Is Nursing School Hard? Understanding the Challenges and Rewards

It’s not surprising that nursing is such a popular career choice. Not only does it offer a rewarding, respected, and well-paying profession, but nurses are in short supply and are expected to remain so for years to come. The job growth is just one of the many reasons you might decide to switch careers to nursing.

Before you decide it’s time for a career change, you should first learn about what goes into becoming a nurse. Is nursing school hard? And why is nursing school so hard to get into? Nursing school is certainly a challenge and especially so when you are taking on this degree path in an accelerated format like the one offered through Concordia University Texas’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track. Let’s review what makes nursing school hard, along with what you can do to be successful, more closely.

Why Is Nursing School Hard to Get Into?

So, is nursing hard to switch to? Nursing school definitely has a challenging admissions process due to multiple factors. Let’s examine some of the elements that can make it difficult to make it into a nursing degree program like our ABSN track.

A Competitive Admissions Process

Nursing schools can only accept applicants who have the necessary academic foundation to be successful in nursing school and to become practice-ready, capable nurses who can care for their patient’s health and safety. Because of this, nursing schools generally have a competitive admissions process.

At Concordia Texas, while we still require students to meet our requirements, we offer three start dates each year. That means we can accept more applicants, which might improve your chances of admittance.

Prerequisite Courses and Exams

Another challenging aspect of getting into nursing school is the prerequisite courses. If you choose an accelerated nursing track, you’ll likely need to complete certain required prerequisite courses. For example, at Concordia Texas, you’ll need to take prerequisites like chemistry, microbiology, and nutrition. This is to ensure that you’re fully prepared to tackle the nursing school curriculum. You’ll also need a score of 67% or higher on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), an entrance exam.

Why Is Nursing School So Hard as A Student?

So, why is nursing school so hard as a student? Especially as an ABSN track student completing a bachelor’s-level curriculum on an accelerated timeframe. What is it about the program specifically that makes it challenging to navigate? Here’s a look at some of the things you’ll need to be prepared for:

Time Management and Workload

One of the biggest surprises for nursing students is how different nursing school is from their past educational experiences. For one thing, it’s very time intensive. This is especially true of an accelerated nursing track, like Concordia University Texas’s ABSN track.

The amount of time that is required to pass the courses successfully means that you should treat nursing school as your full-time job from day one until you graduate. Many hours are spent studying, completing assignments, practicing skills for a check-off, and working in clinical settings.

The Rigorous Academic Curriculum: Learning Beyond Memorization

It’s not just the time commitment that sets the nursing school apart. Up to this point, it’s likely that much of your education has revolved around memorization. While thoroughly learning the material is crucial, nursing school involves so much more than just memorizing information. You must also master critical hands-on skills, as well as finely hone your ability to think analytically and apply information to real-life situations.

All our ABSN track courses intertwine to bring the complete experience together. Medications taught in pharmacology relate to the medical conditions taught in theory. These medical conditions are seen in the clinical setting, and students administer the medications to their patients.

Exams and Assessments

Similarly, nursing school tests are a bit different from what most students experienced in the past. At first glance, they might look like a standard test with multiple-choice questions. What tends to impact new nursing students is the decision process required to make the right choice or select the best option.

High Expectations and Accountability

How difficult is a nursing program compared to many other types of degree programs? Nursing programs prepare students to save patients’ lives. A nurse might need to make a rapid decision in a high-pressure situation that can significantly influence a patient’s outcome.

It’s a profession with a great deal of professional responsibility. Because of that, nursing schools also have high expectations, and students are expected to hold themselves accountable for doing the work and putting in the long hours.

Emotional and Mental Strain

Another reason why nursing school is difficult is that all the above factors combined can lead to emotional and mental strain. It’s hard to put in so many hours over a sustained period of time. The demanding pace of nursing school also means you’ll have limited amounts of personal time. You’ll need to decline invitations to social gatherings and fun activities, at least most of the time. It’s still important to set aside a little time now and then for fun activities so you can rest your brain and recharge your energy.

The Challenges of Clinical Rotations

Some students find clinical rotations to be a refreshing change of pace in nursing school, while others find them challenging. During clinicals, you’ll be placed in a healthcare facility to gain real-world experience delivering patient care and working with practicing nurses.

The thought of making a mistake in the real world can be nerve-wracking to soon-to-be nurses, and this can add to feelings of stress. During clinicals, however, you’ll be supervised closely by your nursing instructors and preceptor. This means they’ll catch potential patient care mistakes before you make them, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the experience.

Preparing for the NCLEX

On top of your coursework, labs, and clinicals, you’ll also have the challenge of preparing for the NCLEX. The nursing licensure exam, which every nurse is required to pass in order to work, is likely to be among the most rigorous tests you complete. It requires you to not only apply concepts you’ve learned but also use clinical decision-making skills to work through hypothetical patient care scenarios.

Because taking the NCLEX can be a daunting prospect, it’s best to begin preparing for it early. In fact, some students begin preparing as early as their first semester in nursing school.

What Are the Hardest Classes in Nursing School?

There are definitely a few challenging courses in nursing school. In fact, you’ll likely take some of them before you even start the program. At Concordia Texas, two of our prerequisites are human anatomy and physiology I and II. You’ll take a deep dive into the intricate structures and systems that comprise the human body, from the cellular level to organ systems. Retaining all the information and understanding how it all intertwines is a challenge.

Many students consider pharmacology to be among the hardest classes in nursing school. In this class, you’ll need to become familiar with hundreds of different medications, including their uses, classifications, side effects, interactions, and mechanisms of action.

7 Habits of Successful Nursing Students

Now that you understand what makes nursing school hard, we’ll turn our focus to the habits that can help you achieve success on your path to a career in nursing.

1. Get Organized and Manage Your Time Efficiently

You’re going to have a lot to keep track of in nursing school. Maintaining an up-to-date calendar of all your assignments, tests, lab, and clinical dates, etc., will go a long way toward ensuring nothing slips through the cracks. This includes scheduling set times for homework and studying each week.

2. Have Patience

It’s easy to get discouraged when you don’t understand or can’t do something immediately. Be patient and keep at it. You cannot learn everything right away, as it takes time for things to start to come together.

3. Stay Positive

Nursing school is tough, and you are going to make mistakes. However, you have a choice: You can view every mistake and struggle as a learning opportunity or as validation that you don’t have what it takes to be a nurse. In the words of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, “A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping-stone to the optimist.”

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

If there’s one thing most of us struggle with, it’s asking for help. Nonetheless, you must get over this fear. No one will think less of you for asking questions or admitting you need help. Instead, it shows you are committed. Remember, the faculty and staff members want to see you succeed.

5. Take Full Advantage of the Resources Available to You

Any good nursing school will make a number of invaluable resources available to students, and Concordia Texas is no exception. Failing to take advantage of these resources is a big mistake. We give students all the tools and resources they need to pass exams, checkoffs, and the NCLEX. Students that use the resources, tutors, and trust in the process do very well.

6. Establish a Strong Support Network

Get to know your classmates and instructors. You will come to rely on them throughout the ABSN track. It can be especially helpful to have a study buddy in the program. Each of your fellow cohort members are going through the same experience as you, so make the most of this shared experience and support one another.

Additionally, be clear and upfront with family members and significant others about the time commitment and talk to them about ways they can help you. For example, your spouse may need to make dinner more often, or you might ask a retired parent to babysit.

7. Practice Self-Care

All too often, we let good habits like exercising, healthy eating, and getting enough rest fall by the wayside when we’re stressed or have a lot to do. However, experts warn this is a big mistake.

Not only does exercise promote good health, but it can also improve cognitive functioning and reduce stress. Similarly, the foods we eat can make a big difference in the way we think and feel. Don’t discount sleep, either. While it’s tempting to stay up all night studying, you’re better off making studying a regular habit and getting plenty of rest the night before a test.

Ready to Pursue a Career in Nursing?

Concordia Texas is a Christian school that aims to graduate highly compassionate nurses committed to ongoing professional development and maintaining high standards of patient care. If you have a passion for helping others and meet the eligibility requirements, we have a place for you in our accelerated BSN track. With three start dates each year and an accelerated online/hands-on format, it’s possible to earn your nursing degree in as few as 16 months.

Contact one of our admissions counselors today to get the ball rolling.