Learn more about our ranked accelerated nursing degree (2023)

FAQs

Why are you choosing to enter the field of nursing at this time in your life or career? ›

It gives you the opportunity to positively impact your patients & community. “I want to be a nurse because I really want to help people through some of their most vulnerable moments,” explains Meagan Thompson. All nurses have at least one thing in common—they want to help people.

Admission to the Texas A&M School of Nursing is highly competitive.

Biology is an essential course for all nursing students because it serves as an introduction to the foundations of human life. Biological make-up also affects how a person responds to medications or other therapy. Nurses use biology every day to identify factors that may affect the health of their patients.

Many nurses are drawn to the profession because of a sincere desire to help others. These professionals can get a renewed sense of job satisfaction very day as they continue to provide caring and compassionate service to the patients to whom they are assigned.

“The motivation to become a nurse came from personal experience. My dad had cancer so for five years we had nurses visiting our home to treat his, as well as visits to and from the hospital. I was only young and ignorant to anything about cancer, other than it's 'a disease that kills'.

Nursing requires more dedication than many other careers. However, it's one of the most rewarding jobs you can have. Nursing school is notoriously difficult—and it's not for everyone. Graduate school is challenging as well.

Comprise more than 700 hours with supportive instructors. While enrolled in the Marian ABSN program, you can expect to participate in more than 700 hours of clinical rotations over four full-time semesters.

For those who are interested in more behind-the-scenes work, or who want to explore their options in healthcare, health science is a great alternative major to nursing. A health science degree can lead to many different careers, from a healthcare administrator to medical biller and coder.

How do you get all A's in nursing school? ›

Remember the nursing school classes are actually harder than the prerequisites and only the strong survive! While getting accepted into nursing school can be difficult the reward is well worth the hassle.

Accelerated nature of ABSN program

While nursing school course material is challenging because it involves complex concepts, it can also be difficult because there is so much to study, understand and apply.

The fastest way to become an RN is through an RN diploma program, which can be completed in as little as a year. While completing this program does not lead to a degree, it does make the individual eligible to take the NCLEX and earn their RN license.

Core values of nursing include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, honesty and social justice [3]. The core ethical values are generally shared within the global community, and they are a reflection of the human and spiritual approach to the nursing profession.

Sample Answer: In five years, I'd like to see myself as some type of clinical nursing specialist who still works as a part of your team. I'm interested in both geriatrics and oncology, and I want to learn more about both specialties before committing to one.

As a nurse, I can empower others.

When I see that a patient understands their disease process and the plan of care, it is an awesome feeling. Nurses have the ability to bring understanding and peace during what can be a confusing or challenging time. I also enjoy training new nurses.

A characteristic of a good nurse is one that shows empathy to each patient, making a true effort to put themselves in their patients' shoes. By practicing empathy, nurses are more likely to treat their patients as “people” and focus on a person-centered care approach, rather than strictly following routine guidelines.

Examples of the Best Answers

I wanted to do something in my career that is challenging, interesting, and makes a difference in people's lives daily. In the nursing profession, you deal with many aspects of patient care, and I enjoy the variety in the routine.

Why is nursing your dream job? ›

Nursing is the perfect career for me because it combines my passion for healthcare as well as my love for helping others who need it the most. I have the opportunity to help multiple people on a daily basis while practicing medicine which is something I have a passion for.

Health Assessment: the hardest semester of nursing school

Health assessment will likely be one of the initial courses you'll take in nursing school, and it involves delving into the various body systems and learning how to assess patients from head to toe.

There's a rumor circulating on the internet that The Guinness Book of Work Records has declared a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing to be the toughest of all bachelor's degrees to obtain. There's no truth to this claim.

Pharmacology. Pharmacology, or the study of medication, can seem scary because of the sheer scope of the course. "It becomes one of the hardest classes for nursing students due to the depth and amount of knowledge needed," says Megan Lynch, instructor at Pima Community College.

Clinicals are a subjective experience, and it's not very common to fail clinicals because there is a lot of support and interaction with the instructors. If you put in the effort — you're on time, you complete your care plans, you ask questions, and you're engaged — you will not fail clinicals.

Generally, each of these courses requires 60 clinical hours. Most students will have two clinicals a week, each lasting six hours—typically 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 3 to 9 p.m. Occasionally your placement may require a single 12-hour day.

No, students do not get paid for clinicals in nursing school. They are an extension of your comprehensive nursing education. While clinicals require students to work in real clinical settings, clinicals are an experiential learning opportunity that provides students with hands-on skill development.

You Can Still Become a Nurse, so Don't Give Up

Maybe you can retake a class over the break, file an academic appeal, or take some other action to get reinstated in the program. Many failed nursing students have done this successfully. If that doesn't work, you can apply to another school with a nursing program.

Which nursing specialty is the hardest? ›

Case in point, within all general areas of nursing, the Medical ICU, Trauma ICU, Peds ICU, Neonatal ICU, are perceived to require the highest skill set of nurses.

An associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) are the two most common fast track options. With each of these ways to receive nursing instruction, they require passing the NCLEX licensure examination.

How many hours a day should I study for nursing school? Everyone is different, but in general, it is recommended that nursing school students study anywhere from 2-4 hours a day. Committing class material to memory is essential to becoming a registered nurse, so the more time studying, the better!

On average, students in nursing school get 5.69 hours per night. That's probably because they're busy studying enough to get through their four-year degree program for a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN), an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a relevant diploma from an approved program.

The main reason why nursing school is challenging is because it involves learning about complicated nursing concepts and practical skills, then applying that information into diverse patient care scenarios — going well beyond memorizing facts. While it is challenging, nursing school is not impossible.

You cannot memorize everything.

Nursing school is loaded with concepts that need to be understood and applied to questions. Memorization will only get you so far in school. If you really want to excel in your classes, it is important that you fully understand the material.

Courses and content are more challenging. The level of knowledge you're required to have as a Nurse Practitioner is a huge step up from a RN. You'll take a lot of the same courses as you did with your BSN, but will go into each topic with a lot more depth because you'll be diagnosing and treating health problems soon.

Is ABSN equal to BSN? ›

An ABSN differs from a traditional BSN when it comes to timeline, method of instruction and previous education requirements. While these two paths differ, they both are subject to the same accreditation, quality curriculum and NCLEX preparation.

Accelerated nursing programs are worth it for many reasons. An ABSN opens the door for a fulfilling career with a competitive salary and great growth potential. You'll be in demand, and you'll be able to choose a unique specialty. Accelerated programs let you save time and graduate sooner.

Traditional BSN programs are for students with no college experience and only require a high school diploma. Accelerated BSN programs accommodate students who have enough college credits required for admission.

While nursing is a practical, hands-on profession, it also requires special technical competencies and clinical analysis skills that will potentially save people's lives. As such, you cannot become a Nurse without a degree in nursing. This is the most important out of the qualifications needed to be a Nurse.

What is the fastest LPN to RN program? LPN-RN bridge programs that lead to an ADN let LPNs become RNs in as little as one year. ADN-holders qualify to take the NCLEX-RN and apply for state RN licensure. Graduates who decide to pursue a BSN later can complete an RN-to-BSN bridge program.

Example: “I believe that I am an ideal applicant for your nursing program because I possess the intelligence required to learn important medical knowledge, the natural dexterity to manage the physical demands of a nursing position and an empathetic heart which is well-suited to a care-giving field.

Examples of the Best Answers

I wanted to do something in my career that is challenging, interesting, and makes a difference in people's lives daily. In the nursing profession, you deal with many aspects of patient care, and I enjoy the variety in the routine.

Patient Care

Directly caring for patients is the biggest part of nursing, and an excellent potential aspect of your answer to the question of “why” you want to be a nurse. If you love working with patients, it could be an ideal entry into your answer to this question. “Human connection has always been important to me.

What are your core values in nursing? ›

Core values of nursing include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, honesty and social justice [3]. The core ethical values are generally shared within the global community, and they are a reflection of the human and spiritual approach to the nursing profession.

Having empathy to interact with the patient and their family and helping them to cope with problems is very important in a nursing position. Having the ability to understand and share those feelings with the patient and their loved ones is an essential strength for a nurse.

“I have chosen this University for four reasons. Number one, I carried out extensive research into the University, your track record of achievement and the support you provide for your students. During my research, everything pointed to this being a positive, supportive, and encouraging place for me to learn and study.

Include information about your skills and natural talents in your answer. Consider mentioning how your skills align with the subject matter. Focus on your unique strengths that could contribute to your success in the course. Discuss the skills you hope to further develop through the course.

Compassionate

One of the most important qualities of a good nurse is compassion. In their career, nurses will see patients suffer. Beyond simply offering a solution, they must be able to express compassion for patients and their families. This allows them to form meaningful relationships with their patients.

Tell an important story

Use a personal story or two about a time when you demonstrated the qualities that would make you a good nurse. These could be experiences where you were able to exhibit your work ethic, personality traits, passion for health care, or compassion for others.

“The workplace environment often has the biggest impact on how motivated you are at work. You thrive when you are part of an upbeat, supportive environment that gets you "in the zone" that you need to be in so that you succeed.

Example: "I'm interested in this job because I can see that, in this role, my skills could help solve this problem within your company. I also see an opportunity for me to learn and grow these skills, so we both would benefit personally, professionally, and financially.

What are your goals in career? ›

Experience career stability

Short-term goals: Hone skills that support stability in your role, build time management skills, build strong work relationships. Long-term goals: Earn a specific salary, get a job with strong benefits, practice work-life balance, build a strong reputation at work.