low C in pathopharm...move forward to Adult Health?

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I've just finished my first semester of nursing school. I made a low C in pathopharm and am concerned about the foundation I have moving forward into Adult Health. C is a passing grade...but I don't want to set myself up to struggle the rest of the way through school. I have about a month to decide and work to improve my confidence.

Other things to consider...retaking the class will push back my graduation from May 2015 to December 2015 and cost me another semester payment. I believe I have all summer to free study as well. The other piece to the puzzle is I got a very high C in Fundamentals and my current GPA is 2.4. I think that means I'm on Academic Probation. I'm used to making Dean's list for good grades...not poor. I have two other degrees..BA in psych and MS in industrial/labor relations.

Not sure what to do. Suggestions? Advice? Thank you!!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Plan to continue on to Adult Health, get a good NCLEX book, make some drug note cards, and start reading/practicing questions over the summer.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

A master's degree and you got into Nursing!? At this point in time when the hospitals are cutting weekend options, shift differentials, and yearly "merit" increases (ie: raises). That's the hospitals... the private industry has already been like that for a looong time!! If you're struggling now, wait til you graduate.

A student extern graduated last May, passed boards that same month, and still has yet to find a job.... however, she also refuses to work outside of a hospital so... apparently beggars can be choosers b/c she works at Kay Jewelers! YAH!!!

Point, if you think you're struggling now, wait until after nursing school. Good luck.

omg... I've turned into one of those negative nancy's... or maybe I always was... either way... I apologize for the above, but I hope it holds some truth for you that nursing school is a lot of work and with all those degrees maybe a different route should have been chosen.

Either way, may fortune favor you in the future.

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A master's degree and you got into Nursing!? At this point in time when the hospitals are cutting weekend options, shift differentials, and yearly "merit" increases (ie: raises). That's the hospitals... the private industry has already been like that for a looong time!! If you're struggling now, wait til you graduate.

A student extern graduated last May, passed boards that same month, and still has yet to find a job.... however, she also refuses to work outside of a hospital so... apparently beggars can be choosers b/c she works at Kay Jewelers! YAH!!!

Point, if you think you're struggling now, wait until after nursing school. Good luck.

omg... I've turned into one of those negative nancy's... or maybe I always was... either way... I apologize for the above, but I hope it holds some truth for you that nursing school is a lot of work and with all those degrees maybe a different route should have been chosen.

Either way, may fortune favor you in the future.

This has nothing to do with her question.....

Continue on! You passed!!

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I've just finished my first semester of nursing school. I made a low C in pathopharm and am concerned about the foundation I have moving forward into Adult Health. C is a passing grade…but I don't want to set myself up to struggle the rest of the way through school. I have about a month to decide and work to improve my confidence.

Other things to consider…retaking the class will push back my graduation from May 2015 to December 2015 and cost me another semester payment. I believe I have all summer to free study as well. The other piece to the puzzle is I got a very high C in Fundamentals and my current GPA is 2.4. I think that means I'm on Academic Probation. I'm used to making Dean's list for good grades…not poor. I have two other degrees..BA in psych and MS in industrial/labor relations.

Not sure what to do. Suggestions? Advice? Thank you!!

C= nurse honey so congrats. If you freel as though you may struggle the rest of the way, buy a good NCLEX book and do a lot of practice questions. Good Luck

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Hey CM! I was just wondering why you struggled with this class? We have very similar backgrounds and I was hoping to get your view on what you think went wrong and how you could have handled it differently?

That said, I too believe you should move forward. Your perceived incompetence could very well be a higher level of knowledge than others who believe they have a good grasp on the subject. I suspect you have a high bar of achievement set for yourself. Many people would be happy just passing. You want to be the best nurse possible.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

At the end of the day... C's get degrees. Take this as a lesson learned and study more. Change your methods, make flash cards, write out better notes, dedicate more time, but don't retake the class. It's not like your nursing GPA is gonna matter past your first job anyway, or for any other professional academic program if you plan on expanding your education more.

In the future get on top of your grade before you end up with a C for final. Go in and talk to your teachers after bad tests and see which ones you got wrong, get the rationales, figure out why you picked what you pick, then study and review that specific area. That's how I picked it up in nursing school when I got a C in fundamentals. Nursing classes are different from other classes and the questions are written so that they trip you up on some detail, not truly test you. So make moves on fully reading the question, answering, then going back over the whole test again if you have time.

I found that studying in different places improved my retention. So for instance my university had two separate libraries that I would alternate between for studying. Combine those with places like my laundry room and grandmother's house, I really found the variety to hone my focus in. Not sure why, but maybe it'll work on you.

Five words for you: it's going to be okay!

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

I got a C in pharm, medsurge 1 , medsurge 2, family, and my last level courses.

Given my personal life was going through hell.

I am still scoring above target in NCLEX prep courses.

Don't retake the class and waste time. just try harder next time.

ADPIE your study habits

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