Day in the Life of a Nursing Major

You’re looking for your future major—but let’s be honest, you don’t know what half of them actually entail. This series fills you in on what these majors mean at a liberal arts college, so you can decide for yourself what’s most interesting to you. Here’s what a nursing major looks like from the perspective of an actual student.

A nursing major is hands-on, fast-paced, and deeply people-centered. Students learn how to care for patients physically and emotionally while also working alongside healthcare teams in real clinical settings. This is Nora’s experience as a junior nursing major at Luther College. POV: You’re a nursing  major.

4:30 a.m. An Early Morning Red Bull

Nora Tresemer at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Methodist Hospital, where Luther nursing students complete their clinicals.

My day starts really early. I wake up at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for my clinical shift. I eat a quick breakfast and pack my lunch and bag, along with a Red Bull to get me through the day. As a junior nursing major, my schedule is different from my other years at Luther, because I am in my clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. (For future nursing students, clinicals at Mayo will be held during their senior year.)

By 6 a.m., I’m catching the shuttle that brings me to the hospital in time for the morning meeting with the nursing staff. I then look up my patients for the day and meet the nurse I will be shadowing and working alongside.

7 a.m. Hands-On Nursing

When I was young, I had a hospitalization experience that prompted my interest in nursing. The wonderful nurses that cared for me in a professional and positive way helped me realize that being a nurse would allow me to make a positive impact on others’ lives.

But before I began taking nursing courses at Luther, I had limited insight into the lives of nurses. I had no idea about the vastness of their responsibilities, like preventing and treating illnesses, educating patients on their health, and coordinating patient care. There is a large amount of leadership and advocacy that comes from nursing, which I really appreciate about the field.

For my eight hours of work, I am learning hands-on what it takes to be a nurse. I assess my patients, look into their diagnostic tests and histories, administer their meds, and help wherever I can. It is high-pressure but meaningful work!

4 p.m. Lock-in on Coursework

After my shift, I head back to my apartment (all nursing students in clinicals live in the same apartment in Rochester). I’ll spend the rest of the afternoon catching up on schoolwork. Nursing courses are designed to prepare us for the licensure exam at the end of college, so everything builds toward that.

Studying for me usually means rewriting notes, reading textbooks, and making flashcards. I also like talking through concepts with a friend or writing things out on a whiteboard.

The most challenging aspect for me is time management. My days are really busy, and the coursework can pile up quickly if I don’t stay on top of it. Being a nurse requires good time management; my courses help me in developing this skill.

7 p.m. Time To Myself

Nora hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

After finishing my work, I get to relax. I either cook dinner in my apartment or go out with friends in downtown Rochester. Nursing can be overwhelming, so it’s important to have time to decompress. I like crafting (right now I’m into cross-stitching), watching TV, and spending time with friends. Getting outside in nature also helps me reset after long days of work.

Nursing doesn’t leave a ton of free time, but I still stay involved where I can. I’m part of the Luther Student Nursing Association and my sorority, ABY; and I serve as chair of the Honor Council. I also sing in choir when I’m on campus, and double major in Spanish. Because the nursing major is so structured, it can be hard to meet people outside of nursing. Getting involved on campus has helped me branch out and build friendships beyond my nursing cohort.

Classes and Community

Nursing student Nora Tresemer and her best friend, Norah, during their junior year.

Nursing classes are unique in that you take them with the same student cohort. Mine has 24 people, and you get really close. We are split into two groups for the year. One started with psychiatric nursing and the other with pediatrics and obstetrics. At the end of the semester, the two cohorts switch.

Before clinicals, we practiced in Luther’s simulation labs, which prepared us for real patient care. We worked through urgent scenarios like asthma attacks and cardiac arrest. These simulations can be intense, but they ended up being some of the most memorable experiences.

Now in Rochester, I only have class once a week, held in the basement of the local church. My current classes include Health and Healing, Ambulatory Care Nursing, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Gerontological Nursing. Professors keep things engaging by having very interactive, hands-on classes.

It isn’t too difficult to balance my major with Luther’s general credit requirements. Many classes taken in the nursing major also count towards these requirements, and the nursing advisors do a wonderful job of planning classes around gen ed class times. In fact, I am even able to be a double major.

Worth It!

Nursing is challenging, especially at the beginning when it feels like everything is memorization. But over time, you start applying what you’ve learned, and it all clicks.

The most rewarding part of this major is working with real patients. By junior year, you’re making a genuine difference in people’s lives. One of my favorite moments was when a young patient asked if I could be their nurse again because they loved playing UNO with me. It might seem small, but it showed me how meaningful those connections are.

If you’re considering nursing, don’t be afraid to ask for help and build strong study habits early. Find a study group or partner, stay organized, and remember why you started.

Thank you for following Nora’s day-in-the-life! Being a nursing major is hard work!

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