Top 6 Challenges of Being a Nursing Student (And How Internships Help)

Nursing School Is Tough — But You’re Not Alone

Becoming a nurse is one of the most rewarding journeys in healthcare — but it’s also one of the most demanding. Between long hours, clinical rotations, emotionally intense situations, and the pressure to perform, nursing students face unique challenges that test their endurance and passion.

If you’re just starting your pre-nursing or BSN journey, it helps to know what obstacles lie ahead — and more importantly, how to prepare. In this article, we explore the six most common challenges nursing students face and how clinical internships, especially global programs like those offered by Go Elective, can help you build the skills, confidence, and resilience to succeed.

> Explore Go-Electives Pre-Nursing and Nursing Internships Abroad

1. Overwhelming Academic Workload

Nursing school is academically rigorous. You’re not only learning anatomy and pharmacology but also balancing labs, simulation exercises, case studies, and clinicals — often all at once. Many students struggle with time management, information overload, and the pace of accelerated nursing programs.

How internships help:

Internships teach you how to process and apply information in real time. By observing patient care, medication administration, and charting systems during a hospital-based internship, you develop critical thinking skills that make coursework more relevant and manageable.

Tip: 

Global nursing internships expose you to real cases you’ll later see in class — giving you a contextual foundation that enhances retention.

2. Fear of Clinical Settings and Making Mistakes

The first time you walk into a hospital ward as a student can be intimidating. Many nursing students fear harming a patient, making an error, or freezing under pressure during their first rotation.

How internships help:

Pre-nursing and nursing internships offer early, low-stakes exposure to the clinical environment. You learn the rhythm of hospital work, how nurses communicate with patients, and how decisions are made — all while being guided by experienced mentors.

Programs like Go Elective’s Nursing Internships in Kenya and Tanzania let you shadow in high-volume wards, helping you become familiar with medical equipment, patient interaction, and clinical teamwork before you're expected to perform.

3. Emotional Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

Caring for sick or dying patients can take a toll on your mental health — especially when you’re new to the field. Many nursing students experience compassion fatigue, stress, and anxiety, particularly during demanding clinical rotations or high-stakes exams.

How internships help:

Internships build emotional resilience by gradually immersing you in patient care settings. You get to reflect, process, and discuss what you observe — without the pressure of academic evaluation. Learning to recognize the emotional weight of nursing in a supportive environment builds mental strength for the future.

In Go Elective’s programs, students also participate in debriefing sessions and cultural immersions that emphasize holistic care and self-awareness.

4. Balancing School, Work, and Life

Nursing students often juggle part-time jobs, family responsibilities, and demanding class schedules. Burnout and lack of time for self-care are common complaints.

How internships help:

A well-structured internship provides full immersion in clinical learning without the competing demands of schoolwork and exams. Taking a summer or winter break to focus solely on patient care — whether at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa or in Arusha, Tanzania — can restore your motivation and deepen your focus.

This time also allows you to reflect on your goals, reenergize your nursing vision, and return to school with greater clarity.

5. Imposter Syndrome and Lack of Confidence

Many nursing students feel unprepared or not “smart enough” to be in the profession, especially during their first year or after seeing seasoned nurses in action. This lack of confidence can hinder participation, skill development, and leadership growth.

How internships help:

Hands-on experience builds confidence fast. Interning abroad, in particular, teaches you to think on your feet, adapt to new systems, and communicate across language or cultural barriers — all while reinforcing your clinical instincts. You come back more self-assured, adaptable, and ready to take initiative.

Our Pre-Nursing Internship Programs are designed to help students develop confidence early through guided observation, mentorship, and department rotations.

6. Limited Real-World Clinical Exposure in School

Many nursing programs face constraints in providing diverse, high-volume clinical experiences. Students may rotate through the same departments with limited patient interaction or face delays in placement.

How internships help:

Nursing internships abroad expose you to diverse healthcare systems, a wide range of clinical cases, and busy wards with real patients. You may rotate through:

• Labor and delivery
• Pediatrics
• Internal medicine
• Emergency and trauma care
• Surgical recovery units
• HIV and infectious disease clinics

In East Africa, resource limitations force providers to rely on clinical acumen, communication, and critical thinking — skills nursing students benefit from observing firsthand.

Bonus: How a Nursing Internship Abroad Boosts Your Resume

Besides helping you overcome the challenges of nursing school, an international internship also strengthens your nursing school application (if you’re pre-nursing) or enhances your job prospects after graduation.

Admissions and employers value:

• Global health exposure
• Cultural competence
• Hands-on learning in low-resource settings
• Initiative and adaptability
• Passion for patient care

With Go-Elective, students gain verifiable clinical hours, letters of recommendation, and real stories that stand out in interviews and essays.

Final Thoughts: You’re Capable — But Preparation Makes All the Difference

Nursing school is challenging, but it’s also transformative. The key to success isn’t just hard work. It’s strategic preparation, emotional resilience, and meaningful experience.

If you’re serious about becoming the best nurse you can be, consider a nursing internship abroad. Go Elective’s programs provide immersive, safe, and structured experiences for nursing and pre-nursing students ready to grow beyond the classroom.

> Explore Nursing Internships with Go Elective and take the next step in your journey with confidence.

Article Details

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Recent Articles , Pre-health, Nursing Internships,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 27, 2025