5 Things No One Ever Tells You About Nursing School
Are you thinking about attending nursing school? You're on your way to a fantastic career that will be rewarding, challenging, and always exciting. Nursing school, on the other hand, is notoriously difficult. Most nursing programs require high GPAs and outstanding performance in math, chemistry, biology, psychology, and other demanding subjects. It's also extremely satisfying. Most people already know these facts about nursing school, but what about the ones no one ever tells you? Here are a few examples of those things.
1. You Will Pull All-Nighters
Nursing school is not for those who are easily discouraged. In fact, it can be extremely difficult. Take a look at the curriculum for the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, which is consistently ranked in the top three nursing schools in the United States. To complete their master's program, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) candidates at Johns Hopkins must complete nearly 50 credits and 500 clinical hours.
Bachelor's candidates are graduating at a slower rate than ever before, with the majority of nurses spending more than four years earning their undergraduate degree. Because nursing programs are more credit-intensive, many students are forced to fast-track their degrees by taking multiple difficult classes at once. If you're in nursing school, this means you'll have several of the most stressful midterms and finals all at once.
All-nighters are unavoidable as a result of these factors. Nursing students, on the other hand, understand better than anyone that staying up all night cramming is bad for your health. A good night's sleep the night before a big exam will help you retain memory and stay focused. Make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew when you start nursing school. Attempt to alternate those difficult classes so that you do not have competing exams.
2. You Will Become Exhausted
Nursing school burnout is a real thing. But don't take our word for it. Numerous studies have found that nurses-in-training experience more burnout than students pursuing other career paths. According to one study, nursing students in the United Kingdom experienced increasing levels of stress and used negative coping strategies as their programs progressed.
The same study discovered that as nursing programs became more difficult, students experienced physiological morbidity, which means they developed health problems as a result of their stress. However, don't let the possibility of burnout deter you from pursuing a nursing degree. Researchers are working on new programs to prevent fatigue and burnout.
How do nurses stay positive when the risk of burnout and fatigue is higher? It all comes down to concentrating on the end result. Nurses have numerous advantages over other career paths, including greater job stability, higher personal satisfaction, career mobility, and the potential for higher pay.
3. You'll Have to Spend Your Own Money
With the average cost of a bachelor of nursing science (BSN) degree rapidly approaching six figures (the average cost of a BSN is somewhere between $40,000 and $200,000), it's important to remember that nursing students must also spend more money out of pocket than many other students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Nursing students incur additional costs for licensure exams, textbooks, and medical supplies in addition to tuition and housing.
You may be required to purchase nursing scrubs or uniforms as part of your preparation for clinicals, internships, or lab courses. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Consider your scrubs, stethoscopes, and other everyday medical equipment to be an investment in your future. And if you look the part, you have a better chance of succeeding. Invest in high-quality medical uniforms and long-lasting shoes (we recommend Dansko) so that your wardrobe will last until you graduate and pass your licensure exam.
4. You Will Develop Cynicism
Here's the deal: nursing and nursing school are stressful, and a lot of it feels out of your hands. When you're doing your internship or certification hours, you'll be confronted with a variety of seemingly impossible scenarios: a patient with an illness with no clear treatment path, the notoriously difficult bureaucracy of hospital administration, and health-care inequalities. All of these factors can lead to cynicism over time.
Another common experience among nursing students and professionals is becoming desensitized to people's trauma and suffering. Any child of a nurse will tell you that their parent never panicked over a bloody injury or a particularly heinous illness. This is due to the fact that the more you are exposed to medical conditions, the more normalized they become. After a while, you may feel as if nothing surprises you anymore.
According to studies, this phenomenon occurs because nursing students are compelled to "compartmentalize" their emotions. In other words, they distinguish between the natural human reaction to a person bleeding and the immediate need to provide life-saving care.
5. You Will Make Lifelong Friends
Nursing school is a one-of-a-kind environment. There will be few times in your life when you will interact so closely with people on the same career path, especially in situations where you will be forced to work together and rely on each other so frequently. Making friends in nursing school isn't for everyone, but it can be beneficial for those who prioritize friendships. Close friends will help you succeed if you study, network, and confide in each other.
But there is a flip side to this as well. There is always the possibility of drama and disagreements in any social situation. Small, secluded nursing programs may require you to live, work, and study with your classmates, which can foster cliques and bullying. Going into nursing school with a friendly, positive, and focused attitude can help you avoid any distracting confrontations. It will also assist you in making friends that you will keep for the rest of your life.
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Related: 14 Most Interesting Facts About Nursing
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