Frequently Asked Questions | Stony Brook School of Nursing (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to get into Stony Brook nursing? ›

Admission to Stony Brook University School of Nursing programs is highly competitive.

Challenging Course Material

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.

You're headed for a great career, one that's rewarding, challenging, and always exciting. But nursing school is notoriously difficult. Most nursing programs require high GPAs and impressive scores in math, chemistry, biology, psychology, and other demanding subjects. It's also extremely fulfilling.

Passing the NCLEX

The NCLEX is most likely the biggest challenge that all nursing students have to face. Keep in mind that it's never too early to start preparing for the NCLEX.

Is the first or second year of nursing school harder? The first semester by far is the hardest. This is because you are learning all the nuances of nursing school and studying and taking nursing-style tests.

With an acceptance rate of 95%, Arkansas Tech University offers one of the easiest ADN programs to get into. The program is open to Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses who wish to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing (AAS-RN).

According to a National League for Nursing study, the national dropout rate for nursing programs was 20 percent. While the attrition rate is higher for some bachelor's degree nursing programs, most people in school to become registered nurses (RNs) stayed in school and pushed through.

Nursing school will have semesters that are easier than others. The good news is that the longer you are in nursing school, the easier it gets. The coursework may remain about the same, but it will get easier due to: The fact that you'll be used to it after a semester or two and you'll know what it takes to succeed.

Why is the first year of nursing so hard? ›

The first year of nursing school is hard because you're starting a new venture. Not only are you learning new information specific to your industry, but you'll also be putting that education into action. Learning facts is much different than practicing them, so stretching yourself in this new way can be demanding.

However, there's no denying that nursing college is hard. There's a lot to learn, the exams are challenging, the schedules are complicated, and the assignments keep piling up. All of these factors can make life difficult for you as a student.

Reflect on your weaknesses

Spending too much time on paperwork. Paying too much attention to detail. Attempting to complete too many tasks at once. A lack of clinical experience, which may apply to recent graduates or new nurses.

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.

Emergency nursing is considered one of the most difficult fields of nursing, and certification in this specialty is highly desirable.

An ADN is a 2-year degree and is the minimum amount of education required to obtain a license to work as an RN, other than an RN diploma (See next section). Most RN's begin their careers working at the bedside performing direct patient care.

What is the average nursing GPA? ›

Average GPA: 3.53

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 3.53, Research College of Nursing requires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's.

What Happens If You Do Not Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam the First Time? Though the vast majority of candidates pass the exam the first time, those who fail are permitted to retake it after 45 days from their original test date. Candidates may retest as many as 8 times in a year.

The percentage of U.S.-educated candidates taking the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) for the first time and passing fell from 88.2% in 2019opens in a new tab or window to 82.5% in 2021opens in a new tab or window, while the pass rate for all candidates (including internationally ...

California: Every 45 days as many times as you want. Florida: 3 attempts then you have to go back to school. Pennsylvania: Unlimited attempts. Ohio: Unlimited attempts.

The most recurrent themes regarding the reasons behind BSN drop-out were: understanding that they were not suited to be nurses, perception of missing/lack of psychological, physical and practical resources needed to successfully cope with both nursing school and the nursing profession, inconsistencies between the image ...

Story at a Glance

You haven't completed the pre-requisites (or you may not know what they are). Your grade point average is too low. Your test scores don't meet the minimum admissions criteria. Your preferred school won't accept you (but perhaps another one does).

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.

Being a Nurse is better than being in Nursing School

In nursing school, it's about 90% theory and lectures, and 10% skills and application. In the nursing profession, it's flipped: its 90% application and 10% theory and learning. In fact, you apply theory and think critically as you're working.

So, ask yourself how caring are you of other individuals and their needs. In order to be a good nurse, you have to deeply care about people. If you are one of those types of people who just worry about themselves and do not really concentrate on how to help others, then nursing really is not for you.

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 to answer nursing school test questions? ›

Carefully read the entire question. Don't rush through it or stop halfway through because you assume that you know what's being asked. Reword the stem to make it easier to understand, and answer the question. Look for hints or key words, such as most, all, first, best, primary, initial, always, and never.

NCLEX Pass Rates

The second-attempt pass rate for domestically-educated students taking the test was 45.56%. These results demonstrate that it is a pretty difficult test. The questions are designed to test your critical thinking, knowledge of the nursing process, and assessment skills.

Whether or not the NCLEX is hard for you can vary based on factors such as how prepared you are for the exam. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN), just over 82 percent of candidates passed the NCLEX-RN exam on the first try in 2022.

All these new nurse struggles I have listed – exhaustion, anxiety, and feeling like nursing is too hard – are common to the nursing profession. You might even say that they are nothing more than the “signs and symptoms” of being a new nurse. The key is to never let these feelings defeat you.

Generally, the nurse-to-patient ratio recommendation is one nurse to every four patients. According to a National Nurses United report, there are currently no federal mandates that regulate the number of patients registered nurses (RNs) can care for simultaneously.

have a 'give-it-a-go' attitude to new skills but remember the aim of the first placement is to develop your basic skills, such as making conversation with patients, observations, assisting with personal hygiene and bed changing.

There's nothing quite like your first semester of nursing school. It's like learning a new language combined with art and science. You'll learn new medical terms and phrases. You'll learn the art of caring for patients while studying the human body, science, and pharmacology (the use and effects of drugs on the body).

The math section requires knowledge of algebra, fractions, percentages, statistics and other math functions.

If you fail one class, you do not fail nursing school. However, you will probably have to wait a period of time to repeat the course, as it won't be available the next semester.

How do I prepare for my first day of nursing school? ›

Many nursing students find that the hardest semester of nursing school is the first because adjusting to the demanding schedule feels like a culture shock.

One of the reasons why nursing school is so hard is that nursing students need to manage multiple academic responsibilities at the same time. As a nursing student, you'll not only need to do well on exams, but you'll also need to develop hands-on skills, communication skills, and bedside nursing skills.

Stony Brook University--SUNY is ranked No. 8 out of 185 in Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

Most programs require at least a 2.5 GPA or higher. Some set their limit at a 3.0 GPA. This is important to find out during the research phase of your accelerated nursing program search. So, what if you already have a bachelor's degree or non-nursing college credits, but your GPA isn't high enough?

What Percentage of Students Get into Nursing School? Each year, approximately 82% of nursing school applicants are accepted into nursing programs at colleges and universities in the United States. These numbers vary based on need, geographic location, and the ratio of available nurse educators to prospective students.

GPA requirements vary from school to school, and some early admission nursing programs require an even higher GPA of at least 3.8 or higher (weighted or unweighted). In general, you can expect that any highly competitive nursing program will have a high GPA requirement for applicants.

What college is best for nursing? ›

Grades Do Matter, but They Aren't Everything

The most important thing is that you are able to graduate through the program and pass NCLEX. However, I would encourage nursing students to work hard to keep their grades as high as possible, as there are also many benefits to maintaining a high GPA.

Average GPA: 3.53

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 3.53, Research College of Nursing requires you to be around average in your high school class.

Seek out nursing schools that look at GPA in different ways.

Some accept GPAs as low as 2.5, some only consider your GPA for nursing-specific prerequisites or during your last 60 hours of coursework, and some schools ignore your GPA altogether as long as you've completed the prerequisites.

Many nursing schools require a minimum grade of roughly 80% to actually pass, as well. By the time you realize you aren't doing well enough to be successful in the course, the choices can be pretty limited. Failure happens all the time.

Demonstrate your compassion by emphasizing your volunteer or community work on your application. If you're interested in volunteering but don't know where to start, reach out to your local hospital's volunteer coordinator. Another option is to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Just because you aren't asked about your GPA when applying for a nursing role, doesn't mean the employer isn't looking at it. It's certainly being looked at for residency programs and internships, and for many healthcare jobs that are taking on new graduates.

Is a 3.0 GPA good for nursing school? ›

While most nursing schools set their minimum GPA requirements at 3.0, there are accelerated nursing programs out there that accept students with 2.7 and 2.8 GPAs. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean you'd receive a lesser nursing education with these programs.

A GPA above 3.0 would be a good GPA for nursing school. That's the requirement for some programs. If you have aspirations for graduate school, you might need a GPA closer to a 4.0, depending on the school or degree you want.