If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I hate nursing school,” then guess what? You’re not alone. Many people feel that way. I remember when I was in nursing school, I had moments where I thought, “I cannot wait for this to be over.” There are generally three things that cause a nursing student to hit rock bottom and begin to feel this way.
Number one is the workload can be pretty intense. You’re going to have a lot going on at one time. For instance, you will have a lot of reading and studying to do, and it’s not just for one class. There are multiple classes covering different, heavy topics like pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, maternity, and mental health etc. Not only are you studying for these classes, but you are also attending lectures and going to clinicals, which require their own assignments. Juggling all these responsibilities can be overwhelming. It’s often said that nursing school isn’t necessarily hard; it’s the challenge of managing it all.
Number two is stress, which comes from multiple sources. Nursing school itself is stressful due to passing proficiency exams, getting through clinicals, and performing well on clinical check-offs etc. Additionally, there might be stress from your home life.
Number three is nursing school can consume your life. In order to be happy, it’s important to balance work and play, but nursing school is all about work. Yes, there are short breaks here and there, but often, during these breaks, you’re preparing for the next exam or proficiency exit exams. This lack of genuine downtime can lead to burnout. When you’re burnt out, it can feel like you hate what you’re doing, even if that’s not really true.
Whenever you find yourself getting sucked into these negative aspects of nursing school, remember the positive outcomes that will eventually emerge. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Nursing school is teaching you how to manage your time better. Time management is crucial for success in nursing school and in whatever specialty you choose in nursing, especially bedside nursing.
Next, nursing school is also going to teach you critical thinking. If you’ve been in nursing school for any amount of time, you’re familiar with those challenging test questions that present a scenario and multiple options. These questions test your critical thinking, a skill that’s indispensable in the nursing world.
Moreover, nursing school helps lay a solid foundation of nursing knowledge. This foundation not only helps you pass your boards but also prepares you for the specialty you choose, where you’ll receive more specific training.
Nursing school is also a fantastic opportunity to form relationships—not only with your cohort but also with potential employers. During clinical rotations at different hospital systems, you’ll gain insights into what you like and don’t like, which will help you land your first nursing job.
Lastly, nursing school toughens you up and helps you grow as an individual. Think of yourself like a diamond in the rough—initially a diamond starts out as just a piece of coal, but with time and a lot pressure that piece of coal becomes a beautiful diamond.
This is what is happening to you during nursing school. The challenges of stress and pressure that you’re facing now are molding you into a future amazing nurse. So, all the negative feelings, the crying, and the doubt are worth it because, in the end, you’ll achieve your goal.