Can you get into nursing school with a D for A&P1?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So, my friend asked me if she can get into nursing school with that D. That's her only pre-req left. She applied for Spring 2010. It's her 3rd time taking that course but still came out with that grade. But, she's done well on her other pre-reqs. It's just that one class.

Do you guys think she has a chance? I don't know what to tell her so I figured I should ask more experienced people.

Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

uh uh :no:

Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
I think you misunderstood my meaning. I was in no way suggesting that the ADN program was easier. The admissions process, however, IS usually different. For example, the CC I'm taking my pre-reqs at accepts people on a points system. A&P I is just one of the classes that you are awarded points for. You also get points for A&P II and Micro. All I meant by my comment was that if she had high grades in all her other classes and her gpa was also high, she still might have enough points to get in with the D (0 points) in A&P I.

Also, at my CC as well as all the others I've looked into in my state, A&P I is not required for admission--it's part of the normal curriculum taken during the first semester. That's why, in my opinion, she has a better (but still small) chance at an ADN program. Like I said before, she would still need to repeat the class if accepted and get a C or better to continue on to get her degree. I know of no program, ADN or otherwise that doesn't require at least a C in a core class.

When I did my ADN program, the sciences were either pre-requisites or co-requisites. At the time, the school was on a quarter system rather than semesters and the nursing courses took six quarters (two academic years) to complete, though most students took a little longer, getting the most difficult science classes out of the way ASAP. Admission was based on high school GPA or, for transfer students, on GPAs from their previous colleges. That was a LONG time ago and I understand that admissions at my old school have changed dramatically and that very few students are admitted to the ADN program straight out of high school. Most students are either bridge LPN to ADN students or have to complete the science courses as pre-requisites rather than co-requisites.

I think the OP's friend's "D" in A & P I is less of a concern than the fact that she has repeated the course several times and still gotten the same grade. If she has taken this course from the same instructor at the same institution, she may wish to make a change. It also would depend on how the course is actually graded. When I did my A & P III, I had a very high percentage, I think something like 94%, which would have been an "A" except that the instructor graded strictly on a bell-shaped curve, which meant that only one person received an "A" and someone received a failing grade, a "D", to "balance" it out. (Frankly, I don't think much of that method of grading!)

Otherwise, if the OP's friend is still determined to get into a nursing program, maybe she needs to seek tutoring or counseling on her study skills. What she is doing now by repeating the course and getting the same results, is obviously not working. Maybe, if she has her heart set on nursing, she might do better in a PN program; while PN programs are still very challenging, she might find one a better fit and, if she succeeds in a PN program, she can always bridge to an RN program later.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Its been stressed already. If you can't pass it the 3rd time with a D, I find it hard that you will be successful in nursing school. Its similar to saying I'm not successful with college chemistry and expecting to be successful in organic chemistry. Its why they call it prerequisites for a reason.

I am sure I am the oddball here, but I actually found Organic Chemistry easier then Inorganic Chem.

Specializes in Home health care, CNA (nursing home).

We had to have a 3.0 (B) to even be considered. A 1.0 (D) not going to get her/him in the nursing program.

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Thats a negative. For sure no if she applied to a school that goes by merit. Even all the schools I know that use lotto require at least a 2.5 GPA for pre-reqs. Many schools will limit how many times you can repeat a pre-req. My school would not allow you to repeat any pre-req more than once and only one. As in if you had to repeat chem you could not repeat micro...

Of course the higher the grade the better. But the important thing is, what is the school's admission process? Are they looking at the cumulative GPA of all the classes? Or do they only look at the GPA of certain classes?

I concur. : ) Every school is different, but it sure wouldn't hurt. I know the program at our school you need to c or higher in all nursing and science classes. If you were able to bring it up to a "C" you could apply at our school. However, that is the minimum to be considered. Our program is very competitive and most people that get accepted are way above the minimum. I have a 4.0 gpa and a 95% on my Hesi and I am still concerned with whether or not I will get in.

I would check with the program that you are looking to get in and find out the exact requirements.

No way. The sciences are the most important grades.

Specializes in ER.
I am sure I am the oddball here, but I actually found Organic Chemistry easier then Inorganic Chem.

Me too! Organic makes sense to me. Regular chem just seems like an odd collection and assortment of rules for a completely tiny little world!

I think the OP's friend should call the program advisor. As for my neck of the woods, I know of no program that takes less than a C as D is a failing grade. For the record, the elite nursing school (private) is the only program I know of that takes a C in pre-reqs! The ADN and BSN programs say C is the minimum but realistically B is the minimum due to competition for spots!

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Dude, I don't think anyone who takes A & P 3x and STILL has a D has any business being in nursing school. A & P is one of the less challenging classes. If you cannot handle those, you definitely cannot handle nursing school. Sugar coating things would be a disservice to her.

Co-Sign!

Can see getting a "D" the first time out and repeating the course, then getting a much better grade (B+ to A only would do), but to take *any* college class three times and the best one can do is the same near failing grade, points to some major problems.

Either the course work is simply beyond this person, or (and no offence meant), they are that thick that sitting through something three times left had left minimal residue.

I got a 57% in my A & P class and passed since the min req was a 50% but this was my nursing school in Canada - here most 4 year BScN programs require that you take ALL your nursing classes, electives and other classes together...most programs dont do pre reqs you just can start straight out of high school and do everything together. For example my first year I took my nursing courses, anatomy and physiology, psych, and electives. Its different in the USA though since I know most programs require usually 70 -79% min to pass. At my RN school we only had to get 50% in all non nursing courses and min of 60% in nursing courses to pass.

And its not only my nursing school like this, most nursing programs have similar pass requirements to this at least in my province.

I know quite a few people that got 50s and 60s in anatomy...I found it really hard. I want to retake it again (im a reg. nurse now) but its hard to retake it unless i do it though distance but I really want to take it through regular lectures I learn better that way. I really didnt like my first A n P prof and figure maybe I ll get a better grade and learn more next time. It hasnt hurt me though in my career yet

Here is my two cents on the topic:

your friend needs to seriousely assess why she is having such a hard time with this class. Is it, truly, because she took them and just didn't care, but cares now? If so, repeat the course and take it again and TRY AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. Is it, truly, because she had too much going on in her life to spend any time on this course? If so, again, repeat the course and TRY AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. Or is it because the material was just too hard for her? In that case, reconsider nursing as a career.

Check with the particular program of interest for limits on repeating courses. Some programs have limits, others don't. The program I am interested in, for example, doesn't care if you take a class 100 times....your best grade counts. But after repeating it twice, to enroll a third time, you have to meet with a counselor and discuss what happenned and they will try to help you.

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