How do you handle getting "Bad" grades?

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

How do you handle getting "bad" grades in nursing school? I had all "A's" in my pre-reqs. My first two test scores in nursing were 89% and 92% (you need a 93% to get an A) I feel like the dumbest student in my class.:nono:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Scores of 89 and 92 are very good. Perhaps you're striving for too much perfection. It doesn't matter what score you received just as long as you're retaining enough information to pass your NCLEX upon graduation from school.

I know of some straight 'A' nursing students who have failed the NCLEX 2 or 3 times in a row because they didn't retain the knowledge. The memorized instead of learned. I know of many straight 'C' students who passed their NCLEX on the first attempt because, while they didn't earn the highest grades, they retained everything they have learned. It doesn't matter if you graduate from nursing school with 'A' grades if you cannot pass your state boards.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

Get over it!

(And I don't mean that in a hateful way...but its really all you can do)

Like The commuter said, it is more important what you retain and how well you APPLY the knowledge than fretting about the few points that you "missed the A".

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Scores of 89 and 92 are very good. Perhaps you're striving for too much perfection. It doesn't matter what score you received just as long as you're retaining enough information to pass your NCLEX upon graduation from school.

I know of some straight 'A' nursing students who have failed the NCLEX 2 or 3 times in a row because they didn't retain the knowledge. The memorized instead of learned. I know of many straight 'C' students who passed their NCLEX on the first attempt because, while they didn't earn the highest grades, they retained everything they have learned. It doesn't matter if you graduate from nursing school with 'A' grades if you cannot pass your state boards.

I realize this. But I want to go on to get a masters so I can become a CNM and you have to have a 3.0 get get into any masters program I have looked into. I am just afraid my GPA will drop!

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Specializes in ICU, Med/Surg, Tele.

seriously those are good grades..i would be so proud of myself if i were you..

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I am in the same boat as you, I had great grades in my pre-reqs but once in nursing school they dropped, last semster I got a 84 but you had to have a 85 to get a "B". Don't get discouraged!!!!.... I talked to my instructors about it and they said that they weren't "A" students. I have also talked to people that said even if you have great grades and if it takes you 2 or 3 times for you to pass the NCLEX you are in trouble in finding a job let alone getting in a master's program. But keep your head up there is a demand for nurses to get their master's to be teachers or whatever. A "B" will keep you in your 3.0 range, focus more on what you are learning not the grades because it is that knowledge that you will need to take care of your patients and to continue your education.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Yep, retaining is the most important skill. Often, I feel like many of my classmates just memorize enough to get by each test and wonder what they're going to do when we can be tested on anything we learn in any semester. so next semester, many won't remember basics. I'm not happy with myself lately. Made some stupid mistakes on the last test and got a 80%. I'm ok with that because mostly everyone else got a 60 or below. However, it's annoying because we had to submit a online assignment and we've had 2 weeks go by and no grade yet. It was about formulating nursing dx's and just in general how to write them. I made a stupid mistake and put a AMB with a high risk dx. That's ok now, because now I know that I won't ever do that again!!

We just have to be happy to pass first, grades second, and social life third....I suppose. LOL

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

I know you didn't say "bad" grades did you?

In my program a 92 is an A and an 89 is a B.

Is that not so in yours?

I was mad because I missed one question that I really did know the answer to but marked the wrong thing anyway and I could have had an A. Do I care? Not really even though the A would have been nice.

The class mean was 74.8 on one particular test and they don't round up either. You have to get a 75 to pass and I'm sure one of those guys would have killed for your 89.

Don't beat your self up. You should still have a 3.0 in the end.

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I'll be honest. I was a 4.0 student before I started the actual clinical portion of my ADN school. I got a B in Fundamentals. I was upset about it at first- especially the day I realized that an A was out of my grasp...but you know- seriously..it's OK.

I have one week left in Med/Surg 1. I will be getting an A. Lemme tell you I NEVER expected one. I didn't even stress myself out, seriously. I am human. mY B humbled me...in a good way.

Do your BEST. If your best at the time is a B then so be it. No one should stress to the point of being sick because they didn't get an A.

I understand you want to go on to your MSN. So will I. I have a 3.83 and trust me....it's OK.

Seriously. It's OK.

( but I just want to let you know I was totally you last semester...like I said...it takes time to come to grips with not alwats getting an A- but it will come!)

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

heartsopenwide. . .i hear and understand your concerns. my bsn school was down the road from a very prestigious masters and phd nursing program that several of my classmates desired to get in to. this gpa requirement for entrance into graduate programs got talked about a lot and this is what we were told. even if your grades in nursing school weren't up to the standard that the graduate program says they require, apply anyway. many times, we were told, the program directors see something in the applications or the essay you write about what your goals are that will cause them to want to consider you for entrance. remember graduate school is more selective. they are looking for a different caliber of person than the run of the mill nursing school. so, someone with well thought out goals of what they are trying to accomplish with a graduate education is going to be considered over someone who is applying just because they want to continue their education.

make sure you are going over your tests and finding where you are making your mistakes in choosing wrong answers. are you reading questions closely? are you getting fooled by red herrings? do you have nclex review book(s) to help you out with the reasoning involved with the application questions?

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was the problem with the material or the test...i mean did you know the material and have trouble with the way the tests were presented or did you have trouble with pulling up the knowledge ou tof the gray matter

either way you will learn what the instructors want on a test and how to improve your study habits...both will serve you in the future

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