Is Nursing School Hard? 4 Things to Expect

In a critical care setting, nurses can expect to make a clinical decision approximately every 30 seconds. Many of those decisions are made under pressure. While not every nurse works in critical care, all are responsible for the life, health and safety of each patient they care for. That means that preparation for a nursing career must be thorough.

Is nursing school hard? It can be, and the need to graduate future nurses who are prepared to tackle complex challenges is one reason why. It helps to choose a highly supportive nursing school. At Xavier University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program provides outstanding student support, including accessible instructors, Academic Success Coaches and NCLEX-RN prep resources.

Each nursing student will have a different experience, and what others find difficult, you may find easy, and vice versa. To answer the question, “Is nursing a hard major?” from your own personal perspective, consider factors like scheduling issues and what your comfort zone is.

1. You’ll Have Limited Free Time

As a student in the Xavier ABSN program, you’ll be learning a lot of information in a short period. Traditional BSN programs typically take four years to complete, whereas the Xavier ABSN program can be completed in as few as 16 months.

Even with our shorter timelines, we don’t compromise quality. As such, you’ll need to commit a lot of time to your coursework and studying, not only in class, but also during evenings and weekends. Be prepared to treat the program as a full-time job.

It’s important to maintain your focus in classes and labs, as well as during study sessions. Merely putting in the hours isn’t enough; you must be fully present and ready to learn.

To prepare for your program, it’s a good idea to talk to your loved ones in advance about the sort of support you’ll need. Perhaps you can find some help with childcare, errands and other personal responsibilities. It’s also a good idea to take care of certain things before starting school, like ensuring your vaccinations are current and any health conditions are well managed.

2. Nursing School Requires a Fast-Paced Schedule

Nursing school will keep you busy. Investing in a planner or scheduling app will be helpful when you start nursing school. You’ll want to block time for homework, studying, labs, clinicals, tests and quizzes. You can expect to be busy every day.

To stay on track, organize your assignments by how long they’ll take to finish and record their due dates in your planner. Since obstacles can pop up unexpectedly, however, try to finish all work ahead of its deadline.

You may also want to manage expectations with your family and friends and inform them that you’ll be very busy with your nursing education. This may mean missing out on events you’d normally attend, but remind them that with the ABSN program, your time in school is temporary and graduation will arrive in as few as 16 months.

3. Becoming a Nurse Means Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Is nursing a hard major? Undoubtedly, nursing school will test the boundaries of your comfort zone. Feeling a little overwhelmed is normal but approaching your nursing education with a realistic and positive attitude can make a huge difference.

If you don’t usually ask questions in class or tend to be the last to volunteer for a demonstration, start taking the initiative and participating more in nursing school. Stepping out of your comfort zone and immersing yourself in your classes and cohort will be invaluable, especially when it comes time to apply your skills and knowledge to real patients.

4. You’ll Start Interacting With Patients From the Start

Not every nursing student finds patient interactions challenging, but even if you are highly outgoing, it may take a little while to find your footing during clinical rotations. At Xavier’s ABSN program, you’ll start clinical rotations from the first semester. That means you’ll need to arrive prepared to exhibit professionalism, look floor-ready and remain open to constructive criticism.

You’ll do progressively more complex nursing tasks during clinical placements at nearby healthcare facilities in Cleveland or Columbus, Ohio. At first, you’ll be shadowing experienced nurses and learning how to interact with patients. Then, you can begin performing basic and increasingly more complex tasks, like inserting IV lines. You’ll be closely supervised throughout each clinical placement, with many opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback.

Why Nursing School Is Worth It

Is becoming a nurse difficult? Yes, but there are several reasons why a nursing career is worth the effort, including:

1. Robust Job Growth

Nurses have been in high demand in the U.S. for quite some time. This trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth rate for RNs is expected to be 5% from 2024 through 2034, faster than average for all occupations.

2. High Earning Potential

According to the BLS, RNs earned a median annual salary of $93,600 as of May 2024. Salary expectations can vary based on factors like nursing specialty, geographic location and years of experience, along with certifications. In nursing, there is also significant room for career advancement, bringing the potential for higher salary expectations.

3. Diverse Career Opportunities

Nurses can choose from many different nursing careers, from pediatrics to geriatrics and beyond. Some of the nursing specialties that might interest you include:

• Critical care nursing
• Disaster response nursing
• Emergency department nursing
• Flight nursing
• Home health nursing
• Medical-surgical nursing
• Oncology nursing

Find Out Why Nursing Is Worth It for You

Is nursing school hard? It can be easier with the right support system, and you’ll have extensive support at Xavier University. During your time in the Xavier ABSN program, you’ll interact with a cohort of peers, our knowledgeable faculty and our admission team. When courses get challenging or you have questions, we will be happy to help. You’re not walking alone on your journey to become a nurse. This includes Academic Success Coaches, who can work with you one-on-one to help you overcome any obstacles, both academic and personal.

Contact our admissions advisers today to get started.