Everyone has a 4.0 GPA!!

fiveofpeep · Jun 17, 2009

SO yes, I am concerned to see this and if she really does have a 4.0 and would be accepted into the nursing program and I am not. I am concerned and would feel very upset that someone who's GPA was above mine by less than .31 percentage got accepted and I didn't. From what I gather if honestly all those nurses had 4.0's and there is only 30 slots, I may not even stand a chance.

mannnnn I sure hope your attitude changes by the time you start RN school because us nursing students need all the help and support we can get...not someone judging us and tearing us down

if they accepted based on other qualities besides GPA, id suspect you'd be worse off d/t absolute lack of teamwork skills. this is just what I have inferred from the climate of your posts.

and I had no clue what NPO was until it showed up on my abbreviation test in week 5/6

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 17, 2009

Wow, talk about eating your young.

That's exactly what I was going to say. The OP hasn't even started nursing school yet and she was jumping all over this student.

casi, ASN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

Different nursing schools have different first semesters! My first semester in a community college was all about assessments. We knew what was normal and abnormal, but did not learn the hows and whats. Clinicals were all about easing us into nursing. We had clinicals in nursing homes and TCUs with stable patients. Many nursing students didn't see an IV or Foley outside of the lab.

The big state university I also applied to first semester consisted of therapeutic communication, anatomy and physiology, and an intensive writing coorifice of your choice. Not much nursing in there.

Clinical experiences are also very different I am expected to walk into a clinical site with my medications and diseases thoughrally researched and am expected to assume FULL care of the patient. Other schools in my area have instructors that do their prep and aren't allowed to do much more with the patient then CNA-type tasks.

So this girls experience may be VERY different than what you expect it to be. Also when a lot of people are presented with someone prodding the for their GPA they may give a simple wrong answer. Its really rather rude to ask people about it.

Finally I am going to say that the act of being a tech/CNA is a huge learning curve in nursing. She'll be learning a lot in the next few months that will only make her a better nurse.

John20 · Jun 17, 2009

What you think of her or how smart she is is irrelevant. She is IN a nursing program which means she will have the chance to learn what she needs to learn to become a nurse, not that she's a genius. Right now you are NOT in nursing school so you will not hvae the chance to become a nurse until you get in. Focus on your own goals not the cognitive level of those around you and maybe you'll get in yourself.

The sooner you realize that no one in the working world is interested in what you think, they are only interested in what you do, the better off you'll be. Opinions are like belly-buttons, everyone has one.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 17, 2009

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I worry if the RN rarely gets into a patients room, and you don't know basic things that signal a decline in the patient status what's going to happen to that patient?

If the unit is a real NICU (and I am assuming it is) ... then you above statement is ridiculous. Newborns needing intensive care are not placed in separate rooms where no one can keep an eye on them. There are always monitors and RN's around -- very nearby and checking on the patients regularly.

So ... do you want us experienced nurses to all make fun of your ridiculous statement that shows your ignorance?

As many others have said, "eating our young" is something good nurses work hard to avoid. Good nurses are supportive of one another and try to help the newbies learn. Being "new and stupid" is part of the process of learning and good nurses recognize that. We remember when we too, did not know much and are grateful for the help and support we had that enabled us to grow into being good nurses. We try to pass that same understanding and support on to the next generation of nurses.

Also, as a previous poster said ... Experienced nurses would much rather work with a beginner who says "I don't know" and who has an attitude/personality that can accept constructive criticism than a "know-it-all." Overconfident beginners are the considered to be the most dangerous newbies and are the ones that usually receive the harshest reception from the experienced staff. The experienced staff needs to feel as if they can trust a new-comer to speak up if she has a question and to not hesitate to ask for assistance. They feel safer with the person who says "I don't know" a lot than with someone who either doesn't recognize her weaknesses or is too proud to admit to them.

May you learn as you reflect on the nature of the responses to your post ... and may you become a good nurse some day. But please recognize that you are not a nurse yet -- and you have much to learn before you will be qualified to sit in judgment on the performance of nurses and nursing assistants.

Cherybaby · Jun 17, 2009

I understand your fears and your concerns. Truly I do. However, you are making yourself sound superior to this student and it is unfounded. She is obviously doing SOMETHING right to have gotten that slot. I had a 4.0 in nursing school too...but NOTHING prepared me for the reality of being on a floor, not even clinicals. I had seven years of working in a doctors office as an MA before I went to nursing school. I thought I was going to have a huge advantage over the others in my class. I didn't. I worked HARD for that 4.0. And yes, I had two kids to take care of, I was going through a divorce (nursing school induced I might add) and working full time on the weekends.

When I got out of school, I had nurses "test" me as to what I did and didn't know. It seemed like that entire year flew out of my head when I was put on the spot. I felt attacked and in turn, felt stupid.

Now that I have been a nurse for awhile, I welcome a tech or aide telling me that they don't know something. That gives me the opportunity to teach them. That's a privilege. And, there are times they ask me things that I don't know either. Instead of trying to fumble through an answer so I can remain looking smarter than they are, I tell them...let's go look it up! They learn something new...and i have refreshed my recollection.

Dare I say that it sounds like you are a bit jealous of this young lady for being a nursing student and for getting a prime spot. There is no room for that in nursing. I don't care if she only held a 2.5 GPA. The girl got into nursing school and is so far, holding her own...and that is what counts. It's not easy...and anyone who says it is is probably full of it. THOSE are the people I would watch out for.

In the interim, get your nose out of her life and put it into your books. In the end, what she does or doesn't do doesn't matter. It isn't going to effect your life. You need to watch out for yourself and stay focused on what you need to do to be an effective nurse. That begins by having a good positive attitude and the patience and willingness to teach others that may not know as much as you do.

Don't end up one of those bitter nurses who resent those who know more...or who seem to not know enough. Pass on your wisdom without judging others.

You will be a better nurse...and person, in the long run.

RN1982 · Jun 17, 2009

otay..

it mattered to me because i am transfering from another state and was trying to get statistical information on those whom i will be competing with for a limited spot in a nursing program.
competition can be an ugly thing.
if everyone of those nurses truly has a 4.0 then, yes i have reason to be worried i am slightly beneath that.
i am and was so harsh about this things because this was an orientation for cna's and receptionist. it was also pretty common knowledge stuff. like a picture of a patient was presented drinking some sort of tomato based drink (could be alcohol/or not) but a sign above their head on a big red piece of paper said npo. she was asked what was wrong here... i don't know his head is to high?
i know she is a student nurse but she was supposed to be the most knowledgeable and educated person in the orientation. npo is taught in med term before even entering the nursing program.
no, she really isn't the most knowledgeable and educated. she's in the first semester of nursing school ie fundamentals.
i am insecure and do worry i won't be accepted into the program. i have not hidden this fact and have made it very clear.
i'm glad that you are admitting you are insecure. mind your own business and worry about yourself. in time the student will improve. i'm sure her self-confidence is as low as your's is.
i don't expect her to know everything... but i do expect her to know vitals for the patients she is caring for. i do expect her to notice excessive vomiting, decreased urine output, dehydration, jaundice, and any other problems.
how is she suppose to know these things if she hasn't been taught them?
she is the first line working with this children. she got a difficult slot to get, nicu is high demand and very competitive to get into.
wrong!!! flat out wrong. the first line working with these patients is the rn.
in fact she stated "i only applied for nicu, and they only accept 3 tech's a semester"
if you were the top pick i expect to see the best from you!!
i don't consider not being able to know things that cna's and receptionist know to be the best or even acceptable.
i think you are being rather judgemental again. i don't expect a first semester nursing student to know things that a third or fourth semester nursing student should know.
i worry if the rn rarely gets into a patients room, and you don't know basic things that signal a decline in the patient status what's going to happen to that patient?
again, she probably wouldn't know "basic" things that signal decline because she is a first semester nursing student. i wouldn't expect her to know that.
i am behind her education wise, i haven't been shown sterile procedure for foley's but she has.
i didn't expect her to know anything i hadn't already learned in obtaining my prerequisites.
so yes, i am concerned to see this and if she really does have a 4.0 and would be accepted into the nursing program and i am not. i am concerned and would feel very upset that someone who's gpa was above mine by less than .31 percentage got accepted and i didn't. from what i gather if honestly all those nurses had 4.0's and there is only 30 slots, i may not even stand a chance.
get over it.
so yes it does worry me...
cause maybe if i wasn't taking 18-20 hours a semester while pregnant and working full time then i to would of had a 4.0!!
that's your choice and your problem. it's not anyone else's fault that you take this many credit hours and work full-time.
this is a city with 400,000 people and only 30 rn/bsn slots available a semester, thats scary!!

all i can say is, is that you need to worry about you.

pawsomepooch47 · Jun 17, 2009

NS5548, I think YOU'VE got alot to learn and a long way to go. How's that feel?

Cherybaby · Jun 17, 2009

Stating that if you didn't have to work full time you too would have a 4.0 just smacks of resentment. Everyone has their issues while in nursing school. I was going through a very acrimonious divorce while in nursing school and had two kids, one a toddler and the other in elementary school. I bounced my son on my knee while I did my homework with my daughter doing hers. Weekends, I was working...and scarcely had the energy to study when I got home. Not to mention I had to give my attention to my little ones who hadn't seen me all day. It was a struggle all the way to keep that 4.0. I was worn out, tired, no...exhausted.

And clinicals was a bear to get through. I had no outside support from my soon to be ex husband. He did everything he could to make sure that I was struggling.

Still, I managed that 4.0.

Don't resent this girl for her grades or even scrutinize what she does or doesn't know now that she is 5 weeks into school. Instead, focus your energy on positive things. Be willing to teach, not slam others to make yourself appear superior. There's simply no room for that as a nurse.

I would rather have someone say I don't know to me than to think she knows it all and does the wrong thing as a result. When you become a nurse, you will appreciate that a lot more.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

When I was in nursing school, I applied for a position in the NICU. I ended up withdrawing my application due to a scheduling conflict with school, but what the manager who interviewed my told me was that she hires techs mostly based on personality and how they will "fit in" to the NICU world. Everything else they need to know can be taught. She explained to me that the NICU is a tight-knit place, and the nurses and techs have to be there for each other and help out with all the babies. Teamwork was HUGE! So, if the NICU where this girl was hired is anything like that one, she may have been hired because she IS humble and knows her place, and fits in to the environment.

I agree that it is totally unfair to judge this girl as being incompetant when clearly she was hired for a reason. When you are a brand new nurse, how would you want the experienced nurses to treat you? Would you want them to cut you some slack for the mistakes that you WILL make? Or would you want them to gossip about you behind your back and talk about how incompetant you are for making those mistakes? Same thing goes if you are in clinicals in nursing school. How do you want your instructor to treat you? Berate you for not knowing something that you *shoud* know? Or show compassion and understanding that you are in a stressful new environment and might not yet be able to put the pieces together from your textbook learning (which I suspect is what that student is working on).

Worry about yourself, your job, and your studies. You are not this girl's boss or her teacher. Time to let it go.

chijon512 · Jun 17, 2009

So I (know maybe rude) asked a few people what their GPA was in school. EVERY single person told me 4.0!!
This cracked me up especially the itty bitty girl who took a Nurse Tech position in the NICU.
I had orientation with her the day before and I couldn't help but laugh at her ignorant questions and statements. It was so bad I shared with my fiance when he got home.
When discussing warning signs for bleeding she stated decreased HR increased BP.....
This is just one the ridiculous things she said... and if not saying something ridiculous she said "I don't know"
Once again, she claims to have a 4.0...
And she has completed the first semester of Nursing School.
What makes this worse is if my child goes to NICU after birth, I will insist she doesn't lay a hand on him!!

Does that program do critical care in the first semester? What does her physical stature have to do with anything? And who cares if what amounts to a CNA isn't well-versed in emergency care? I suggest you calm down.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

As a new grad who carried an almost 4.0 through most of my schooling, I could have cared less. I only looked at my grades to make sure I passed then it was on to the next course. Who really cares what someone's gpa is! I vaguely remember Fundamentals but can assure you it was no where near the NICU level!

You have been given a ton of advice and it's your choice to follow it, but I encourage you to do so. Seeing as you work there, you could be helping her instead of knocking her down. She'll get that enough in school and so will you. Try being her ally and show her the ropes instead of coming here telling us what she doesn't know. Of course she knows the difference between a foley and an IV and if she didn't then she did by the end of her shift. We all have to start somewhere and you could give her a little help. I guarantee that she is feeling very overwhelmed at this point.

I don't want to slam you and really hope you treat her the way that you would want to be treated. Even is she turns out to be a nightmare, do your best to help her. I'm the mother of an infant who was in NICU for 5 weeks and the ones with the deer in the headlight look were the ones that helped me be the best mom that I could while we were there. We are all born pretty much knowing nothing and going on instinct. I feel like that as a new nurse

Good luck and congrats on your soon to be bundle!