Is nursing school REALLY that hard? (2024)

FAQs

Is nursing school REALLY that hard? ›

3.5 million people in the U.S. are RNs. The vast majority of these nurses made it through nursing school with average intelligence levels, good study skills, and diligence. Nursing school is filled with enough work to consume a considerable chunk of one's time, but it is not as 'hard' as people make it out to be.

Nursing can be a rewarding career, but earning your nursing degree requires hard work due to demanding coursework, long hours with clinical placements, and high-pressure exams. You'll need strong time management and the ability to handle a heavy workload.

For nursing schools connected to many of the nation's more prestigious universities, for example, acceptance can be challenging and requires superb applications. Generally speaking, students coming from high school typically need to have SAT scores above 1300 to be accepted into a highly selective program.

Yes, it is normal to struggle through nursing school. Whether you're starting a nursing program right after high school or going back to school as an adult, pursuing an RN education is always a challenge. There are ways to lessen your struggle though.

The thing to keep in mind is that nursing school is so competitive now that by the time you get in, the chances of you flunking out are very slim. You will have worked so hard to beat out the competition that your study and test-taking skills will be top notch.

According to the National League of Nurses, 20% of nursing students drop out.

Pharmacology, the study of medications and their effects on patients is often considered one of the hardest classes in nursing.

Yes, with hard work and dedication, an average student can become a nurse. Despite what many people think, being a top student isn't the only way to succeed as a nurse. Let's explore this path in more detail and see how average students might succeed in this great field.

The good news is that the longer you are in nursing school, the easier it gets. The coursework may remain about the same, but it will get easier due to: The fact that you'll be used to it after a semester or two and you'll know what it takes to succeed.

Is nursing school mostly memorization? ›

Other major takeaways you may experience during the first semester of nursing school: Changing the way you study: It may come easy for some, but nursing school is filled with memorization and learning new medical terms and phrases. Adding index cards or a few extra hours of studying can make for a successful semester.

The first year of nursing school is hard because you're starting a new venture. Not only are you learning new information specific to your industry, but you'll also be putting that education into action. Learning facts is much different than practicing them, so stretching yourself in this new way can be demanding.

According to the National League for Nursing, the national dropout rate for nursing programs in the United States is 20%, and this high attrition rate is considered problematic. The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission set the desirable retention rate at 80%.

While nursing school is hard, it's important to remember you will have a different experience depending on the type of nursing career you pursue. This will help determine how difficult nursing school will be for you, especially if you need to hold a job or have childcare or family obligations.

What percentage of nursing students quit? The National League for Nursing reports that 20% of nursing students dropout. This is attributed to a wide range of factors, including family responsibilities, busy schedules, and some common issues in nursing education.

There's one question that people often ask when they consider pursuing a career in nursing: Is it hard to become a nurse? The short answer is yes. From mastering human anatomy to understanding complex medical terminologies, becoming a nurse is no walk in the park. In fact, it's more like a marathon.

A recent study reported it was the most difficult degree to obtain. Nursing is a difficult degree for many to obtain because the profession has traditionally attracted more than its fair share of dreamers: those who are in love with the idea of being a nurse, but lack the academic skills to complete nursing school.

Whilst rewarding, it's no secret that healthcare qualifications can be challenging. So there's no escaping the fact that a nursing degree will take a lot of dedication. After all, it's one of the most competitive and most popular degrees you can do.

Which one is harder will not be an easy question to answer. A lot of people state that medical school is a greater challenge than nursing school due to the even larger volumes of material to learn, and the complexity of the topics.