Is Nursing Really That Hard?

If you’re thinking about getting a degree in nursing, it is normal to ask, “Is nursing really hard?” Yes. Will it be worth the effort? It will be.

More commitment is needed for nursing than for many other professions. Nonetheless, it’s among the most fulfilling occupations. Nursing can be a fulfilling job, but obtaining a nursing degree involves a lot of work because of the rigorous coursework, long clinical placement hours, and stressful tests. Strong time management skills and the capacity to manage a demanding workload are required.

We’ll talk about how hard nursing is in this post, examine the requirements for earning a nursing degree, and the skills that are necessary to be well-prepared for the path ahead.

Is A Nursing Degree Hard?

If you’re considering pursuing a nursing degree, you may have questioned if it will be challenging. Yes is the simplest and most honest response. It’s going to be difficult. Nursing degrees are by no means an exception to the general rule that no degree is easy.

Nursing degrees are challenging because they prepare you for the everyday tasks you’ll be performing in the real world. The good news is that you can succeed in earning a nursing degree if you have a strong interest in healthcare and the commitment to learn.

Therefore, even though a nursing master’s degree is challenging, it does prepare you for the real world. You will therefore come out of them with the precise toolset you need to save lives every single day, even though they may occasionally challenge you and test your fortitude.

Is A Nursing Master’s Degree Hard?

Compared to a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in nursing is thought to be far more challenging. This is because it pushes you to apply your clinical and academic skills, builds upon your prior knowledge, and advances them.

A master’s degree in nursing is especially challenging because it frequently requires specialization. As part of your ongoing professional growth, you can be asked to finish a master’s degree or investigate a specific area of nursing that piques your interest.

Furthermore, among the topics covered by a master’s degree is pharmacology, which teaches you about medicine, and advanced health assessment, which teaches you to identify significant risk factors or dangerous conditions early.

You can advance your career or move into a higher pay range with a master’s degree in nursing. Although they are a demanding commitment, you can succeed as long as you are driven and have adequate support.

Is Nursing Really That Hard?: The Challenges and Rewards of a Nursing Career — Is A Nursing Master’s Degree Hard?: Image Credit: GPointstudio on Freepik

Is An Online Nursing Degree Hard?

Earning an online nursing degree is a challenging endeavor. However, that does not imply that there aren’t any benefits. There are quite a few advantages.

Generally speaking, online nursing programs offer greater flexibility, which can help you achieve greater balance if you have additional dependents or caregiving duties. This frequently implies that you are free to take your time and finish the qualification whenever you like.

You may find it easier to manage your work-life balance if you learn from home. Since you won’t be traveling to a university for seminars and lectures, you might even save a few pounds.

Another advantage of online learning is that you can complete your online nursing degree through your employer if you currently work in the healthcare industry.

It’s important to remember that earning a nursing degree online does not eliminate the requirement for clinical work. However, because they prepare you for the career that awaits you at the end, placements are just as much a component of online learning as in-person instruction.

What Are The Admission Requirements For Nursing Schools?

It can be difficult to get into nursing school because of the degree of trust and responsibility involved in this position. You may anticipate that the school will assess you in several ways after you apply to see if you possess the skills and moral character needed for this line of work.

The majority of nursing programs demand the following:

#1. GPA

The first thing that many schools look at is your grade point average (GPA). The average minimal GPAs, based on data from nurse.org, are as follows:

2.75 for associate degrees
3.0 for bachelor’s degrees

Note that each institution and program has its requirements.

#2. Prerequisite courses

Prerequisite courses are crucial since they provide a solid basis for your nursing school coursework. The majority of nursing school prerequisites, though they differ from school to school, involve general education and science courses like:

Anatomy and physiology
Biology
Chemistry
College-level English
Math
Psychology

#3. TEAS scores

Similar to the SAT, the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is used by a lot of nursing schools to try and predict your success. You have three hours and 29 minutes to finish the 170 multiple-choice questions in the test. The test evaluates your knowledge in science, reading, arithmetic, English, and language usage.

#4. Application and essay

Nursing schools, like many other colleges and universities, ask you to fill out an application and submit a personal essay along with other documents. This is your chance to differentiate yourself from the competition and show the admissions committee why you are the best applicant.

You can start by writing out your goals, experiences that have formed you, and your final “why” for going. Make use of the essay to emphasize your distinctive traits and dedication to nursing. You might want to include the following additional details in your essay:

Why did you select that course of study or institution?
Examples that demonstrate your motivation for pursuing a career in nursing
Prior experiences in the medical field, such as volunteering
Individual achievements

What Are The Benefits Of Becoming A Nurse?

There are advantages to working as a nurse, even with the difficulties you may face. Let’s dissect a handful of the numerous ones.

#1. You Offer An Important Contribution to the Community

Being a nurse allows you to positively influence patients’ lives right away. By providing crucial medical advice, you can give people who are anxious or having difficulties hope. Because of the sense of achievement they receive from their work, nurses report high levels of job satisfaction despite the difficulties they face.

#2. You Earn High Salaries

Nursing salaries are generally competitive, though they vary depending on where you work. In 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average yearly salary for registered nurses was $86,070.

#3. It offers a flexible work schedule.

The flexibility of a weekly work schedule is a major perk of becoming a nurse. Part-time hours are also available for people who choose to be on call for fewer than 36 hours per week; however, full-time employees must work at least 36–40 hours each week.

#4. Numerous chances for growth and specialization

You don’t have to limit yourself to being a certified nurse. There are several nursing specialties to pick from, like critical care, pediatrics, and cancer, if you’d like to concentrate on a particular field.

To become a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist, among other positions, you can begin as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse and work your way up to more advanced degrees or certifications.

#5. There is a need for nurses everywhere.

There is a constant need for nurses. Between 2022 and 2032, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the number of registered nurses (RNs) will increase by 6%, which is roughly double the national average.

In addition, there is a long-term nursing deficit in the country. One bright spot is that there are comparatively many nursing employment opportunities, even though this presents constant difficulties for both patients and providers.

#6. A fulfilling career path

A nursing career can offer a lot of personal fulfillment, which is another reason to consider it. Every day, nurses have an impact on their patients’ lives. Your friends and family benefit from your education and experience as well.

#7. Acquire Transferable Career Skills

As part of their career transition, nurses acquire a variety of clinical and “soft” skills that they might use in other fields.

Additionally, nurses need to be proficient time managers and team players. Employees at big businesses and beyond need this skill.

#8. Opportunities for Travel

You have a special opportunity to travel as an RN. Due to their ability to cover gaps in nursing shortage areas, travel nurses are in high demand. Travel nurses thus receive competitive pay.

Travel nurses frequently spend weeks or months living away from home. On the other side, people might travel and enjoy rewarding life events.

5 Challenges Of A Nursing Career

The following are some of the challenges that nurses encounter in their line of work:

#1. Extended shifts

8 or 12-hour shifts are common for nurses. These shifts often become even longer when all the required charting and shift change procedures are completed. Burnout can result from working so long hours because it can be mentally and physically exhausting.

Therefore, you should get enough sleep while you’re not working to help you stay energized during a shift and avoid burnout.

#2. You get frequently changing shifts

Shifts for nurses can occasionally fluctuate from week to week, making it challenging to become used to the routine. Scheduling changes can disrupt sleep patterns, so it’s critical to take as much time off in between shifts as you can.

#3. You will be involved emotionally.

Nurses perform significant and personal work. In contrast to many other occupations, nurses develop an emotional attachment to their patients and their results, which can be a challenging burden to bear over an extended period.

Make sure you have a solid support network at home, including friends or family, with whom you can discuss your feelings and emotions as a nurse.

#4. It is physically demanding

Throughout their shifts, nurses frequently have to carry out physically taxing tasks like:

Assisting with patient lifting, positioning, and transportation
Transporting bulky items
Long stretches of standing with little respite

Therefore, maintaining strength, endurance, and flexibility through regular exercise will help your body handle physical responsibilities more easily.

#5. You can be exposed to illness and chemicals

As a nurse, you are exposed to more germs than the general public since you provide care for ill people. This may make you more susceptible to getting sick. Additionally, you work with potentially harmful chemicals and drugs.

When working with patients and potentially dangerous items, nurses should constantly adhere to safety procedures, which include:

Donning goggles, gloves, gowns, and masks as personal protective equipment (PPE)
Examining the usage guidelines for all chemicals and equipment
Proper disposal of sharp things
Labeling all containers and specimens appropriately

#6. There are low number of Nurses

Everyone has surely heard by now that there is a scarcity of nurses in the country. Because of insufficient staffing, this occasionally leads to nurses working additional overtime. Nurses may even be asked to perform additional shifts or longer hours when hospitals and other healthcare institutions lack the number of patient care professionals needed for a shift.

Examine the overtime and scheduling regulations of the organizations you are interviewing with to prevent burnout.

How To Overcome Challenges In Nursing

Here are some strategies to deal with typical issues that nurses may encounter:

#1. Make sleep a priority.

Establishing normal sleep patterns might be challenging with traditional work schedules. Use dark curtains, put your phone away, build a sound machine, or ask your partner to take the kids out of the house to help you get seven to nine hours of sleep in between shifts.

#2. Seek assistance.

Speak to someone when you begin to feel overburdened or exhausted. Seek assistance from friends and family or hire services to help you with things like food preparation, dog walking, and shopping delivery.

#3. Develop wholesome routines.

To combat illness and feel more invigorated, incorporate healthy lifestyle choices like exercise and adequate hydration.

#4. Look after your mental and physical well-being.

Make time in your calendar for activities that help you stay resilient and refuel, like food planning and frequent exercise.

#5. Look for a nurturing setting.

Seek out a job that closely fits your schedule and interests. Examine additional nursing specialties like administration, research, and leadership.

How To Succeed In Nursing School

The path of nursing school is both thrilling and challenging. You can succeed by using these tactical pointers:

#1. Make use of the resources offered by the university.

Throughout your stay in nursing school, your instructors and fellow students will be tremendous resources. You can learn more about your instructors’ experiences by getting to know them. In addition, they might serve as your mentor, offer test-taking tips, identify clubs you should join, create reference letters for you, and help you get internships.

Joining or creating a study group might help you meet other students and gain a deeper grasp of various topics or problems that you may find difficult.

#2. Develop your study ability.

Your performance in the lab and classroom depends on your ability to study effectively. Therefore, you should establish a consistent study routine to help you stay focused and prevent burnout.

#3. Rely on your network of support.

Another important source of encouragement is your peers. Your support network can assist with your mental and emotional well-being in addition to providing answers to problems you’re encountering and motivation to keep going.

#4. Find balance to prevent burnout.

Burnout in nursing school can be prevented by practicing time management, taking breaks, and taking care of yourself. Exam preparation and courses can take up all of your time. Taking breaks helps keep you feeling refreshed.

Maintaining your health and managing stress can be achieved by taking care of yourself by eating meals regularly, avoiding coffee, staying active, and getting enough sleep.

#5. Make a plan to prepare for the test.

You should not be cramming for exams. Otherwise, establish a consistent study routine and ask your lecturers and study groups for assistance with any questions you may have. Look for innovative ways to retain important information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing?

Should I Be a Nurse?

The nursing profession is quite secure and pays well. It offers a staggering quantity of job opportunities, stability, and flexibility. Demanding jobs and difficult days can be emotionally taxing for nurses. However, it is a profession that requires some personality qualities like:

Patience
Kindness
Listening
Communicating
Detail Driven
Reliability

Is Nursing School Worth It?

Yes, even with its difficulties, nursing school is well worth the investment. Obtaining a BSN gives you a solid nursing foundation and opens up more chances for you both after graduation and during your career.

What skills do you need for a nursing degree?

In addition to the academic prerequisites for a nursing degree, you need to be knowledgeable about the following:.

#1. Handling Stress:

Stress management can assist you in creating strategies that allow you to accept both the good and the bad.

#2. Self-care:

You must take care of yourself even as nursing demands you care for others. You can’t offer from an empty cup, after all.

Which topics are covered in a nursing degree?

A nursing degree teaches you a lot of things, including how to care for adults, children, people with learning disabilities, and those with mental health issues. However, you might study more about the following specific topics:

Physiology
Epidemiology
Pharmacology
Critical care/complex care
Health ethics
Public health
Nursing research

Is nursing school hard to get into?

A nursing degree requires a lot of work because of the rigorous coursework, long clinical placement hours, and stressful tests.

Is nursing harder than engineering?

Many people find studying mechanical engineering more difficult because it involves more math, but nursing is a physically and emotionally demanding profession.

Is nursing very hard to study?

Even though nursing school is hard and will push you academically, it is done with the specific goal of preparing you for the demands of nursing. Although some aspects of nursing school are difficult, such as its quick pace and complex subjects, they are worthwhile.

Is nursing school harder than medical school?

The challenges of medical school and nursing school are different. You should accept the obstacles that lie ahead, regardless of your preference for medicine or nursing. Every profession has fulfilling prospects that have the power to change people’s lives. Investigate what interests you, get in touch with experts, and do more research.

How hard is the TEAS test for nursing?

TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) test difficulty varies; it typically evaluates fundamental academic knowledge. It will be tough for those who don’t prepare well. Research indicates that the majority of students found the TEAS exam’s reading and math sections to be the most challenging.

Conclusion: Is Nursing Really That Hard?

Is nursing school challenging? Nursing school is indeed hard. It will challenge you academically, but the goal is very clear: to get you ready for the demands of nursing. Nursing school is worth it, even though some parts of it are difficult, like the fast-paced curriculum and complex disciplines.