Good Grades=Bad Nurse?

[TMCmom]

Yesterday, my psychology instructor (who also happens to head the nursing program) indicated that students with a 3.5 GPA would make better researchers than caregivers because of lack of "bedside manners". She claimed research indicates that "C" students make better nurses.

Am I supposed to quit studying and earning those "A's" in order to be a better nurse? (of course not, rhetorical question...) Why does that fact that I happen to do well in my studies supposedly negate my ability to be a quality caregiver? It seems to me, that in addition to the bedside aspect, a good knowledge of the subject at hand (which is what good grades indicate) is desirable in a nurse.

Why the generalization that you can't be both smart and caring?

Cyndi

[Sheri257]

The top student in my class does happen to have trouble in clinicals and people like to point that out, I think, because they are jealous of her grades. On the other hand, there are other A students who do very well in clinical so, obviously, it depends on the individual.

They have us learn this stuff for a reason so, I don't necessarily buy into the argument that C students make better nurses either. I also work as a student extern and, just the other day, I happened to catch a major med error before the med was given because I had just studied that drug in school. My RN had simply forgotten about this particular contraindication because she had been out of school for so long.

There are some people who may have problems applying book learning to real life but ... that book learning still comes in handy. The RN's on my floor are constantly looking stuff up all the time when they're not sure of something.

So ... regardless of whatever grades anybody gets... I'll take somebody who studies and knows this stuff (or, at least bothers to look it up) .... over somebody who doesn't.

:typing

[allthingsbright]

well, guess i'm screwed as an A-B student...

HA! whatever! i would need to see some actual numbers/sources before believing that malarky!

guess my clinical instructors written comment last semester of "you will make an excellent nurse" after watching me at bedside like a hawk means NADA!

i think i'll let MY instructors evaluate MY performance and the naysayers can go on commenting all they like...

[NoWaNrN, ASN, RN]

I do kind of believe that I had a 3.4 GPA I think that it was really good, I didn't study my ass off or anything just enough that I knew I could pass but anyways, Some of the people with really high GPA cannot do the hands on part of the work. It is proven some are hands on learners others are just book smart and thats probably where she is coming from.

[kitten0509]

I wonder if this professor may have at some point been denied acceptance to a nursing program based on GPA... I do not believe that good grades make a bad nurse, but I agree that straight A's doesn't guarentee a great nurse!

[StudentNurseAbby]

I know teachers are only humans but I tell you sometimes the stuff they say amuses me to great length.

I think this is so silly!

[linzz]

Oh no! I graduated with a 3.87 average. Guess I better quit nursing. I think that perhaps this teacher should keep her opinions to herself, as this sounds like it is simply an opinion and certainly not something one could reasonably prove. I would just ignore this comment and keep on doing your best.:roll

[mstigerlily]

OK that is not true. The only person to get straight As in our program was my friend, she picked up just about every scholarship too and she is a fantastic nurse. She is just very efficient, diligent, hardworking and SMART.

I do agree, however, that there are many booksmart nurses with sometimes multiple advanced degrees that are not good at patient care and have poor bedside manners. I think these people keep getting additional degrees for reasons other than improving their practice (I don't know what those reasons are, however) and some of them may have multiple master's degrees but have never actually done bedside care, and shockingly enough may not even like being around people.

To me, nursing is contact with people. All people, coworkers, patients, families. It's joking with people, touching people, crying with people, helping people, worrying about people, bonding with people. If I wanted to sit at a desk all day there are plenty of other jobs I could do (and HAVE done in the past) but I wasn't happy there. Nursing makes me happy. Exhausted, yes, but happy.

Yesterday, my psychology instructor (who also happens to head the nursing program) indicated that students with a 3.5 GPA would make better researchers than caregivers because of lack of "bedside manners". She claimed research indicates that "C" students make better nurses.

Am I supposed to quit studying and earning those "A's" in order to be a better nurse? (of course not, rhetorical question...) Why does that fact that I happen to do well in my studies supposedly negate my ability to be a quality caregiver? It seems to me, that in addition to the bedside aspect, a good knowledge of the subject at hand (which is what good grades indicate) is desirable in a nurse.

Why the generalization that you can't be both smart and caring?

Cyndi

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Yesterday, my psychology instructor (who also happens to head the nursing program) indicated that students with a 3.5 GPA would make better researchers than caregivers because of lack of "bedside manners". She claimed research indicates that "C" students make better nurses.

Am I supposed to quit studying and earning those "A's" in order to be a better nurse? (of course not, rhetorical question...) Why does that fact that I happen to do well in my studies supposedly negate my ability to be a quality caregiver? It seems to me, that in addition to the bedside aspect, a good knowledge of the subject at hand (which is what good grades indicate) is desirable in a nurse.

Why the generalization that you can't be both smart and caring?

Cyndi

I was valedictorian of my nursing class. I have also been told by NPs, docs, other nurses and patients that I am a great nurse. The other day, a pt gave me an unusual compliment- "You are the most perceptive nurse I've ever had."

The statement your prof made...imagine if she had said "nurses with brown eyes are better at caring than blue-eyed nurses." Her statement sounds just as prejudiced. She probably uses this ridiculous belief to lessen the blow of her own poor academic performance in school. Your psych professor could be demonstrating a form of the defense mechanism projection for the class, lol!

[DanaR85]

I think that we are all in agreement that C students do not automatically make better nurses. That is such a rediculous statement. I do however, agree that you need not necessarily make straight As to be a good nurse. We had an instructor who always told us that in the end, we were all going to take the same NCLEX and we were all going to be RNs, regardless of having straight As or straight Cs. Focus more on learning how to apply knowledge and how to critically think;you can't just memorize and regurgitate the information.

In the end, if someone is very academically inclined and happens to not have a bedside manner, then research may be a good fit. But, you can't assume that just because someone is "book smart" that they can not also be "people smart." I personally have a 3.7 gpa, and I think that I have a pretty good bedside manner. Research happens to interest me a little bit more, but for the most part, if you want to work in research, you have to put in your time at the bedside

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

There are too many of us to make generalizations to make any kind. Overall, I'd say the original poster (posted a few years ago) was mislead for sure.

Actually, in my experience, I've found those with the lowest grades to also be the worst bedside nurses. Obviously, I can't generalize because you're going to find many people who struggled with the books make great bedside nurses, so my comment is not scientific, just my opinion, and I certainly don't judge those struggling with a blanket judgement.

I made a 3.8 in nursing and our clinicals were pass/fail and weren't factored in. It took me a few quarters before I became relaxed and was able to be an effective bedside nurse communicator. I was a shy nervous nellie and glad someone that first quarter didn't say "well you made an A so you'd be better away from the bedside".

[EmerNurse, BSN, RN]

As an RN, I have NEVER had anyone ask me what my GPA was in school - they don't even ask if I am an ADN or BSN or MSN or whatever. I've been told I'm a good nurse, so there ya go.

Patients want to know if you're a NURSE, and co-workers want to know that you're competent and dependable.

Never heard one word about GPA after school finished - and mine was pretty good.

That instructor is silly. Show me the research, toots!

[Honeychild]

I have also heard this and it infuriates me!!! I am a good student, but am also great with my patients. It doesn't have to be one or the other!