Hello to all,

I'm starting college as a freshman here in a few weeks. I plan on majoring in Practical Nursing to become a LPN. Maybe eventually become a RN but for now a LPN.

Anyway my question is how smart do you really need to be? I didn't try my best in high school and my average grades were A's,B's, and a few C's. I'm going to take college seriously and do my best. However, I'm wondering if you have to be a true "brain" to be a LPN. I really want to be a nurse and I have a passion for it, but I know for a fact I'm not as smart as some people also trying to get into the nursing program. So how smart do I really have to be and how good of grades do I need to get in my general classes before nursing school?

Please help, and thankyou!!!!

Hi, I believe that you will meet some very bright students during your studies. BUT I think that hard, consistent work can and will get you as far as, if not further, than being very bright. I used to think of myself as super smart, however, I do find myself having to work hard to succeed in my science classes. I do have different circumstances in my life than you: I had college coursework completed before starting school as a prenursing student, I'm in my early 30's, married and 3 kids. I've earned A's in my prereqs by working hard. Being "smart" didn't mean I didn't have to put in work. I hope this helps without offending anyone on AN. I see people who work hard getting A's. Hard work, to me, means prioritizing your time, spending time studying, willingness to go the extra mile to learn the topics, not slacking, going to on campus resources, etc.

I plan on working my butt off. I didn't try my best in high school but this is different because it's something I really want to do and succeed in. I'm not the greatest in math, other than that I decently rounded I'd say in other subjects.

While it is important to get the grades to pass all your subjects, being a top student academically does not guarantee being the best nurse. After graduation I worked with one of the top achievers in my class.She may have aced exams and written brilliant essays but she struggled working on the floor.She lacked the ability to "read" her patients and usually ended up rubbing everyone the wrong way. Used to being always right, she nitpicked, criticized and challenged everyone.She refused to believe that real life didn't always go "by the book". She was arrogant and never listened to her patients. She lacked in what everyone calls "people skills".She has since bounced around from job to job, It's been 4 years and I think she is on her fifth job.

So don't waste time comparing yourself to the inevitable "stars" of the class. Just dig in and do your best and be yourself and you'll do fine.Best of luck.

As, Bs, and Cs without trying much means you are almost certainly smart enough as far as raw intelligence goes. Some who have done okay without trying haven't learned effective/efficient ways of working at learning. It is at least as much how you work as it is how hard you work.

The power of our mind is infinite. You are as smart as Einsten. The trick is to make your self believe that truth. Working hard almost always leads to positive outcomes.

If anyone feels like you do, it's me, so I'm going to give you a few words of advice, along with my story.

To be a totally honest person, I averaged C's and F's in high school. I made an occasional B and every so often an A. I didn't care until my last year of high school, and then I had all A's and B's. I had it in me, to make good grades, I just didn't care in high school. I felt like there were more important things I could be doing (how dumb is that?!)

There are a lot of things I'd like to go back and change, but I can't, doesn't mean we still can't be amazing nurses! I'm in my last semester of pre-reqs and since high school, I'd say I've definitely got my priorities in check. Don't let what grades you made in high school weigh you down from grades you can make in pre-reqs and in the LPN Program. If Nursing is truly your passion, you're going to find this as a whole different ball game, as opposed to the way things were in high school.

I've made A's in all of my pre-reqs so far and I only have two more left, and I'm going to try my hardest to make A's in those. If you haven't yet, discover which ways you study better. Flash Cards are my savior. I'm pretty sure I'd be up a creek with no paddle, if I didn't have those to help me study. You'll be just fine! Just make sure you set aside enough time for studying!

There may also be a couple of classes that you have to have a B in by the end of the semester, or you'll have to retake it. For me, that was Math, and A&P which I have coming up this coming semester. To find out which one of those your college requires, get with your adviser or look over the LPN pamphlet they may have given you that breaks down each semester and it's requirements!

I'm a nervous wreck, I won't lie -- but if I can go from maintaining mostly C's and F's in high school, to maintaining A's in Nursing Prerequisites, so can you! Good luck!