4.0 GPA and very little study required.

When he began the nursing program, however, all that changed. He shared this tidbit while in the midst of his studies.

“I quit my $20 an hour job, spent 12 hours a day studying, and gave up all notion of having a life/girlfriend/friends/fun/food not from McDonald’s,” he lamented on AllNurses.com. “And I am still barely passing. It’s not a great feeling getting 79% on everything when you have to have a 77% or higher on pretty much everything in order to proceed. In fact, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I was able to feel like I was going to make it. And I know I am going to have to continue studying 12 hours a day and basically not have a life for another 16 months.”

This may not be the case for everyone who enters the nursing program, but it is a reality many nursing students face and should be prepared for.

What Makes Nursing Programs So Difficult?

Most students will tell you that nursing programs are more difficult than many other programs at their chosen school. They tend to spend longer hours studying and in clinicals than others. Why is this the case?

There are many factors that influence the difficulty of the program, including the following:

  • There’s a lot to learn in a small amount of time. Nurses must be exceptionally proficient in their field, even though the programs are relatively short. You have to learn a high volume of new facts, practical skills, and concepts, all to be recalled at a moment’s notice.
  • Time management is challenging. Students who want to succeed have to put some aspects of their personal lives on hold in order to focus on their studies. This is very difficult for many students, and their grades reflect their lack of time management.
  • The competition is close and ever-present. It’s hard to escape the competitiveness of the program because you work so closely with others in your program. When they succeed, you can’t help but feel inadequate until you perform as good as or better than your classmates.
  • The stress of making mistakes weighs on you. When people in other careers make mistakes, it usually means lost money. Mistakes in nursing could mean lost lives. That kind of stress can weigh anyone down.
  • You have to be exceptional at problem-solving. There are rarely yes/no or absolute questions. Each problem requires a unique solution, and while there may be several correct solutions, you have to choose the one that’s most This requires a different kind of intelligence than book learning, which is challenging for some students.

Nursing Students Are Among the Most Dedicated

Despite the challenges, those who complete nursing programs appear to be very dedicated. Most students who enter RN programs stick with it. About 88 percent stay in the Bachelor’s degree program, and 80 percent stay in their chosen Associate’s degree program.

Further research shows that 85 percent of those who take the NCLEX-RN test pass along with 84 percent who take the NCLEX-PN test. Together, these statistics show that most who enter the nursing program tend to be successful.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Promoting Innovations in Medical Education

January 23, 2013

Video Player is Updated With New Videos!

January 19, 2012
doctor patient relationship
Medical Education

The Importance of Human Touch in Clinical Medicine

February 3, 2013

Pharma and the Empowered, Educated Patient

September 20, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?