Were you "SMART" before Nursing School?! - Page 2

GPA and intelligence are not equal. My sister worked long and hard for her high GPAs. I didn't have to work at all. So who is then "smart"?

My classmates would show 'frustration' that I could study for a NS exam for an hour and get one of the highest grades where they studied hours and hours and scraped by a passing score.

Does my intellect make me a better nurse? No. Life experience allows me to be compassionate. Intellect was just a gift. I was able to work full time, go to NS full time, take care of my kids all while hubby was in Afghanistan.

I have a bachelor's in psychology from another university, GPA: 3.6, pre-req's 3.9, Nursing school GPA: 3.2 and that was at the 5% top of my class. I'm an older student, I studied long and hard, I knew I needed the knowledge to take good care of my patient's, I am in life and death situations everyday. Critical thinking is not taught it is mastered, you either have it or you don't. I still come home and look things up, still learning everyday of my life, I don't take one second for granted. I never thought of myself as intelligent, I know now I am smart! However, with that said, I don't walk around with a chip on my shoulder and I always look to others in a crisis, and learn from others experiences as a nurses, I take it all in everyday. If i'm unsure I always ask, ALWAYS!! I question things daily, I'm sure I drive the doctors crazy at times, but when I leave at the end of my evening and all my patients are breathing, it gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of my day. Learning is a life time adventure!!

The languages weren't required, I just took them. We had to have microbiology, A&P I and II, algebra, an advanced math, intro to psychology, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, English 111, English 113, two humanities courses, introduction to chemistry, organic chemistry, introduction to biology, biological concepts, and an elective. Nursing school isn't hard, and it isn't like everyone makes it out to be. There are some hard times, but, for the most part, it is very manageable. I would say it is more tedious and nerve wracking than it is hard.

Sure is a lot of horn tooting going on here.

Moderator's friendly reminder: This is the Nursing Student Assistance Forum. It is meant to be a safe place where nursing students can discuss issues related to being in school in a friendly supportive atmosphere. This also means that any unhelpful or sarcastic remarks are highly discouraged within this forum.

Thank you and carry on

I was out of school for 10 years and 4 kids later before i started pre reqs in 2008. I did pre reqs from 2008-Dec 2010 with a 4.0 GPA. I started clinicals January 2011 part time, I'm in my fourth semester and currently have a 3.66 GPA. I still have 4 semesters to go. I had a B (87%) first semester, a B (86%) second semester and third semester a C (81%). I really hate the nursing grading scale but at least I'm passing. need a 75% or above to pass. I study plenty but have been slacking. Going to school since 2008 has burnt me out. Thank goodness I graduate next August 2013. I hope to get my GPA back up!

I graduated highschool in 1994 with a 2.7 GPA. It would've been better if I hadn't missed so much my sophomore year for appendicitis, which caused me to fail two classes. Also, my family was poor so I spent most of my high school years working. I started working on my pre-req's for nursing school in 2009 & went into the program with a 4.0 (10 classes). I just started my 2nd semester, but I currently have 3.4 GPA.

I graduated high school in 1998, unsure of what my GPA is, I was almost a 4.0 student taking college level classes up untill my 1st semester my senior year in high school. Then my best friend transfered to my school and I met my now ex-husband and well I dropped down in my 2nd semester of my senior year only taking classes that were required to graduate.

Few years down the road I had a couple of kids married and divorced and started my pre-reqs as a single mom working part time, my pre-reqs I had a 4.0 for the first couple of semesters, but then I took A&PIII, Chemistry, Statstics, and Spanish at once and over extended myself. Thankfully I passed all the classes but not with a 4.0. My GPA for pre-reqs was 3.38.

My nursing school did not give letter grades they were pass/no pass 9 credit classes, however to pass you had to have 80%, so my GPA from where I got my nursing degree is 3.25 bassed on 3 classes that I took to keep my credits up to qualify for FA.
My RN-BSN program also dosn't give out letter grades as they are a pass/no pass as well.

While high grades/GPA's are great, don't judge those who do not have 4.0pts, I feel that I have a 4.0 when it comes to life lessons and expereince.

I the end many of us are proud of the GPA we obtained (3.92adn + 4.0bsn ) however does it really matter?
As long as we are passionate about what we do and are making a difference in peoples lives I call that a winning situation..
No employer has asked me about GPA'S or what kind of student I was before hiring me. I have been asked how I get along with others and what are my career goals in five years.

95% average when i left HS, went to one year of religious school post HS. both places studies tons and tons. but i still had a social life.
went straight to Adn program from there, currently a 3.36 gpa. i study all the time-after class, during my commute, all weekend, at parties with some down time-dropbox on my ipod touch all this studying leaves very little social life.

the only time i'm not studying is when i'm sleeping, driving, or at a wedding (not kidding). i'll even study when i'm eating. nursing school is my priority right now. if it wasnt for parties, i don't think i would leave my house and even parties are less than 1x a month. first thing out of friend's mouth when they see me? "OMG abi!!!!!!!! where have you been????????????" my answer? STUDYING! yup im a self proclaimed nerd and very proud of it!