What is it really like to be an RN?

What is nursing school (rn program) like?

• I hear it's a tough program, but what exactly are the hardest parts? What are the tests, and clinical like? How does it differ from any other program? What are the hours like, if you ...show more

• Answer:

  It is challenging, especially the first year. The program that I'm in the first semester you learn fundamentals, drug dose calculations, care plan writing, nursing theory, and nursing skills. Our clinical where at the nursing lab where you practice nursing skills on dummies. Everything that you learn in the first year sets you up well for the next year so as long as you pay attention and retain info you'll be fine. Our tests are nclex style questions, can be challenging until you learn how to test. The second semester we had 3 clinical rotations, med-surg, maternity, and psych. We would have 6 hours of class time, 3 hours 2/days a week and a clinical day which was about 6 hours. Now in my 3rd semester we have 4 hours of class time a week where we go through every body system, GI, resp., cardiac, cancer, musculosketal, etc. and we have 2 clinical days a week. one 3-hour day for preplanning, you're assigned your patient, go through their chart and plan your care for the next day. The next day you do all of that patient's care, give bed baths, help with toileting/feeding, meds, catheter insertion, ng tube care, physical assessment and document, ostomy/wound care, blood glucometer testing, IV push meds, patient teaching, to name a few. In my opinion the 2nd year is easier than the first because you're pretty much putting into practice what you learned the first year.