Getting a C in Nursing

amoLucia · May 12, 2012

In 37+ years of nursing, NO ONE has ever questioned my grade in my nursing program (I was an average 'C'). Neither has anyone ever questioned my grade in my second program (BSN with honors a few years later after starting to work). That time was easier for whatever reason. You graduate, you graduate, you graduate! That's recognition enough!!! Congratulations to all you graduates out there and I'm not asking your grade!!! :yelclap:

allnurses Guide · May 12, 2012

We all know that grades don't always equal clinical competence, and the NCLEX is the test you need to pass in the end and it doesn't matter if you got a C once if you pass it.

I think some people are concerned with a C because a C may mean you are not able to continue on in your program. Essentially a C is a failing grade, at least it was in my program.

brillohead, ADN, RN · May 12, 2012

I think some people are concerned with a C because a C may mean you are not able to continue on in your program. Essentially a C is a failing grade, at least it was in my program.

It depends... in our program, you need to get a C to pass, and the cut-off to get a C in the nursing program is a 78% (in the rest of the school, a 78% would be a C+ and a C goes all the way down to 73%). You're likely to see people jumping up and down and hugging because they got a C and passed in my program (even though to the rest of the world, they got a C+ and were still 10+ percentage points away from failing).

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · May 12, 2012

The actually letter grades don't mean much in nursing. Each nursing program establishes their own criteria for what a C is. In my program 91% was the lowest A, 84% was the lowest B, and 75% the lowest C. Anything below 75% was an F.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · May 12, 2012

I think some people are concerned with a C because a C may mean you are not able to continue on in your program.

I saw a couple threads on here recently from posters who were acting like a C was the end of the world, and that they'd never get into grad school.

Stephalump · May 12, 2012

I saw a couple threads on here recently from posters who were acting like a C was the end of the world, and that they'd never get into grad school.

That's because planning for grad school is a totally different beast. The argument that no one asks for your grades doesn't apply. Grad schools most definitely ask for your grades.

Also, the new grad market is competitive. A lot of the big hospitals in our medical center do ask and hire based on gpa and HESI scores, among other things.

Not that I think a C is the end of the world, but I think being concerned about how your performance will affect your long term goals is perfectly acceptable. That's how people do big things. By not settling for "just enough."

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · May 12, 2012

That's because planning for grad school is a totally different beast. The argument that no one asks for your grades doesn't apply. Grad schools most definitely ask for your grades.
Also, the new grad market is competitive. A lot of the big hospitals in our medical center do ask and hire based on gpa and HESI scores, among other things.
Not that I think a C is the end of the world, but I think being concerned about how your performance will affect your long term goals is perfectly acceptable. That's how people do big things. By not settling for "just enough."

I understand completely that grad school is difficult to get into, not just for nurses, but for anyone in general. However, I recall seeing a thread about someone who was just finishing their first semester & was so disheartened by one C, that they were contemplating dropping out of the nursing program all together. And that is what I thought was a little extreme.

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · May 12, 2012

I think a lot of people are shocked when they come into the program with a 4.0 or are used to getting all A's...

Nursing is not like the pre-reqs such as A & P and Math where you memorize and then regurgitate...it's more of 'what would you do' and 'what's the best technique'...nursing exams are like no other!

I just finished my first semester of nursing...it was grueling, I saw some people try so hard, they were right on the edge...by the end of the semester, they were willing to take that C if that's what it meant to move on...and these are hard working students. It's not that they weren't trying, it is hard stuff and when it's the end of the semester and you have multiple classes and everything is due at once, it's stressful.

Stephalump · May 12, 2012

I understand completely that grad school is difficult to get into, not just for nurses, but for anyone in general. However, I recall seeing a thread about someone who was just finishing their first semester & was so disheartened by one C, that they were contemplating dropping out of the nursing program all together. And that is what I thought was a little extreme.

Oh yeah. That guy could use some Xanax.

Like other people have said, I think it's just a shock if you're used to excelling in school up to the point of nursing school and think you're set and BOOM. You're struggling just to pass. The life of an overachiever :-)

xandarosa · May 12, 2012

Almost every internship program I've seen has asked for your GPA. It may not matter when you have experience but matters for new grads especially since so many GNs can't find a job.

Stephalump · May 12, 2012

Almost every internship program I've seen has asked for your GPA. It may not matter when you have experience but matters for new grads especially since so many GNs can't find a job.

Truth. Nowadays, GPA matters. Around here, our exit exam used to be just about passing. Now even that id making the difference between getting a position in the speciality you want before you graduate and pounding the pavement for 9 months.