Why is nursing school hard? Some reasons why it’s challenging include the accelerated speed, high expectations, long days, challenging curriculum, and minimal personal time. Despite the challenges, nursing school can definitely be worth it, as you’ll have a career full of opportunities, with diverse workplace settings and advancement potential.
Climbing mountains is difficult, yet mountaineers thrive on the challenge. If you are considering becoming a nurse, you might wonder: “Is nursing school hard?” From the admissions process to the nursing school curriculum to the licensing exam, there are many challenges you’ll need to meet in order to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Like mountain climbing, earning a BSN is attainable with the right tools and training. At Averett University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, we love helping students overcome difficulties and pursue nursing careers. Ahead of your start date, you’ll want to prepare to tackle these challenges. The first step is understanding answers to questions like, “Why is nursing school so hard?” You’ll also want to consider the structure of the program and keep your reason for pursuing a nursing career at the top of your mind.
Why Is Nursing School So Hard?
How difficult is a nursing program, exactly? There are many reasons why nursing school is hard, including the following:
Accelerated Programs Offer an Intensive Workload
This may seem obvious, but one of the main challenges with an accelerated nursing school program is the pace. ABSN programs cover the same nursing educational content as a traditional nursing program that takes a total of four years to complete but within a much shorter timeframe. For example, you can graduate with a BSN from Averett in as few as 16 months (four semesters).
Self-care for nurses and nursing students alike is important for maintaining wellness.
The Curriculum Will Challenge You
How hard is nursing school curriculum? You’re likely to find some classes more challenging than others. At Averett, students work through a comprehensive curriculum that covers topics such as:
- Ethics in healthcare
- Health assessments
- Child, maternal and adult care
- Complex health problems
- Clinical management of disease
If you can handle the prerequisite classes, however, you’ll be prepared to tackle nursing school classes. Do note that in addition to didactic learning in online classes, you’ll also attend in-person labs and clinical rotations.
Averett’s ABSN program is structured as follows:
Online Classes
Online courses consist of interactive learning materials that take you through our curriculum. The classes are rigorous and fast-paced, but they do allow for flexibility because you can study and complete assignments at the time and place you work best, provided you meet deadlines. You will need to study for exams that you’ll take throughout these courses. The online courses form the foundational knowledge base that you’ll use in your nursing practice.
Skills and Simulation Labs
Skills and simulation labs consist of hands-on learning for nursing techniques and procedures. Skills labs focus on teaching patient care skills, like nasogastric tube insertion, while simulation labs teach clinical decision-making. In simulation labs, you’ll work through patient care scenarios with other members of your cohort, using high-tech medical manikins as the “patients.” These labs require a different kind of learning than that used for online courses, but the content itself overlaps and connects.
Clinical Rotations
You’ll complete a series of clinicals, which involve working at nearby healthcare facilities to practice providing direct patient care under supervision. At first, you’ll be performing simpler tasks like preparing rooms for new patients. Later on, you’ll handle more complex nursing tasks, like administering medications and placing IV lines.
Students often find clinicals quite challenging, largely due to the fear of making a mistake with a real patient. Keep in mind that you won’t be asked to do something that you aren’t ready for. You’ll also have your nursing instructor and preceptor nearby to provide guidance. As you progress in nursing school, your skills will develop, and clinicals may even become your favorite aspect of nursing school.
Nursing School Requires a Significant Time Commitment
How difficult is the nursing program in terms of the schedule? One of the toughest parts of nursing school is the time requirement. With all the studying and in-person sessions, your days will be busy and full. There won’t be much excess time in your day for social activities and relaxing.
Some students underestimate the time commitment of nursing school, expecting they’ll be able to work while in school. We recommend students not work while in the program, as they generally need to dedicate 40 or more hours a week every week to studies.
Despite the challenging time commitment, remember that nursing school is only temporary. You can complete Averett’s ABSN program in as few as 16 months and embark on your career. Many graduates have accomplished the same goal before you; you are not going through this alone.
How Hard Is Nursing School Compared to Other Programs?
Compared to other degree programs, nursing school ranks among the most academically rigorous. If you’re strong in mathematics and the sciences, however, you may find the curriculum easier than other students. Some students may find the didactic classes more difficult, while others may struggle more with the hands-on learning components.
This is when you can rely on the support from your nursing cohort. Study groups are a great way to learn from one another, gain new perspectives and help each other better understand challenging nursing and science concepts.
How Emotionally and Mentally Difficult Is Nursing School?
Why is nursing school so hard mentally and emotionally? Being a nurse means having people’s lives in your care. This is a great responsibility and honor, but it can also be stressful. Nursing school is challenging for a reason; it’s designed to turn you into a competent nurse.
In Averett’s ABSN program, our instructors and faculty are experienced in helping students navigate the curriculum, and we are truly invested in the success of our students. That means we’ll work with you one-on-one to help you succeed with the material.
Why Nursing School Is Worth the Effort
Although nursing school is unquestionably challenging, it’s worth the effort if you have your heart set on becoming a nurse. Consider the following benefits of rising to the challenge:
Although challenging, nursing school is definitely worth it for many reasons.
A Career You Can Be Proud Of
Each year, Gallup conducts an Honesty and Ethics poll, seeking to determine which professions are perceived to be the most trustworthy in the U.S. For 22 years in a row, survey respondents have ranked nursing as the most trusted profession. As a nurse, you can feel good about knowing that your profession is well-regarded.
Steady Job Growth Rate and Strong Earning Potential
Registered nurses (RNs) enjoy a positive job growth rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the estimated job growth rate for RNs is 6% from 2023 through 2033. This indicates that health care employers expect to hire about 197,200 new nurses during this period. The BLS also reports that RNs made a median annual salary of $86,070 as of May 2023.
Many Specialties to Choose From
As a nurse, you could focus your career on a particular patient population, area of care or health condition that interests you most. There are dozens upon dozens of nursing specialties to choose from, such as:
- Medical-surgical
- Oncology
- Dialysis
- Orthopedics
- Emergency room
- Cardiac care
- Pediatrics
- Adult-gerontology
If you’re someone who enjoys having plenty of options to choose from, then nursing school could be worth the hard work.
Significant Potential for Career Advancement
No matter which nursing specialty you choose, there is room to pursue career advancement. With a BSN, a nursing license and some clinical experience, you’ll be qualified to apply to graduate school. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) may allow you to pursue higher-level roles away from the bedside, such as healthcare administration or management.
Alternatively, you could earn a graduate degree and then pursue board certification in your specialty area. Then, you can apply for an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license. APRNs are nurse leaders who practice with greater autonomy than RNs. All these possibilities begin with getting through nursing school and graduating with your BSN.
Are You Ready to Propel Your Nursing Career?
At Averett University, we believe in the power of nursing to transform lives, and we love teaching our students how to be the next generation of nurses. You may be eligible to apply to our ABSN program if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 non-nursing college credits. Contact an admissions advisor today to get started.