How Hard is Nursing School?

Nursing, without a doubt, is one of the most fulfilling career paths you can pursue. This field allows you the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives – and not just patients, but also their family members. Today, with the coronavirus pandemic overwhelming the healthcare system, registered nurses are more needed, more valued, and more admired than ever before. 

According to a recent survey, about 95% of registered nurses (RNs) are happy in their roles. They express great pride in their job, enjoy their day-to-day responsibilities, and most of all, love their ability to make an impact and help people in need.   

As rewarding and respectable a nursing career is, however, this is not to say it is easy. Nurses are very hardworking and dedicated professionals. They must know the ins and outs of anatomy, medical terminology, and modern therapies. They must know how to work with a diversity of patients and conditions. And it’s no coincidence that the training and education needed to become a nurse are reflective of the skills and knowledge that nurses maintain. 

Yes, Nursing School is Hard 

If you are asking, “Is nursing school hard?”, you likely already know that it is challenging in many ways. The career of nurse is challenging, but that is why so many nurses love what they do. No day is the same. They are always encountering different patients, unique symptoms, and new diseases or treatment methods. They are handling – and saving – lives. And nursing school prepares them for all of this. In nursing school, students learn: 

• All the technical skills needed to deliver proper care 
• Mathematics and pharmacology, and how to administer the correct drugs and dosages 
• Key sciences such as physiology, anatomy, microbiology, and psychology 
• Specific medical procedures, such as starting an I.V. or placing a catheter 
• Evidence-based practices to deliver safe and appropriate patient care 
• How to think quickly and critically to create treatment plans and help patients in need 
• How to treat patients of all demographics, across the lifespan 
• How to communicate with patients and their loved ones, as well as the medical team 
• How to approach and treat complex health issues 
• The ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks of the nursing practice 

So, How Hard is Nursing School? 

The thing about nursing is that you have to know all of the above. You cannot guess your way through patient care. You have to know how to administer medications, and you have to know and prepare for the side effects of drugs. All that said, nursing school is not impossible! It just requires that you study hard, and that you keep up on your reading, assignments, and clinical hours. Nursing school students must actually listen to their lectures, participate in labs, and really hone the technical skills that will prepare them to work successfully in medicine. By putting in the work, you can be sure to find success. 

Now, there are many myths surrounding the difficulty of nursing school. So before others scare you off, let’s consider a couple of key facts: 

• Going to nursing school does not mean saying goodbye to your social life. Yes, there will be exams you need to study for. There will be nights of staying in, and early mornings to get to your clinical site.  At the same time, there is a lot of flexibility in nursing school. For example, at Goodwin University, many classes are offered online, and can be completed from the comfort of your own home. In addition, classes are offered on days and evenings. Clinicals have day, evening, and weekend options. With our flexible model, you can still maintain a full- or part-time job while going to nursing school. And you can still maintain balance in your everyday life. 
• Nursing school does not want you to fail. The world needs skilled and professional nurses more than ever before, and no one in your nursing program will want to see you fail. It is our goal to set you up for success, and there are times where we will challenge you to become a stronger nurse. Goodwin is a career-focused nursing school, meaning our courses are structured to prepare you for a variety of careers after graduation. We specifically prepare you for the NCLEX-RN licensing examination, and our courses are taught by industry-leading professionals. We also have dedicated Career Services and Academic Success teams who are available to help you on your career path. You will always feel supported at every stretch of your nursing education, and even beyond. 

How Hard is Goodwin’s Nursing School? 

At Goodwin University, the nursing program’s completion rate is currently 95%. Of the graduates that responded to our survey, 97% are now employed within the nursing profession. These now nursing professionals wouldn’t tell you that our nursing school easy; however, they would tell you that is 100% achievable. Don’t be discouraged by the challenging aspects of a nursing career. If this is what you are passionate about, you are sure to find great success. 

With hard work and dedication, nursing school will not be as hard as you think. Just take a hint from other nurses. In the study linked above, nurses were asked, “If you could do it again, would you do it differently?” Three out of four RNs confirmed, despite the hard work put in, they would choose nursing over and over again. For them, the juice was well worth the squeeze. 

To learn how to apply to Goodwin’s nursing program, or for more information about our Connecticut nursing school, please do not hesitate to reach out at 800-889-3282. You may also visit us online to request more information.