Anyone get A's in nursing school?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2005

YOU GO!!!! I'd be darn proud of that too....

To be honest, making A's is not rewarding without people to share your good feelings with. Most often this is not one's classmates, but other peers and family.

Thanks so much!

Carmeceia911 · Jul 13, 2005

Hi everyone,

I have a few friends that I work with that are in an ADN program. They tell me that the teachers stay on you hard. That a lot of people drop the class because it is hard. I feel that if you make it hard on yourself it will be(not studying, not taking note's,etc...) It comes easier for some people that are already in the medical field. I work in the operating room and I learn new things everyday. I am grateful for that! My friend in the ADN program told me that, being a CNA before really helps and by her working in the operating room,also. The teacher's are hard for a reason, Some doctors can be shmucks! I have seen them fuss, curse, through surgical instruments and get in nurse's face's screaming. You have some pretty complexed people in the medical field. So, I believe that they are preparing you mentally to handle any situation ,problem or confortation that me come your way.

IMO, the difference between nursing school and med school is a matter of quantity, not difficulty level.

mariedoreen · Jul 13, 2005

The teacher's are hard for a reason, Some doctors can be shmucks! I have seen them fuss, curse, through surgical instruments and get in nurse's face's screaming. You have some pretty complexed people in the medical field. So, I believe that they are preparing you mentally to handle any situation ,problem or confortation that me come your way.

I've heard this argument before and while I don't wish to disrespect you for holding it I do categorically reject it.

I spent 14 years in the healthcare field before entering nursing school and witnessed more temper tantrums than I have ever seen a 2 year old throw. The reality is that 14 years of experiencing such nonsense is not helping me to accept it any better in nursing school any more than nursing instructors being "hard on me" for two years will help me to accept it any better back out in the field.

Personally I think some physicians and some instructors should be knocked off their pedastals and made to behave maturely and respectfully.

epiphany · Jul 13, 2005

I am a BSN, and I went into the nursing part of the program, (the last 2 years) with straight A's, but ended up graduating with a 3.8. I kind of know how many of you feel because I wanted to keep my A's as well. No one in our class of 75 graduated with a 4 GPA.

For me, I didn't get all A's, not because the class was harder, but I was burnt out from class. I felt frustrated by the curriculum and the quality of education was getting, and the environment was not very supportive. Whenever I had to do the nursing diagnoses, I wanted to slit my wrists. :) Whenever I had to sit in the conference room wasting hours with a lazy clinical instructor instead of go out there and take care of patients, I got more disillusioned. Exam answers were never discussed or returned to us. Teachers were poorly paid, and as much as some of them stayed for the love of teaching, I can see how it's hard to be inspired when you are not appreciated. The nursing courses carried 8 credits, and I felt like I was in circus, so I kind of decided to do my own studying and research because I hated the nursing medsurg book like death. I got some B's for them, and that pulled down my grade. In general, I was ticked off that the nursing curriculum tries to re-invent the wheel by trying to be too independent of the medical model, so I could not be inspired. And in my defense, during school year, I manage to get published few times, on matters that were important to me, so I was comforted that I wasn't that much of a slacker. In addition, with 3.8 GPA, I can get into any Graduate program, and it's more than I need for an impressive resume, so yes, I felt a little bit like a loser for not keeping up my A's but now I have a lot to look forward to, so I got over it very quickly.

So that's my story, thanks for letting me rant. :)

PS. As an aside, my GPA in fact, should have been lower. The curves were insane. In retrospect, that's annoying because it's like getting a consolation prize from the teachers for not giving me a good education. That's another reason why GPA's don't tell the whole story.

Ingo456 · Jul 13, 2005

Anyone?? I'm going into this with a 4.0, and I know that nursing classes are much harder, but there is that competitive part of me that would like to keep it. So, please, share your stories!

Dear JKCMom

If you can keep a 4.0 in nursing school more power to you. I can tell you that i got throught high school by sleeping in classes and then on the test would get a B+ or A+. I really thought i was smart and if I can get A and B while sleeping I can sure get A's and B's if I really tried. However I got to nursing school in class of 16 and all my A and B went out the window and got left with the C's Even though i worked really hard. Anyway the point i am trying to make here is that It does not really matter if you are an A student or B student or even a C student. Because 2 or 3 years down the road when you finish nursing school and you are working on a floor trying to make those difficult dicisions it wont matter if you were an A student or not. A C or or B student might come along and save you. My advice to you is get through nursing school with the intent of learing about what to do in those critical moments where lives are on the line and if you still have time worry about getting all A's go ahead but to tell you the truth you might just be setting your self up for dissapointment. I finished with a GPA of 2.65 i think that is a C+.

Roseyposey · Jul 13, 2005

Dear JKCMom
If you can keep a 4.0 in nursing school more power to you. I can tell you that i got throught high school by sleeping in classes and then on the test would get a B+ or A+. I really thought i was smart and if I can get A and B while sleeping I can sure get A's and B's if I really tried. However I got to nursing school in class of 16 and all my A and B went out the window and got left with the C's Even though i worked really hard. Anyway the point i am trying to make here is that It does not really matter if you are an A student or B student or even a C student. Because 2 or 3 years down the road when you finish nursing school and you are working on a floor trying to make those difficult dicisions it wont matter if you were an A student or not. A C or or B student might come along and save you. My advice to you is get through nursing school with the intent of learing about what to do in those critical moments where lives are on the line and if you still have time worry about getting all A's go ahead but to tell you the truth you might just be setting your self up for dissapointment. I finished with a GPA of 2.65 i think that is a C+.

While I know I can be a nurse with a "c,", I'm not sure I can get into the RN to BSN program with a low gpa. But, I understand your point.

southerngirl · Jul 13, 2005

It is possible. The one thing you learn in nursing school is unfortunately you don't always get that A. The important thing is that you passed and have alot of room between your grade and the failing cut off grade. I know each school is different some a 74, 76 etc. If you keep yourself ahead of the game, by reading, getting assignments completed before due dates and keep focused anything is possible. Good luck!!

kellyo, LPN · Jul 13, 2005

Straight A's, "marginal" grades, excellent skills, so-so skills. None of us know what things will really be like until we get out there and start working independently. Know your patho, think on your feet, have compassion and listen to your patients. Be an EXCELLENT nurse. Good luck to everyone!

Ingo456 · Jul 13, 2005

JKCMom

I did hear of men and i emphasize men that had low GPA's like mine getting into CRNA programs and NP programs after so many years of experience, however they were men. Maybe its the same for women. I dont know. And just so you know I in no way shape or form meant to imply that Straitght A academically means bad skills. In fact i witnessed the opossite. A girl who fineshed with a 3.7 GPA always was around to help me clinically and academically. And believe me she knew what she was doing clinically.

ftr_bb_catchr · Jul 13, 2005

This has been an interesting thread and I think we've managed it without bashing too!

I have a girlfriend who graduated from the nursing program at Purdue (which I think at that time was a top 10 school..). I told her about this discussion, and the ADN program that I am planning to attend that says A's are not going to happen, so forget it! She wondered if there might be a difference between the BSN and ADN programs. She graduated with a 3.94 (from Purdue with a BSN) and she thought maybe the ADN programs pushed you a bit harder.

I've got no beef with ADN or BSN... whichever way is right for you. A nurse is a nurse. ADN is the way for me, for now, so I can get out there and earn some money. (read.... not trying to start an ADN/BSN debate) But I wonder if there is any truth to her thought and if maybe it has A WHOLE lot to do with your individual program and the faculty/insrtuctors....

chuckc, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2005

I got a B in that stepfordish therapeutic communication and an A in surgical/assessment. I have seen very intelligent women with BA from good universities sink in this program. It is, by the way, an ADN program, tough stuff! :stone

Carmeceia911 · Jul 14, 2005

Believe me, I do not think that their behavior or classroom antics are acceptable! I think it sucks that they act the way they do. I have seen the tears from the nurses and it bothers me that people feel their position's is what make's them. My friend told me that, A classmate that was 40+ was kicked out of her ADN program for disputing something that the teacher commented on. Some of the teachers do it to weed out the weak.

I don't know! but It is not something that I think is appropiate.

I've heard this argument before and while I don't wish to disrespect you for holding it I do categorically reject it.
I spent 14 years in the healthcare field before entering nursing school and witnessed more temper tantrums than I have ever seen a 2 year old throw. The reality is that 14 years of experiencing such nonsense is not helping me to accept it any better in nursing school any more than nursing instructors being "hard on me" for two years will help me to accept it any better back out in the field.
Personally I think some physicians and some instructors should be knocked off their pedastals and made to behave maturely and respectfully.