What Is the Hardest Class in Nursing School?
Discovering the most challenging course in a nursing program can be a perplexing journey, as it often hinges on a myriad of personal factors.
As you navigate the challenging path of nursing education, I will share insights into what typically constitutes a difficult class and reflect on my own experiences.
These experiences may resonate with or differ from your academic encounters.
These Are the Hardest Classes/Topics in Nursing School
Many students will find that pharmacology and medical dosage calculations will be one of the toughest classes or topics they will encounter in nursing school.
With that said, it’s important to understand that the answer is much more nuanced than that and will require further clarification.
The Subjectivity of Difficulty in Nursing Education
When you ask about the toughest class in nursing school, you might expect a straightforward answer.
However, the reality is that it’s a bit of a conundrum.
The difficulty of a nursing class can vary greatly depending on your personal interests, academic background, and even your biases.
It’s true that most, if not all, courses in nursing school present their own set of challenges, but let’s dive into the specifics, starting with the prerequisites.
What is the Hardest Nursing School Prerequisite Courses?
Before you even step foot into the core of nursing school, you’ll face prerequisite courses.
Among these, human anatomy and physiology often top the list of challenging subjects.
Depending on your institution, these may be separate classes or combined into a two-part series. Either way, to earn credit, you’ll need to complete both.
In my own schooling experience, these were, without a doubt, the most demanding pre-nursing classes.
The Rigors of Pharmacology in Nursing
Once in nursing school, the landscape changes. Many students find pharmacology to be particularly taxing.
This course is dense with information, covering a vast array of medications, side effects, and contraindications.
For most, it’s an introduction to a completely new lexicon of medical terms and concepts, which can be overwhelming.
However, if you find pharmacology intriguing, as I did, the interest may mitigate the difficulty to some extent.
The Underestimated Challenges of Advanced Nursing Courses
Interestingly, the courses I found most difficult during my nursing program were those that might seem less intimidating on the surface.
These were the classes taken toward the end of the program, which are often specific to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, such as leadership, community health nursing, and research.
Despite the common perception that these are ‘easier’ classes, my lack of interest in the subjects made them particularly challenging for me.
The Role of Personal Interest and Bias
Your personal interests and biases play a significant role in determining the difficulty of a nursing class.
For instance, while I found the aforementioned leadership and research courses challenging due to my disinterest, I had classmates who thrived in these areas.
It’s essential to recognize that what may be arduous for one student can be a passion for another.
What About Dosage Calculations?
I think it’s impossible to discuss difficult nursing school topics without bringing up dosage calculations.
For those unfamiliar with it, dosage calculations is the process of determining the correct medication dosages to administer to patients based on factors such as medication concentration and patient weight.
Many students struggle with dosage calculations because math is not their strong suit.
This is a good example of how personal strengths and biases can influence the classes that students find challenging in nursing school.
For me, being comfortable with numbers made dosage calculations one of the easiest topics in my nursing school experience.
Key Takeaways and Helpful Resources for Nursing Students
In conclusion, the hardest class in nursing school is not a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on various factors, including your strengths and interests.
If you’re currently a nursing student facing challenges, you should check out this nursing student course.
You’ll find helpful resources and a course designed to help you be successful in nursing school.
