Real Talk of Nursing School
By Kate D., Elsevier Sponsored Ambassador
My nursing program is composed of five semesters. I am currently in my fourth semester, and this is when stuff starts to get real. I will be pinned at the end of April, which is about six months away! I have less than a year to learn everything I need to know to pass the NCLEX and be able to save lives. That is one of the most exciting, and terrifying, things on this planet.
When trying to reflect on nursing school, there is never a moment where it is easy. Nursing school is hard, and it is meant to be. The NCLEX is hard and meant to protect the public from unsafe nurses. Nursing school is hard and extremely trying to make us safe nurses.
Most nurses that I have talked to with advanced practice degrees, tell me that obtaining their RN was the hardest part of their schooling. This current situation, our current stress, is what will make us a good nurse. This will set us up for grad school, if we so desire. This will make us stronger people, and better nurses.
We need to be strong people. We need to be strong, caring, compassionate nurses. There is a nurse shortage, and we are the next group of nurses to take the field. We have to be prepared; ready to assess, ready to care, ready to work hard.
With all of that pressure, we need to remember that we are not in this alone. I will graduate with about 85 other students who have also spent hours studying, put in lots of time at clinicals, celebrated accomplishments, and are just as terrified and excited to be in the hospitals working as Registered Nurses.
While reflecting on the past four semesters, I began to talk to my fellow nursing students about thoughts we have on a weekly basis. What really goes on in the head of a nursing student? Is it just our thoughts or do we all share the same panics, fears, and crazy questions? Take a look at the thoughts of some of my fellow nursing students, and let me know what also goes through your head each week during nursing school!
1) How many chapters do I have to read today? Will I ever read anything other than a textbook again?
2) If my Hogwarts letter came, I wouldn’t be up to my ears in homework.
3) I wonder if other people have to double their expected study time to account for all the time spent staring out the window?
4) I know I have studied nonstop for this test for a week, but I’m sure I’m not ready for it.
5) That nurse at clinicals knew everything. I take my NCLEX in less than a year. I have less than a year to know everything.
6) Will this be the week I fall behind?
7) How many days in a row can I use dry shampoo?
8) Is anyone else as lost as I am?
9) I know I shouldn’t take a nap, but am I really going to retain information if I’m tired?
10) I hope I get a chance to poop before lecture.
11) Did I already read this Power Point? Oh wait, it’s open on my computer 4 times.
12) When did I last eat? When will I be able to eat? Why can’t I stop thinking about food?
13) I wonder if I can somehow move my studying around to make (insert birthday party, bridal shower, baby shower here)?
14) When is the next test? Am I the only one who doesn’t know when this test is?
15) How much caffeine is safe to consume in one day? Also, how is that (insert girl from your class) surviving without drinking coffee during this lecture?
16) I think I would be really good at (insert profession here). I wonder how many clinical hours they need?
17) I hope this isn’t on the NCLEX.
18) I have to remember all of this to keep someone alive!
19) All of the nurses I have met in my clinicals have survived nursing school. I can do this.
20) If I made it through the other semesters, I can handle this.
21) You have to survive this to become an amazing nurse.
22) I can do this, I am meant to do this.
2 Notes/ Hide
- elsevierstudentlife posted this