Not Getting "A's"

Ilovethe80s · Sep 30, 2010

Congrats on getting such great grades! Seriously, I know how you feel w/ wanting those high A's, but don't let it eat away at you. I was a 4.0 student when I graduated w/ a bachelors in business and all A's for nursing pre-req's but as soon as I started my actual nursing classes, everything changed! Grades are important, but what I think is most important is really understanding the content and applying it in the clinical setting. There are a lot of nursing instructors who will say they don't care what kind of grades you have, that it is more important to be able to perform safely and appropriately in the clinical environment. I knew a lot of people who struggled w/ grades, so consider yourself in a good position w/ your grades and keep up the great work! You may also find that the more you get through school and the more tests you take, the better your grades may become. Best of luck!

SCSUStudent · Sep 30, 2010

Hey, I'm dealing with something very similar at the moment. My grades so far have ranged from 83 to a 95, with a predomination in the 88-90 range. There are days I feel exhausted and mentally drained, unable to understand why I can't cross that A line. I, too, am a perfectionist, and know I can do it eventually, but its very frustrating in the meantime. I got my first 95 a few days ago, and that was like a ray of light. Just keep up the good work, one week at a time, and really focus on understanding the material/making connections. Good luck!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 30, 2010

I've seen this discussed but I'm wondering if other nursing students are dealing with this right now. I got an 85% on one exam and a 91% on another and I am still grappling with the fact that I got a "B" and an "A-". Part of me is okay with this but the perfectionist part is really angry/upset.

What are the cut off's in your school? A is 93 or 94% in my school and B is 85%. I think most the A students in my program have finally accepted that a B is ok too, so many have come so close to A's. I feel bad, my one friend missed an A by one point last semester. I don't like that my school doesn't have the + or- either because the person that gets an 85% and the person that gets the 92% or 93% will still get the 3.0 regardless on their transcript. Same with the C, someone can barely make it and get the 77% and on their records it isn't going to show any different than the person that got an 84% they are both 2.0 C's. My other school wasn't like that and I preferred that better. It is what it is.

diane227, LPN, RN · Sep 30, 2010

Good for you guys. Keep doing your best but I guarantee you that no one is going to ask what your GPA was in college unless you plan to go to grad school. I always made my A's in clinical but was a B-C student in testing because I did not study well. Don't get a lot of anxiety about this. Just do your best and concentrate on what your doing at the beside. Stress is not healthy. Get your rest and try to keep from getting stressed out.

allnurses Guide · Sep 30, 2010

Good for you guys. Keep doing your best but I guarantee you that no one is going to ask what your GPA was in college unless you plan to go to grad school. I always made my A's in clinical but was a B-C student in testing because I did not study well. Don't get a lot of anxiety about this. Just do your best and concentrate on what your doing at the beside. Stress is not healthy. Get your rest and try to keep from getting stressed out.

Not true. Many hospitals now have a minimum GPA to apply for their internships AND externships, as do many scholarships. The externship and scholarship I recieved over the summer required my entire transcript. And in many hospitals in this economy, the only way in the door to a job is through an internship or externship. New nurse jobs are scarce. Anything one can do to set oneself apart from the pack is a greater chance for employment after graduation. I picked up a scholarship application just yesterday that also requires a transcript to prove a GPA standard.

To the OP, I feel your pain. Just keep working hard. You will get some As and some Bs. When you are used to being an A student the Bs are hard to swallow, but motivating as well. Keep striving to achieve. You will not regret it.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2010

I don't really have any advice because it was a hard pill for me to swallow, but it gets easier with time. You remember that nursing school tests you in a different way. You can't compare it to the A's from prereqs or previous degrees when it was all trivial. At the end of the day, even when I'm making B's, I'm putting the material together. That's the important part. Yes its nice to have good grades but you need to be able to apply this in the real world. It is also humbling to me that I have something to improve on and work towards to. Don't put all your self-worth into a grade and never give up.

KeepnItReal · Sep 30, 2010

trust me, no hospitals checks your gpa to see if you have a 3.0 or a 4.0, they could care less. if they ask for transcripts, is to ensure you have completed a certain amount of nursing semesters in good standing of course for an externship/intership. the only goal is to pass. every person i come across who strives for perfection, fries themself out by the second year and joins the rest of us who are trying to just make it through the madness.

kenpochic · Sep 30, 2010

lol I used to get 99 and 100% on midterms and finals for my prereqs. i just started ns and my first grade was 76% which was higher than most people. our class has 80 something people in it. a couple got B's. I think I heard of one A's. When I told my teacher I wanted an A on the first exam she laughted and said nobody gets A's on her exams. so you are doing pretty good if you want come to my school lol

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 30, 2010

The first B is the hardest to deal with. Then you find that the world doesn't end, you haven't changed, and life (and school) goes on. Know that you did your best, and don't let it stop you from keeping on doing your best!

Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2010

What are the cut offs for your grades? Anything below an 80 is an F at my school. 80-82 C etc. I think it is crazy humbling having such a harsh grading scale. I have heard the saying A "C" nurse is still a nurse, but the grades still kill me. We always joke.. Bs are the new As. We have a program called the NCLEX 4000, which I'm sure you all have available to you as well. It is great for practicing NCLEX style questions, as you can set it in practice mode which gives you immediate feedback with rationale. You can also pick the particular subject matter you are studying. This has been a major help for me.

allnurses Guide · Oct 1, 2010

The hospital internship application process in my area openly states nobody without a 3.0 or higher will be considered. GPA matters. Thinking otherwise is fooling yourself.