I’m in my last year of my BSN program and honestly have no idea what specialty I want to go into after graduation.
Other than my clinical rotations, I really don’t have much hospital experience. I recently saw an opening at my local hospital for an ICU NA position and I’m debating whether I should apply.

Part of me thinks it would be a great opportunity to get some actual hospital experience and see what the ICU is like, but I also don’t know if I even want to work in the ICU after I graduate.

Would you guys recommend taking an ICU NA job even if I’m not sure I want to do ICU nursing? Or would it make more sense to try to get an NA/PCT job on med-surg, telemetry, or another general unit so I can get exposure to different things?

Basically, if you were in my position during your last year of nursing school, would you go for the ICU job or try to get experience somewhere more general?

Hello! I am 23, and have a BA in psychology. My dream career is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I have the prerequisite classes done for an ABSN or most direct entry MSNs, but I don’t know what is more worth it. Working while doing them seems to be ill-advised and I’m also not sure what the best method is to manage that. Would it be better to do ABSN then work for a bit as RN, and then proceed to MSN, or to apply for direct-entry MSNs? Or a third unknown option. Thanks for any advice!

Tomorrow, I have an interview with the ER. I’m both excited and nervous at the same time. Does anyone have advice on how to do well on the interview and not let their nerves get the best of them? Thank you 🙏

Have an interview coming up and I've been out of work for a while in general, so it's been years since I've had a job interview.

What types of questions did they ask you?

I hope this is allowed here, but my head is spinning and I didn’t know where else to start. I’m 40 years old, an attorney, but I’m burnt out and miserable. I have always wanted to be a nurse (labor and delivery in particular). I have started researching what I would need to do to be a late in life nurse and its incredibly daunting. I think my science and math classes went up to MAYBE biology and Math 2. I’m talking bottom of the barrel stuff, because I was a liberal arts major.

I have been researching accelerated programs (I am also former military so found some like UNC that allow you to get a pathway to entry.

Long story short, please help! Do you have any suggestions to get me on the right track? Should I be doing community college classes for prerequisites? Any guidance or assistance would be absolutely amazing. Thanks so much!

Hello everyone, I’m currently in college finishing up my gen Ed’s before going into the RN program and I’ve heard from a ton of people that it’s extremely competitive. I’ve been considering doing the CNA to LPN to RN route to make it a little easier on myself especially since I’m not really good with school and struggle and was wondering if this would be a good option for me?
Has anyone done this route with success or should I just keep powering through into the RN program.

Well guys. It happened. I slept through clinical. I realized around 9AM that I misread my calendar and had an email from my professor. Only 1 clinical is allowed to be missed before getting dismissed. So from now until December I cannot miss a clinical.

I don’t know that I’ve ever been more broke and anxious. I don’t feel like a human I feel like a ball of anxiousness stuck inside of a meat suit. I moved away for nursing school and I’m set to graduate as a RN this upcoming May. Ive literally been donating plasma to pay my car note & have gas money since I have to drive 4hrs a week for clinical. I could sit for my LPN NCLEX but I’m stuck waiting for my refund check because I don’t have money to pay for or even register it. Then if something happens with my car, I don’t have anyone here that would be able to bring me, and I definitely don’t have uber money. It’s just so stressful on top of class, clinicals, SIM lab, and exams.

I just need some folks that understand what it’s like to give me some wise words and to know or hear if others have felt this way for my own comfort.

Hi! I’m a sophomore and finally just started the nursing classes which have been fun and interesting since it’s a passion of mine but I find my cohorts are in some sort of clique that I can’t and I’m not sure I want to get into.

First day of classes I didn’t expect anyone to talk to each other because it was sort of the introductory day where we get familiar with the course. I arrived early because I wanted to measure out the commute and stuff I sat down and students started pooling in and sitting on the opposite side of me. There’s only two sides of tables and all but three students sat on the right side, me included.

I brushed it off as whatever since they most likely knew each other before hand since my pathway into nursing was accelerated because I joined the program a semester after school started last year.

In lab last week there was a little scavenger hunt for rooms around our floor and everyone branched off into a few groups to search for rooms. Introduced myself and they didn’t respond.

I’m also left with no partner during lab as-well.

I was a bio-chem major for my first semester in college and thought the college life was fairly nice. People would hold doors open to you and interact with you and things, when I’m not in the nursing building people still do lol.

But anyway, the energy just felt really off when I met my cohorts. I’ve also picked up on things now being there for two weeks. The girls don’t say good morning back, don’t hold doors open, and purposely close the elevator on me.

Is/has anyone else dealt with things like this in their classes? I figured with how difficult the course is there would be more camaraderie but I guess not?

Why does taking someone's vitals feel more awkward and intimate and invasive than having them taken? I've never once been a patient having my vitals taken and thought "god I wish this nurse would get tf out my space," but when I'm the one doing it all I can think is "oh god oh god I'm so sorry I'm in your space." Every instinct in my body is telling me I'm too close to the patient and I must be making them uncomfortable.

Did anyone else deal with this? Does the awkwardness fade with more practice?

I just started my BSN program for nursing, and while I knew this would be difficult, I’m feeling very anxious and overwhelmed. I genuinely feel like I’m going to fail and I won’t be able to keep up with the workload. I’ve always done very well in classes before this, but nursing school feels like a whole new world. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone experienced the same feelings?? I hope I’m just overthinking it, but idk.

I’m going into nursing after 5 years working in marketing/graphic design and have no healthcare experience. Im currently taking pre reqs and many of my classmates seem to have healthcare experience either as CNAs, LPNs, etc. A huge part of my reason for going into nursing is the flexibility and growth opportunities and I’d want to do outpatient care. But I’m also a compassionate, patient and kind person and feel that I can be a great advocate for people who are in vulnerable situations health wise but have never actually (all gratitude to the most high) had health problems or been in hospitals for a long time to have interacted with really impactful nurses. I studied sociology and learned about the disparities and how they negatively impact POC. I think id be a great advocate for POC and people of immigrant backgrounds. How can I beautify these points in my application with no direct patient care? Is there a way (or should I) loop in my marketing experience somehow?

So clinicals are tmmr and I’m honestly so fucking terrified to be completely honest. I haven’t even worked at a hospital before so i don’t even know what to expect. I’d appreciate any tips or advice on what to expect

TLDR I graduated two years ago with an art degree (bad decision, I know) and am considering going back to college. My old college has an accelerated program specifically for previous graduates who want to come back for nursing, meaning it’d be an accessible path for me. On top of that I’m only 24, so I think it’d be easy to pivot my career at my age.

It’s been something I’m mildly interested in but unsure about? Without divulging personal details, my mother has Parkinson’s and I’ve acted as an unofficial caretaker for her, hence why I’m interested in going into medical care. My godparents highly recommend it as well, with one of them being a nurse herself, citing good pay and solid job security.

But at the same time I know a hospital is much more hectic than a home and I’m intimidated by the prospect of dealing with medical emergencies. On top of that, the idea of going into nursing for the money feels weird for me, but that may be the idealist in me talking.

What should I know about the profession before I commit?

I looked forward to this for so long. My cohort sucks.

So much planning, praying, money, and sacrifice to finally go to nursing school.. I get here and the mean girls are eating me alive.

I'm intelligent. I'm enthusiastic. I'm not mean or negative or unnecessarily bitchy because I'm genuinely happy to be there, and apparently that's not the norm in nursing.

I'm a CNA, I know how shitty things are, I'm still happy to be there. I have the smarts and a good attitude but I'm chubby.. I'm a lesbian.. and the mean girls decided to make my sexuality their business when I definitely neverrr discussed it with them.

When I asked around trying to form a study group, they joked that I was "single and ready to mingle." I wanted a fuckin study group and I was just happy to be there! Needless to say this experience has broken my heart. I know that bullied bully because they're unhappy, but I thought I'd make some friends here. Keeping my head down and getting out wasn't part of my dream. Tons of stupid ass gossip stemmed from those comments about the study group, and I had to get teachers involved. Group chats got involved. And literally I never attacked anyone. I never belittled anyone.

I want to quit. Maybe nursing isn't the right path. I think about it every day, but then I realize I really do want to be a nurse. I genuinely don't know how to cope. Every class feels like heartbreak atm

I have mild to moderate hearing loss and been looking through amplified stethoscopes as recommended by my nursing professor. I also have in the ear canal hearing aids.

What brand/model do you recommend? Do you guys still put your stethoscope in while your hearing aids are still in? Or, do you have to take them out? If so, how often did you have to sanitize your hands?

Hi everyone. I’m an LPN student in an accelerated program in New York, and I’m probably going to be dismissed from the program (with few others). I’m not the smartest student, but I’m hardworking, and English is not my first language. I’m not trying to make excuses for failing; I just want some honest perspective.

We have ONLY ONE instructor who teaches basically both pharmacology and med-surg. She’s in her early 70s and has a very old-school teaching style. And before anyone says I’m judging her because of her age, that’s not the point. She’s simply a very bitter and harsh person, and she’s not particularly nice to students.

She’ll give us 60 to 130+ pages and say, “Study this, it’s easy, you’ll pass.” But our textbooks have chapters that are often 50–70 pages each, and an exam can cover 4–5 chapters, meaning hundreds of pages.

Then if something appears on the exam that wasn’t in the material she specifically told us to focus on, she’ll say, “You should have studied the books they gave you.” So which is it? Study the material you tell us to study, or study hundreds of pages for every exam?

I understand nursing school is supposed to be difficult. But when students come to her for help, we sometimes get responses like, “It’s easy, you should figure it out,” or even, “If you can’t figure that out, I don’t think you deserve to be a nurse.”

It’s also not just me struggling. A lot of students are failing compared with last semester, when apparently the situation was much better.

She is very political. There have also been comments about male nurses, immigrants, and Asian people that have made students uncomfortable. I don’t want to make accusations I can’t prove, but some comments have definitely raised eyebrows. Since she’s the only instructor teaching these major subjects, students are scared to complain because she has so much control over our grades.

I’ve also been dealing with depression and anxiety because of things that happened at school, which obviously hasn’t helped me academically. But I’m not blaming her for everything. I know my grades are ultimately my responsibility.
So I’m asking current/former LPN/RN students:
Is this normal nursing-school behavior, or does this sound unusually bad? How much instructional support should students reasonably expect from their instructor? And what would you do if you were in a program where the only instructor teaching your major subjects was someone you felt uncomfortable reporting?

I am struggling in my clinicals. I’m in my last semester and my instructor is giving me not-mets for things I don’t know. How we learn the things we don’t know? Who can I go to for help?? I feel like I can’t get help from my instructors. Please help! I have no prior experience and I’m almost done, but I’m struggling so much. I dread every clinical day and it’s affecting my sleep and mental health so much because of the stress.

Hi everyone

For some context, I’m supposed to start in October. I was told less than a week before that i had to take the HESI (i was never told this until that moment) so, I took it last Friday, and it was remote so i had to take apart my whole desk and download a bunch of apps on my computer, and it took longer than expected and at one point i had to restart my computer because the software wasn’t working. This made me feel so anxious going into the test because i was unsure if i was even going to do it. After I finally get connected, I start and very quickly become overwhelmed. I was able to pass all of the english sections, but once it came to anatomy and math, the stress had really gotten to me and I almost started crying during the test. My mind felt like it was deteriorating from the stress and I just wanted to be done. At one point, I didnt notice, but i was reading out loud to help me process what i was supposed to do. The procter told me i couldn’t talk, so that stressed me out even more.

I failed those two sections, and I sobbed afterwards. Ever since then, ive been feeling so depressed and ive been avoiding doing school work because part of me just thinks ill never be able to actually become a nurse. I was contacted to reschedule, but i feel so nervous, i honestly just want to give up. I love being a CNA, and I’m very passionate about being a nurse, i just feel like I’m in such a rut.

I just started nursing school last week and we’ve been working on 2 step BP. My issue is no longer feeling the brachial pulse for the first step. We have to use the brachial pulse, we can’t use the radial pulse. I can typically find it, but it can be so faint I have trouble telling when it stops. Any tips or advice? I feel discouraged knowing it’s only week 2 and I can’t seem to get it.

I’m a freshman at a California CC and trying to transfer to a CSU. I need A’s in all my science prereqs to get into the school I want.

How did you study for these classes? I’m already regretting putting these two classes together this semester but can’t back out now

Any general advice, notes, websites, study schedules, or your own stories is welcome and much appreciated!

Just started a new program and I’m really not into it. Normally I enjoy academic type things but I feel more annoyed and frustrated. Paying $500+ with fees per credit hour and it’s just read these articles, post to discussion board, respond to others discussion board posts, and at some point write a paper and do quiz. None of the topics interest me. None of the courses interest me. Might just be my specific program?

Not sure how long I can do bedside or healthcare for that matter. Not even sure if I like nursing enough to invest in a BSN. If I stay at my current job, def not!

Push through to the good stuff or f-it?

I took my first patho exam, and I got a 70. I felt confident going into it and even through it, but then I saw that I missed 17 questions. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong and how I can improve. I prepared about a week ahead, and we have three tests in one week, spread over two days. I did not feel ready at all for this test, but then again, I never do. I tried; I really did. I prepared by reading through the study guide and doing my notes by hand because I am never able to remember things unless I write them by hand. Then I made a notebook with NotebookLM to help explain the tougher concepts and do practice questions, which I did well on. I even did my professor's practice tests and did well on those. How can I do better?

Edit: 70 and above is considered passing

Any student RN nurses from BC Canada that can chat about how they got into the program, how they found the work load and home work.

I am considering taking the RN instead of the LPN. I was in school for LPN back in 2021 and had to leave the program because I went through a bad separation from my kids father.

At the time I was driving 1 hour each way to school 5 days a week with 4+ hours a night of homework after a full day of 6 different classes. It was hell. My kiddo was also only 3 at the time and still greatly needed her momma. Now that she is 8 I am thinking I should just do the RN as that was my end goal anyways to upgrade to it. I will be travelling again this time around 1 hour each way. Moving closer is not much of an option as her father and I do week on week off so need to be close ish to her school.

Is RN schooling as crazy as LPN where you take 6 different classes at one throughout the day/week or do you do one course at a time before moving on to the next.

What electives did/were you allowed to take before the course started? I think I read online that if you do electives before it can help with 1st year.

Yes I have contacted the school I plan on applying with, they are confusing and hard to get ahold of.