I started college in the nursing program before deciding the medical field wasn’t for me and from my experience, what it takes to get through nursing school is a bit different than what it takes to be a nurse.
To get through school, you need to be able to memorize and apply a ridiculous amount of material in order to do well on exams. While you don’t need to be a math genius, drug conversions can be tricky and do require some basic math. Most of the biology is Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology, in addition to some basic biology courses. Prepare to have to memorize the name of every single bone and muscle in the body and be able to label them properly. You’ll have to learn skills that have very precise steps that must be followed exactly as you’re shown.
Luckily, that was the stuff I was good at.
As for clinical rotations, get ready to write until your fingers feel like they’re going to fall off. You’ll also have to document, usually electronically, every single thing you do – and you’ll learn the legal reasons behind that. Your notes will need to be very specific and accurate. I hope you’re not at all grossed out by puke, blood, nasty wounds, urine, or shit – because you’ll be well acquainted with all of them. Changing adult diapers, giving enemas, cleaning infected wounds, etc.
Those were also things I was good at.
Here’s the part that I couldn’t hack – prepare to be unwanted. Those patients know you’re just a student, they already have their own real nurse, and most of them don’t want you bothering them. And when the families are there – ugh, even worse. I got awkward blank stares and even got cussed out once for needing to check vital signs on a patient that just had it done by the nurse.
Now, to be a good nurse, you’ll need a tremendous amount of patience and empathy (something else I lack). It does get better after school is over and nursing is a great career as long as you have a passion for it. If you don’t, pick another field. It’s not a glamorous job to be wiping an old man’s ass on your fourth consecutive night shift, but the pay is good and you have a chance to make a difference in someone’s life. As they say, doctors treat illnesses, but nurses treat patients.