To think Nursing is one of the hardest degrees?

[UndertheCedartree]

I did a nursing degree as a 2nd degree as a mature student. I actually felt sorry for the 18 year olds starting it as they didn't get the usual Uni experience. No Freshers - as we'd already started a few weeks before and were in back to back lectures/classes. Social life was limited due to work load and placements with early starts and long hours.

I found it very stressful. Long hours in Uni due to hours needed to pass the professional qualification. Half the time spent working full time while having to write assignments and study for exams. Also the OSCEs (practical exam) and VIVAs (oral exam) that were so different to anything I'd done before.

So AIBU than Nursing is one of the hardest degrees?

It isn't really.

Academically, definitely not.

But it depends on what you have an aptitude for.

Lots of people would find maths, physics, medicine, dentistry etc. much more difficult.

Some people will find it demanding. For some, it's a means to an end.

I'd agree. Although what about medicine?

No it isnt. Nursing can be a challenging job. There are harder degrees

Erm, no.

Placements are common across lots of degrees - teaching, medicine etc. I’ll agree that it’s demanding on your time, but no it’s not the most difficult.

Definitely not! And going by the medical knowledge of some of my nurse acquaintances, there is a massive difference in knowledge base between nursing staff and doctors. That's not taking away from their nursing skills (which most likely outshine the majority of doctors) but academically there is a vast difference in the training.

It's hard, I wouldn't say hardest. It's certainly not tge hardest academically, but it can be really tough.

I think people don't often appreciate the hours done. Most degrees finish for summer in June, mine finished in late July or August. In my 3rd year I only had 3 weeks for summer.

Sometimes due to placements you're writing essays while working 40hrs a week. If you then needed to do bank HCA work to eat (most if us did) it can feel pretty intense.

@Unshriven - it was a very academic course.

You are going to get some seriously bitchy replies with that title .

It is hard, I found it tough both academically and practically (and I have a degree in an 'academic' subject. But it's not a competition and I'm sure there are many degrees as challenging.

@KindergartenKop - yeah, that's why I said one of. I think Medicine is extremely demanding too.

@NoMorePoliticsPlease - you are working as part of the degree. What degrees are harder and why?

Unless you have done a huge variety of degrees I don't think you can make that judgement. Some of your reasoning, no freshers, long hours etc are not really a judgement in how hard the degree is.

I think it's hard, but degrees are not supposed to be easy. That you had little social life due to place my isn't restricted to nursing.

@HopefullyAnonymous - I didn't say the hardest but one of the hardest. There are not many degrees where you work full time half of the time.

I agree that it's demanding on your time compared to most traditional degrees however academically it's definitely not that difficult.

I didn't think anyone expected university to be a 3 year piss up any more due to the amount it costs?

I did a BSc part time as a mature student while working 30 hours a week for my employer and still found time to go out for drinks a couple of times a week and run my own household.

Coming to the end of my NA training. Yes it is hard, both academically and training wise. Even though I have done OU course in the past , I've found the assignments a challenge, this year I have 6 assignments , 2 osces, 3 oral presentations. Oh top of this I'm working full time and doing 'mum stuff'.
I am having to learn biology , anatomy and psychology. As well as clinical training, ecg, catheterisation, bloods& cannulas , etc.
It may not be nuclear science degree but it is hard work.

@WaitrosesCheapestVodka - we didn't break up for Summer til the last week of August and had 4 weeks off. Only 3 weeks off during the rest of the year. No long holidays for us.

We run a nursing degree programme but it is structured to fit the Uni terms with all summer off. They get half a day a week to take advantage of uni sports and activities and they do not do theory modules when in practice. It depends how the uni has decided to structure their programme in effect.

I don’t think so personally. I’m a nurse, went through uni, worked bank as an auxiliary to make ends meet. Yeah it’s demanding bu it’s what I wanted to do and was within my ability to do so.
I wouldn’t be able to do a philosophy or mechanical engineering degree. They would blow my bloody mind.

I did the diploma. It went that stressful. But we did miss out on the student life style. I wasn't involved in any society's because I did t know there were there. We were on a separate campus from the rest of the university. And also missed freshers as we started in January. The amount of work the students have to do now, makes my course look like a walk in the park!

@ItMustBeBedtimeSurely - it's not a competition no! But I don't think many people realise how full on it is both academically, work-wise and time-wise! I have a Maths degree and found it much easier!

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus - when you say academically it is not hard - I'd be interested what you're basing that on? Have you done a nursing degree? To be fair I think it varies a lot at different Unis but at mine it was definitely academic.

What are the "easiest" degrees?

Definitely depends on your aptitude, experience, preferences etc.

@Casino218 - all summer off?? Do they get any other time off? I'm not sure how you managed to fit all that in!! And surely that afternoon off a week is used for studying?

I do think it is probably more stressful than a lot of degrees but not 'harder' as such. When I hear people say they have 12 contact hours or whatever a week I am like huh??? We were full time hours whether in uni or on placement, 7 weeks off a year. Having to juggle essays and nightshifts is a complete nightmare.

I definitely found it a really tough three years. I did midwifery not nursing but is very similar.

@carlyclock - no freshers, socialising was just anout feeling a bit sorry for the younger ones not getting that side to Uni life. When I'm refering to the degree being 'hard' - I don't just mean academically. I mean the relentlessness and lack of time for anything else. I know other degrees have placements but not many and they are not all equal to full time working.

@BarbaraofSeville - you have to remember people are studying nursing full time and working full time half the time on placement too. Then working on top of that. So not quite the same as a part time degree while working reduced hours.