Totally stupid, but could use some help

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Okay, I know this is going to sound stupid. I had my first micro exam on Tuesday. She tests differently than I have experienced before, but it's supposed to help get us used to what we'll encounter in nursing school. I studied hard, and thought I knew the material. Maybe I should have studied harder.

She posted the grades last night and I got a B+. It puts me at *barely* an A- in the class right now. I have not had less than an A on anything, test or otherwise, since I returned to school in 2005. (I've been taking a class or two at a time so I can maximize time at home with my kids.) I know that may sound arrogant and I truly don't mean it that way. I've just worked very, very hard to get good grades because I knew that was the only way I would have a shot at receiving any scholarships. (My husband makes *just* enough that I don't qualify for financial aid.) I also wanted to be able to show that my previous record in school was not who I am now. (I had a 3.something when I was in school in 96/97, but also ended up having several W's on my record because I had to drop out when I became pregnant with my daughter and had complications.) This is really important to me.

Anyway, I know logically it shouldn't bother me, especially given that the average grade was a D, but it does. Is anyone else hard on themselves about things like that? How do you get past that? I'm going to end up driving myself crazy if I don't change this.

Tiffany

I know how you feel. I have had 5 graded labs/homework assignments so far in Chem and I've gotten 10/10 on all 5 of them. It looks so nice online just having 100% on all of them so far. I'm petrified to see a 8 or 9 on one of my future assignments. I'm sure it will happen, but I know I'll be really disappointed.

Anyway... FWIW, a B+ is nothing to scoff at. Good luck to you!

Jennifer

If you think you are being hard on yourself think how I felt when I got my first C in nursing school in a lab class, of all things. I was in shock. But when I analyzed the situation I had to admit that the reason was because I was trying to do too much and had not put forth the effort required for a B or an A. I never did adjust my approach, but at least I understood where the problem was and what I would need to do to overcome it. Good luck in bringing yourself up to your usual standards. Later on at work, your patients will get better care because you care enough to put everything you have into preparing yourself now. I wish more nurses were as conscientious.

Thank you. :) Giving my best to my patients is very important to me. I've been a patient and the parent of a patient a lot in the last 3.5 years. I know firsthand the phenomenal difference a good nurse can make, and just how much it can hurt to have one who doesn't seem to want to be there or care. There were a few nurses who made some very difficult times a bit more bearable, which, believe me, for the circumstances, is saying a tremendous amount. I hope I can do that for others as well.

Well, I'd better get back to studying! ;) :D

Tiffany

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry.

I know how you feel about being discouraged with grades that were anything but an A. I got very frustrated when I went to the University level of education. I graduated from a community college with a 2 yr degree in individual studies (getting my english and sciences, math and such done) with a GPA of 3.8 and was Phi Theta Kappa. I hit the university for the nursing curriculum and was struggling a bit with some of the classes. Ended up graduating this past May with a 3.24 GPA. I was a bit disappointed, but at least I passed and was done. My logic in thinking was that if I got questions wrong on the exams, that could have meant doing harm to a patient when I get into the "real" world. You need a little of that healthy fear in you in order to do well and succeed; however, if you keep that in the front of your mind too much, it just might scare you away from nursing all together.

Basically, do the best that you can possibly do, and accept that when you have tried and studied your hardest, that whatever grade you get is the best you could have expected from yourself. I know it's hard with getting study time with kids...I did my schooling while tending to my 4 kids. But it sounds like you have yourself pretty organized with your time to equal things out. Good luck with everything!!

Tammy

Hey it's still early.. You CAN get an A in the class:)

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