What is Nursing School Like? How Much of a Time Commitment is It?
Most who become nurses consider it a calling. Many know from an early age that they want to care for others, save lives, and heal the sick or injured. Nursing takes a special kind of person, one who is not afraid of hard work because they find their job so rewarding. So what is nursing school like? How long does it take? Is it hard? As a nursing student, you will have to do much more than passing exams and tests. You will have to work and study hard, and sometimes you’ll feel like you don’t have time to do anything else beyond school. Although nursing school is going to be hard, it’s also manageable.
What is it like to be in Nursing School?
Before starting your nursing journey, you will first have to get through nursing school. Getting through nursing school can be much easier only if you know what to expect. Here are some things that you should remember as you join nursing school
Being a nurse is different from what you see on TV
Being able to save lives on a daily basis, fascinating events in hospitals and love affairs may make nursing look glamorous and exciting. However, nursing in television is rarely like reality. While nursing is an exciting field, it is different from what you see on TV.
You won’t always meet sweet and grateful patients. Sometimes they’re messy. Sometimes they're mean. Therefore, proceed to the nursing field with realistic expectations to prevent disappointments.
Not every Nurse will want to take a Student
During your clinical rotations, you will be assigned to a nurse during each shift. Although some nurses will be more than happy to teach you, others will not. Some nurses feel like student nurses slow them down and others may simply not want to teach.
When you meet such nurses, don’t take it personally and try to make the best of the situation. Try to help when you can and learn as much as possible. In case you find that you are being repeatedly assigned to nurses who aren’t good preceptors, you can talk to your clinical instructor about it.
It is OK to acknowledge that you don’t know
You could learn a lot while in nursing school. For most people, nursing school is the first time they work with patients, and it is often hard to remember everything you learn in class. It is OK to admit that you don’t know how to perform a certain procedure or the answer to a question. Struggling to fake your way during nursing procedures won’t benefit you or your patient. Nursing school is a time to learn and you should ask questions if you don’t know something.
How much Time will you set aside to go to Class, Study and Take Exams?
Nursing school is different from other majors. Not only will you have to cover a lot of information, but you will also have to try to remember information for other exams in the same week. To be successful, you will need pass your exams and retain the information.
Plan on what to Study and when to Study
Start by visualizing your entire semester and determine when to study. However, don’t stop there. You will also need to determine the material to study at that particular time. This will ensure that you cover all the materials before you take your exams.
Split reading assignments into manageable chunks and then allocate enough time to make notes and process it mentally. Doing this will help you save time during the semester. This is because you won’t be figuring out what to do and when to cover everything and panic because you don’t have an idea on how to get it done.
Plan for Exams and Study for Each at a Time
Plan ahead of time on when to tackle various assignments per your semester credit hours, and then settle down and study. Focus on what you’ve scheduled to study and don’t get distracted by the other things that you have to do because you’ve allocated time to address them. Planning when and what to study, and ensuring that you’ve covered what is required of you will help you focus more on when to sit down to study.
Preparing for the Time Commitment it will take to become a Nurse
Nursing school will change the routine that you’ve grown accustomed to. Therefore, prepare in advance by understanding what your schedule will look like and adjust your personal life accordingly. Enrolling in nursing school doesn’t mean that you won’t have time to do the things you love the most.
Are you ready to study nursing? If you want to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, ECPI University offers this degree at an accelerated pace. For more information about this exciting program, connect with a helpful admissions officer today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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