Have you heard horror stories about nursing school? For instance, ever heard that nursing school is too hard, takes too long, people with kids can’t succeed in nursing school, and it is too expensive? I heard all of these same things before (and while) I was in nursing school. However, after I went through the program I figured out that many of these things were MYTHS.
I’ve complied a list of the top 15 nursing school myths and I wanted to share them with you. If you are wanting to go to nursing school, I hope this article helps dispel any “horror” stories you may have heard as I did.
Here is a fun video disproving these myths, you can view it below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel:
Nursing School Myths
1. I’m not smart enough for nursing school
Many people feel this but if you can read, write and put effort into studying, anyone who is passionate about being a nurse can succeed. All you have to do is believe in yourself and be willing to commit time to studying.
2. I’m too old for nursing school
I get this question all the time on my website. When I went to nursing school there was a diverse age of people in my program. Many people choose to go to nursing school later in life due to a career change. No matter your age, if you want to go to nursing school do it. Don’t let your age hold you back.
3. Only women go to nursing school
Recent studies have shown that men are entering the nursing profession more than any other time due to appeal of nursing specialties. When I went to nursing school there were men in my program and I’ve worked with many men nurses.
4. Nursing school is too expensive
This bottom line is that any program can be expensive, especially the more prestigious the school is. However, there are so many scholarships, financial aid programs, and employer paid based programs for students. We have a video that tells you about scholarships available for nursing school. Check out that video for more information on scholarships for nursing students.
5. You can’t go to nursing school if you have kids
It’s important to always keep your children number one priority, but you can definitely go to nursing school with kids. You have to be realistic and not overwhelm yourself. Consider going part-time and make you sure you have support from others because nursing school requires a lot of time.
6. You can’t work and go to nursing school
I worked during most of my college career. You can definitely work while going to nursing school. However, you also have to dedicate a lot of time to studying. Therefore, students should learn to manage their time well, and also consider working no more than part-time during the semester, or only work during summer and breaks.
7. All nursing schools have waiting lists
While some nursing schools are very competitive and have waiting lists, many do not. My nursing school did not have a waiting list. If you find that a program has a waiting list, consider looking at other programs in your area.
8. Nursing school is way too hard
Nursing school certainly isn’t easy—it takes a lot of discipline and study. However, people often exaggerate the difficulty of nursing school. If nursing school was as hard as everyone made it out to be, we’d have no nurses!
9. Nursing school takes too long
You can get an associate’s degree in nursing in as little as 2 years or so (depending on prerequisite requirements). A bachelor’s degree (BSN) typically takes 4 years, and either degree will allow you to work as a licensed RN. With that said, nursing school is shorter than medical school.
10. Nursing School is all about learning skills and clinicals
Nursing school does have clinical skills and clinical rotations, but the bulk of nursing school is spent in a classroom. Unfortunately, a large portion of nursing school is actually just lecture classes, which includes reading, studying, and taking tests.
11. Nursing school will teach you EVERYTHING about being a nurse
Nursing school will definitely help prepare you with a good foundation for the field of nursing, but you’ll really learn how to be a nurse once you work on the job. So, don’t worry if you feel inadequate or ill prepared after you graduate. Most employers will provide on-the-job training, and you’ll pick up skills and learn so much as you gain experience.
12. Nursing school can’t be done online
While it’s true that you’ll have to attend a traditional class for clinical skills and clinical rotations, you can often take at least some classes online. In addition, for those who already have an ADN degree in nursing, you can often find RN to BSN programs that are 100% online.
13. Nursing school has a ton of math
Wrong! If you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide, you’re good! In nursing school, you’ll have to learn dosage and calculation problems, but these are solved with simple math. The university you attend may require you to take a probability and statistics class (as does every major), but this isn’t too difficult.
14. You can’t go to nursing school if you are afraid of blood
You can still go to nursing school or become a nurse if you are afraid of blood. However, you will experience blood in clincals, so it’s a good idea to desensitize yourself to it. There are careers within nursing that do not require a lot of contact with blood, such as management positions, nurse educator, etc.
15. You have to give a lot of speeches and/or write papers in nursing school
Most universities require a basic speech course for all students (sometimes this can be taken online). You may also be required to give a presentation in one or two of your nursing lecture courses. However, there is not an extensive amount of speaking required in nursing school. The same is true of writing research papers.
Thinking about nursing school? Here is the ultimate list of nursing school supplies you will need.