I noticed many students are asking questions about the
nursing program. Some are only
thinking about it, while others are fully committed to taking the plunge. Almost everyone is scared to death of organic chemistry.
But what's really on your mind is: how hard is it?
I'm not going to lie. It's hard! But, totally worth it, especially if you really want to be a first-rate nurse. With all the support you'll receive from students, faculty, and staff, about 95% of you will ace your nurse licensing exams with ease.
If you're unsure about entering the program, it's important to first consider the mandatory courses. It's all science, all the time! During your first year you'll need to pass chemistry, biology, anatomy,
and physiology. Eek! Then there's the CPR certification and the math competency exam. However, since everyone is going through the same thing at the same time, study groups in
The Fens are aplenty.
Once you get the prerequisites out of the way, you can move on to the fun stuff: clinical labs!
The great thing is, the student to faculty ratio in clinical courses is 6:1. That means there's only about five other classmates in lab with you - which is perfect, if you want individual attention from your
professors. I highly suggest taking advantage of their time, too. They're all practicing nurses who can give you the real deal on techniques being used in today's hospitals.
Also, the
Learning Resource Lab (where you'll probably be spending most of your time), is not your average lab. It's designed to be like a real-life hospital. Upon graduating, you can walk into any hospital, anywhere, and already be familiar with all the equipment and supplies.
Oh, and then there's
Boston! There's no better city in the world to be a nursing major, than in Boston. Here, you can intern at numerous hospitals and health centers all located within WALKING distance from school. The world-renowned
Longwood Medical Area (includes
Children's Hospital of Boston,
Brigham & Women's Hospital,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) is
right around the block. Literally. You can roll out of bed, grab a cup of coffee, and be to your internship within 5 minutes.
Not to mention the more than 100
other clinical affiliations located throughout the city.
You can't beat it, really.
So about the hard part? Actually, nursing is really exciting, and like I said, totally worth the all-nighters before a chem exam. One of the most popular groups on campus is the
Nursing Liaison. By joining The Liaison, you can meet other nursing students and take part in coordinating social events, parties, alumni nights, and fundraisers for local charities. It's also a great group to join if you're looking to fill out a study group.
Nursing is the most popular major and is comprised of some of the brightest students. If you're nervous about placement exams, the science courses, the sim lab, or the clinical, don't be! From professors, to tutors, to classmates, everyone is here to help you.
