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Specializes in Trauma, Emergency.

I totally think you can be an awesome nurse with Bs! (I'm a 2 semester SN too). However, I think trying really hard and still getting Bs or Cs is VERY different from people who live by the mantra 78=RN while in nursing school... You know, the people who study just enough to make the 78-80 grades so they can move on to the next semester and eventually graduate. Like getting mediocre grades is great if you're busting your tail and doing your best, but it really bothers me when people put in just barely enough and stay mostly focused the more fun areas of their lives. Yes, everyone should have fun but I know as a pt, I want a nurse who gave his/her all to learn about nursing, not the one who gave the bare minimum. Just my two cents... And these days I'm one of the ones who is trying soooooo hard for As (I've always been an A student) but I can't seem to get better than a 90 or 91 now... So flippin frustrating!!!! Ps good luck in school :-)

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
how do you feel about the statement in the title?i am a second term nursing student. not the super star straight a student, usually b student. i have never been surrounded by so many type a, super competitive people in my life and tbh, it can be very off putting to be in that type of environment all the time.i have come to accept the fact that i will never be the a student and have become comfortable with less. what is your take on straight c or b students entering nursing? what is your take on students who try hard but don't make a's?have employers made a big deal out of your gpa?

if it's any consolation once you graduate no one will ask you for your gpa, furthermore, a nurse is still a nurse even if they pass with a c or a , the same goes for doctors :cool:

somedaypeds

107 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics.

In my program - C does not equal nurse. Anything less than 80% is not passing.

nguyency77, CNA

527 Posts

I don't care if you have a few C's. The only thing I do care about is that nurses pass Pharmacology with an A or B, however. I will not let someone who cannot perform basic math give meds to my loved ones, heaven forbid.

I know what you mean about those "Type A" people. I have a great GPA, but I don't let myself get competitive with people. It's a toxic environment that's created, and it benefits no one.

ckh23, BSN, RN

1,446 Posts

Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Bring them on. I was a "B" student. There is more to nursing than what you just learn in school.

PeepnBiscuitsRN

419 Posts

Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

I once had an instructor that would never give A's, because she said "if you get A's that means you know everything and you have it all down. You DO NOT have it all down, you DO NOT know everything."

I was an A student, till nursing school! Now I'm a B student, but I work my butt off for those B's!

Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Hahahha Sorry but I am mostly an A student pharm so far was my worse grade.. Still doesn't say much, we had drug calc in fund. and I got 100% on every single one. I feel completely competent when passing med's, and this is because as with everything in nursing it is constantly repeated in every class. Maybe I struggled with cardiac drugs during pharm but then when I researched in 1st clinical, 2nd clinical, med/surg 1, and med/surg 2 and so on and on you KNOW them. I feel okay to be cared for by any nurse that progresses through an accreditted nursing program and graduates, passes the NCLEX, and gets hired and then makes it through hospital/floor training.

SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP

1 Article; 852 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

We have two straight A students that are complete idiots at clinical. I've noticed that it's not uncommon to be tested on something before you experience it at clinical or can practice applying your knowledge for that subject. I think what you do is more important than your test grades.

I just started a new rotation, one of the A students has no idea what is going on. So how was that A useful to anyone?

I plan to get my MSN, in my area C does not = Grad school.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD

2,315 Posts

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.
Bring them on. I was a "B" student. There is more to nursing than what you just learn in school.

This was me. I did make an "A" in nursing math and some silly management course (both were 1 credit). But I would also like to point out that our grading scale was different than what I hear a lot. C=75 to 85.9, B=86-93.9, A=94+.

I made straight B's in other nursing courses. I do remember my pediatrics grade was technically 85.3 which would have been a "C" but my instructor entered a B for me, I think because I wrote an awesome care plan and there was no number grade to those, just pass/fail. She was already one of my favorite instructors before I figured this out and I still think of her fondly. She was one of the few that still worked in the clinical setting, and I think that was key. I doubt she's still working, but Ms. Kerrigan deserves to be mentioned by name.

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
We have two straight A students that are complete idiots at clinical. I've noticed that it's not uncommon to be tested on something before you experience it at clinical or can practice applying your knowledge for that subject. I think what you do is more important than your test grades.

I just started a new rotation, one of the A students has no idea what is going on. So how was that A useful to anyone?

I plan to get my MSN, in my area C does not = Grad school.

gotta love booknurses ;)

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

4 Articles; 7,907 Posts

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Perhaps in the past when there was a real nursing shortage, employers didn't care about GPAs.

Nowadays, they do care. They have a glut of nurses to choose from and can afford to be as picky as they like, and will often ask for GPAs and/or transcripts in order to cull the herd or decide between two candidates. And many new graduate nurse residency programs have minimum GPA requirements. After all, you're a new nurse with no experience--unless you're a LVN-RN fleet-up who can put actual nursing experience on the resume, they have no way to judge your nursing competence right off the bat. So grades do factor for new grads.

Fortunately, once you have some experience under your belt, the GPA seems to be less important to the employer.

That being said, are grades the be-all end-all of nursing success? No, because grades are just one factor in what makes a good nurse. I know some former A students who are great nurses, and some who I wouldn't let treat my cat. Same with B and C students: I've worked with very talented ones and very scary ones.

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