Grades don't matter! Are you sure??????

[dinah77]

I'm posting this because I am alarmed to see this attitude so often in nursing school.

I don't think people realize that they are limiting their future options, often permanently.

I fully acknowledge that nursing school is VERY difficult, that the grading scale is jacked up and it is very difficult or sometimes impossible to get a high grade. I also realize that everyone has tough semesters ( nursing school is very taxing on all aspects of our lives) and sometimes just passing is the best anyone can do.

But this does not mean we shouldn't strive for higher grades.

Unless you are 100% that you never want to go on to be an NP or get a masters in nursing, Grades DO matter very much. Every MSN program I have ever looked in has GPA requirements of usually 3.0- one I looked at will not even consider you unless you have at least a B- in every nursing class.

Additionally, in very competitive job markets, such as here in Minneapolis/St Paul, employers are starting to ask about GPA- I have filled out two applications that have requested my GPA.

We all know a high GPA doesn't automatically equal a superior nurse, but frankly with such a glut of new nurses every year in many job markets this trend is not likely to go away but increase- and yes, you may believe there is a zero percent chance you ever want to got back to school for a higher degree, but can anyone really say 100% how they will feel about their career 10 or 20 years down the road?

SO please, I'm not trying to stress out those of you still in school, but I'm pleading that you try for the higher grades if you can. DO the extra reading and extra time in lab, stay on top of your assignments, never miss class/clinical, and so on.........

[dinah77, ADN]

I know that this is a really old thread but I am really concerned. I go to a four year BSN program.

I have received As and one B+ in all my nursing classes. However, I have received one C- in med-surg and would have to retake the course. I have also received 3Ws in the nursing program because of medical reasons. I have to retake one non-nursing biomedical research course as well. Lastly, I am graduating in six years besides the usually four. How will these situations impact me when applying for jobs and grad school. I really want to work at CHLA, CHOC, or a University of California medical center and always wanted to go a very good grad school.

The only way to know for sure is to look at the schools in your area and their individual requirements. Do your grades mean you absolutely wont get into grad school? Not necessarily. Will it be harder for you? Yes, most likely.

[NorCalKid]

We were told not to worry too much about grades in school. I get that, some people did need to hear that.

My employer DID ask for transcripts and look at my grades as a new grad interviewing for a M/S position.