Are you an A student. How do you achieve it

kalevra, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

Some people are A students and provide excellent patient care as well. Never understood the argument that A students don't perform well in the clinical setting.
I have one semester left of nursing school and have maintained a 4.0, as well as having exemplary reviews from clinical professors and nurses. I make sure to keep up with the textbook reading, I highlight the main points in the book as I go along. I go to every lecture (and clinical) and pay attention. We don't use power points, but rather case studies, I take notes as the teacher speaks on relevant points. When it comes time to study for a unit exam, I go back and read highlighted points in the textbook, then my lecture notes, then I read out of ATI (something we had to purchase at the start of nursing school). Basically I make sure I understand the point before I move on. This may sound like a lot, but I definitely have free time to spend with my husband and son. Good luck with achieving your goal!

Some people do better at clinicals, some do better at books, and some can do both. Like I said I have seen people freak in the real world setting. Many of them straight A students. Just something I noticed during RN school. Seen this mostly at county or hospitals located deep in the "bad" part of town. When the environment isn't as hospitable compared to other hospitals.

RJ1087 · Dec 20, 2012

I have managed to get As and work 20 hours a week in a BSN program. The only way I can

Do it is by keeping a planner! Staying organized and time management are huge. A lot of students would say they have a week to study so they put it off but I would start in advance. Make use of the down time because it will pay off in the long run. The test success book series also helped me a ton with nursing school style of questions. I highly recommend those!

joselyne · Dec 20, 2012

Thanks for the insights. What test success books did you use?

Sadala, ADN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

uhhh.... I got one A and the rest B's my first semester. Uncharacteristically, I was HAPPY. I think (again uncharacteristically) that I may have startled several teachers by hugging them with no warning.

See, first semester is exceedingly stressful. Its not that the work is academically hard, its that there is an interminable amount of it and nobody seems particularly happy with your efforts (and of course, its stuff you've never done before). There are clinical skills to, if not perfect, at least practice in a tolerable manner.

It is freaky scary. I would have been thrilled to get all B's and that is a super unusual thing for me to say about school. I already have a bachelor's and nursing school is NOTHING like my prior academic experiences.

You just have to take all the criticism in stride, try to apply it, and keep putting one foot in front of the other. There are good days and very bad days, but when you DO finally manage to do something that receives praise you are over the moon.

Sadala, ADN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

Oh yeah, whoever said keep a planner is right on the money. Also, save your clinical work so you don't have to completely reinvent the wheel every time. Go over each day's classes after class or that night. Study your lab values and pharm daily as well.

Organization IS key.

Sadala, ADN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

Also, if someone is really good at a practical skill then by ALL MEANS let them teach you how to do it. I am kind of an "up in my head" type. I'm great at patho, not so good with my body. The girl who sat across from me could glove like a ninja (If ninjas gloved). She totally practiced with me and helped me get that skill down. I turn, I helped her with some of the fundie and patho stuff.

Support others and get some support. It can be so helpful.

Racer15, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

I graduated from two top state universities with a 3.8 GPA, and graduated nursing school with a 3.5 GPA. My advice is to not freak out over a B. It isn't worth it. Do your best to UNDERSTAND, not memorize. Sometimes it takes awhile to understand that. A 4.0 doesn't mean you'll be a bad nurse, but it also does not mean you'll be a great one.

pronurse45 · Dec 20, 2012

Hi there joselyne! I am impressed by your determination to excel in your studies...Just put an extra effort in everything that you do, learn to love you craft because that's the only way for you make every ways possible to stand out. One of my guiding principles during college is that, "I was sent to school to study that's why I have to study; very well". You need to have a focus and learn to prioritize. Anyway; nursing education is just takes a few years for you to finish, just be willing to make sacrifices because it will all pay in the end!

nurse_kC · Dec 20, 2012

My advice to you is to study, study, study! Try not to miss any classes & always be prepared. Before I go to class, I glance @ the material we are going to be talking about. During class, I highlight & scribble down everything my instructor is saying. Then at the end of the day when I get home I go over all of our material & type out the notes I highlighted & scribbled throughout the day! I also go ahead & make note cards for the vocabulary or words that I am not familiar with. So when test time comes around, all I have to do is flash through my note cards & read my neat & organized notes! Good luck!!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 20, 2012

I currently have a 4.0 average. What's the trick? Simple: stay organized!

I buy a planner and write down every test I have and highlight it in yellow. Then I fill in all the quizzes and highlight it in green. Next, I fill in any homework assignments that have to be turned in and highlight those in blue. And finally, I write in 2 hours per day of studying. I find it is easier to stay on top of things if I'm doing a little each day. When you break it into manageable chunks, it's not so difficult. Plus, studies prove that looking at the material each day helps you retain better than large cramming sessions.

If a course is particularly difficult, I will add extra study time in to the schedule. I always take 15 minute breaks after an hour. Get up, walk away from the books, have a drink/snack, etc. Then I don't feel like I'm studying for "hours". I always finish my homework the day before it's due to make sure I don't need any corrections before turning it in.

If your school offers Supplemental Instruction (or tutoring), go to the SI sessions before your exams. I find these to be a highly effective review before an exam. I learned more in my SI sessions in Pharmacology than I did in the course!!!

When it comes time to take your tests, always go slowly. Read the entire question twice to be sure you catch any "tricks" (such as the word "NOT" or the phrase "isn't true" or "most correct"). Read all the multiple choice answers and rule out anything obviously wrong. Read the question with the answer you've selected. Always go with your gut instinct if you're torn between 2 questions. I can't count the number of times I've changed and answer when I had it right the first time!!!

Best of luck to you in your nursing courses!!!

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

First of all, the old agade of "C is degree" is working nowadays only for those who don't and won't consider coming back to school. There were several posts on this very forum about problems finding FNP programs accepting GPA 3.0 I have to maintain straight A b/o both places I like to go one day for Adult Acute care NP/DNP require GPA above 3.5

It is important to find a program where the mentioned "rule" is not supported by opinion of the majority of the faculty. It is very difficult to do unless you happen to get a trustworthy contact in there; board passing rate says nothing about it. One way to find it out is to contact local CRNA programs and ask them where most of their students are coming from, because these programs traditionally have high academical requirements and so attract just such students. BSN programs look like more supportive for "super-achievers" in general.

Everything else was pretty much already written... study early in semester; make plans; find ways to overcome your learning style if it doesn't work (the old stories about "bad test takers" and "no-book learners" are poor exuses at their best; test taking is just a skill and the problem usually disappears after doing first 10.000 NCLEX qs; "bad readers" just have to start to think about content, main idea, sequela, etc., - all the stuff taught somewhere between 4 and 6 grade); do not procrastinate; ask questions till you get to the bottom of the problem; make connections between what you already know and what you just read/saw/heard; cooperate with professors and instructors; be assertive enough to ask for transfer to another group if something even starts to smell fishy; do not miss classes without good reason. Do not sell or discard your textbook till you're out of school - you can't possibly remember everything, and connections between new and old stuff is one key to good understanding.

The main point is to decide why do you want or need "straight As" because this style of learning usually means missing some life and fun, a lot of additional stress and some sacrifices above it. I wish i could work but I got family to run and with this type of learning is not compatible with anything else.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

The A students that I know in my school, literally spend every waking moment reading the book, rewriting notes, typing notes, retyping the notes, and reading the book some more. I'm mostly a B student, and I put a lot of time into school, but not every waking moment.