March 09, 2025
08:20
Latrina is the Founder & CEO of Latrina Walden Exam Solutions (LWES). Her background is in creating a
NP Academy that supports and educates current and future nurses
through an Academy.
Follow her on Linkedin
for more tips & advice in the nursing world.
Table of Contents
NP school is no easy feat. It’s academically rigorous, clinically demanding, and mentally challenging.
5 Hardest Courses in NP School
- Pharmacology – The sheer volume of material in pharmacology makes it one of the hardest courses. Between learning drug classifications, mechanisms of action, and side effects, students often rely on Anki decks, flashcards, and early morning study sessions to keep up.
- Biostatistics – Requires analytical skills and a solid grasp of data, which can be tough for students without a math-heavy background.
- Pathophysiology – Understanding disease processes and applying them to clinical cases requires deep critical thinking and long hours of study.
- Adult Health II – This fast-paced course demands the application of advanced nursing concepts and critical thinking in patient care.
- Advanced Health Assessment – Combining hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge, this course challenges students to conduct detailed patient assessments.
Check out our np review courses if you are struggling with any of these topics in preparation for your np certification exam.
Hardest Parts of NP School
While these courses are tough, there are other significant challenges that NP students face outside of the classroom.
- Finding preceptors is one of the hardest aspects of NP school. Unlike medical residencies, NP students must secure their own clinical placements, which can be time-consuming and stressful.
- Balancing work and study is another major challenge. Many NP students are working full-time jobs while also completing clinical hours and coursework. This multi-tasking can quickly lead to burnout if students don’t manage their time carefully.
- Clinical rotations can take a significant emotional and physical toll, affecting students’ well-being.
So yes, becoming a nurse practitioner is tough.
And if you’re planning to choose one of the hardest NP specialties - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), NP school is the perfect time to develop the skills needed to manage the high-stress environments and complex patient care associated with that specialty.
The challenges you face in NP school will help prepare you for the hardest parts of being a nurse practitioner, ensuring you’re ready for what comes next.
Also check out our article to find out what is the fastest way to become a nurse practitioner.