4 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Starting Nursing School

Summary

In this video, Nurse Sarah shares four key lessons she wishes she had known before starting nursing school. She emphasizes the importance of organization, acknowledging the normal feelings of doubt that come with the challenging journey, and how nursing school will push both your intellectual and physical limits. Lastly, she highlights how rewarding the nursing career is, offering diverse and competitive opportunities. These insights aim to guide and comfort prospective nursing students as they navigate their own educational paths.

Takeaways

• 😀 Organization is key to success in nursing school, and creating a personalized system with planners, calendars, and folders can help keep you on track.
• 😀 It's completely normal to experience doubt during nursing school, but pushing through those tough moments is essential to overcoming challenges.
• 😀 Nursing school will push you to your limits, not only mentally but also in terms of endurance, juggling multiple responsibilities like classes and clinicals.
• 😀 The amount of information you need to learn in nursing school can be overwhelming, but your brain is capable of absorbing and retaining it.
• 😀 There will be moments when you question whether you can continue, but it's important to remember that perseverance will pay off.
• 😀 The intensity of nursing school can be surprising; some students may find it more challenging than graduate-level programs like nurse practitioner (NP) school.
• 😀 Despite the difficulties, nursing school is worth it, and the diverse career opportunities it opens up are extremely rewarding.
• 😀 The financial benefits of completing nursing school are significant, with competitive salaries available upon graduation.
• 😀 Nursing offers a variety of specialties, from pediatrics to wound care to home health, allowing for a broad range of career paths.
• 😀 If I had known these things earlier, it would have provided comfort and clarity during the challenging times in nursing school.

Q & A

What is the first thing Nurse Sarah wishes she had known before starting nursing school?

She wishes she had known that organization is a key part of success in nursing school. Having a system of planners, calendars, and labeled folders helps keep track of assignments and exams.

How did Nurse Sarah's approach to organization change during nursing school?

Initially, she wasn't the most organized, but by graduation, she had significantly improved her organizational skills, using planners and other tools to keep everything in order.

What does Nurse Sarah recommend for someone setting up an organization system for nursing school?

She recommends starting with a planner and then developing your system based on what works best for you. It’s important to personalize the organization style.

Is it normal to experience doubt during nursing school?

Yes, Nurse Sarah explains that it is completely normal to feel doubt at times. It's common to question your ability to succeed and whether you want to continue, but pushing through those moments is essential.

What does Nurse Sarah suggest when you start feeling overwhelmed or doubting your ability to finish the program?

She advises not to give up when things get tough. Even if you experience emotional moments or feel overwhelmed, continue pushing forward and keep reminding yourself that difficulty doesn't mean you should quit.

How does Nurse Sarah describe the mental challenges of nursing school?

Nursing school pushes you to your limits, especially intellectually. You will learn a vast amount of information, and your brain will be challenged in ways you never expected.

What does Nurse Sarah say about the brain's capacity during nursing school?

She is amazed at how the brain can absorb such a large volume of information and still retain it, showing that despite the intense workload, the brain is capable of handling it.

How does nursing school impact endurance beyond just mental capacity?

Nursing school not only challenges your brain but also your endurance. Juggling classes, clinicals, and other responsibilities will improve your ability to manage multiple tasks and demands.

What surprising comparison does Nurse Sarah share about the difficulty of nursing school?

She shares a conversation with a nurse practitioner who mentioned that her nursing school experience was more difficult and intense than her Nurse Practitioner (NP) program. This highlights the tough nature of nursing school.

Why does Nurse Sarah believe nursing school is worth it despite the challenges?

She believes nursing school is absolutely worth it because the program leads to great career opportunities with competitive salaries. The variety of specialties in nursing also makes the profession highly rewarding.

What kinds of specialties does Nurse Sarah mention as part of nursing careers?

Nurse Sarah mentions a wide range of specialties, including working with children, wound care, and home health, emphasizing the diversity of options available in nursing.

What advice does Nurse Sarah give to future nursing students about the challenges of nursing school?

She advises future nursing students to be prepared for tough times, but also assures them that the experience and the rewards that come with the nursing profession make the struggle worthwhile.