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.

Thanks for the replies everyone. So, now she was wondering if it's possible for the school to accept her while she takes the A&P course again. Is it really impossible?

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The school has the final say-so, but I can't imagine them accepting anyone into the nursing program with a D in anything. Most nursing courses require a 76 or higher (I know some programs require 80%) in ALL courses to pass the course...so low C's quickly become F's....I don't think that someone that struggles in pre-requisites will necessarily not be successful, but having retaken the course at least once and still no better grade than a D makes me very leery of their success....and I hate to say it, but even if they let her in, I doubt she makes it very much farther:twocents: (The retaking and not improving is what has me concerned...I can't fathom retaking a course and not being able to improve my grade, as well as my understanding)

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
It depends on what type of school she's going for.

If she's trying to get in a BSN program, no--the minimum grade you can have for A&P is a C.

If she's going for an ADN program, there's a small chance she could be accepted if all her other grades & her gpa are high. She would, of course, have to take A&P I again in the ADN program and pass with a C to be able to get a degree though.

Just because it is an ADN does not mean it is easier, lesser or the bar is set lower. I waited 1.5 years to get into my ADN program and they did not accept grades lower than a C, just like the BSN programs. Technical college ADN's were hired over BSN graduates of the University's very own hospital because of technical prowess and had a shorter orientation (by almost four months).

But then again this thread isn't about ADN vs. BSN. I just hate when people assume because you can't do a four year it is easy to get a two year.

She needs a C or better. Plus, you need to KNOW the content, maybe she needs to start looking at the content as her life and career, instead of something to get through.

Tait

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Just because it is an ADN does not mean it is easier, lesser or the bar is set lower. I waited 1.5 years to get into my ADN program and they did not accept grades lower than a C, just like the BSN programs. Technical college ADN's were hired over BSN graduates of the University's very own hospital because of technical prowess and had a shorter orientation (by almost four months).

But then again this thread isn't about ADN vs. BSN. I just hate when people assume because you can't do a four year it is easy to get a two year.

She needs a C or better. Plus, you need to KNOW the content, maybe she needs to start looking at the content as her life and career, instead of something to get through.

Tait

I agree, one of the things is ADN programs you do your pre reqs on your own and in the BSN's I looked into (not bridge) you do them as part of your program. Also I was shocked up in the nursing student forum, there is a thread of people posting their schools grade scale and it seems a lot of the people posting their BSN scale the minimums are less then what I am seeing for the ADN. Not that it means tons but I see a lot about how CC are so much easier and I think it's a bunch of bull IMO

Anyway, matchsticktgt I do agree, the point of retaking a class is to gain a better understanding and improving your grade. Taking it numerous times and getting a D doesn't seem like their is much improving.

I just get sensitive I suppose towards that topic in particular, up in the student forum it gets said a lot how people that struggled in the science pre reqs shouldn't bother with the nursing program and stuff. I have found that I enjoy the nursing tests a lot more then pre req tests, I feel like it's a lot more up my alley and less just memorizing.

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True about the nursing questions vs memorizing.....those people with photographic memories, or just really good memories, can excel in courses where memory work is the primary mode of learning...unfortunately, most people, once they pass the course, forget what they just "memorized".....but the nclex style of questions require you to learn and understand, as well as then apply what you learned and understood. Each course lays a foundation that the next course builds on - and where a person may have previously had an easy time of memorizing and passing tests, now it is more complex, and you literally have to master the information and be able to apply it in different situations. That is the real reason I think a D in the class is a indicator of success (or lack of)...if you don't do well in, or actually understand a course, you can't apply knowledge that you didn't acquire. This has been the hardest transition for me, being that when I remember to load film in the camera, I have a photographic memory and rarely have to study very much for the "fill in the blank" type of question....which doesn't do me much good in the nclex/critical thinking type of question. It all really boils down to what the school will or won't allow. It really is their call, regardless of what our opinion is. Should they allow her in, I wish her the best of luck, but I remain highly sceptical of her ability to succeed.

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Highly highly doubt it.

Most programs requires a C or better.....if she can't do A&P, she is going to struggle in her nursing classes. They need to know you can do it.

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Actually to be honest, most schools will not accept anything less than an 80%. in my program, an 80% is a C. So anything below a C is failing.

CD and D is the same as an F to them

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Yeah I know being in my nursing classes I had wished I retained a lot more in A&P I had a great teacher personality wise, but maybe not the best learning wise. I remember at the end of the semester I was worried if I was going to pass the course, he was like, what do you need and I said a 2.5 and he says "don't worry you will get a 2.5". At the time I remember thinking he was the coolest and best teacher ever, in the end I got my 2.5 (my school in WA you had to have a minimum of a 2.5 or straight C to pass)

Now looking back, I wish he would have been harder and less concerned about being well liked. I mean I still think he was a great person but it didn't benefit me in the long run for him to do that.

I just got me a A&P coloring book and A&P made visual book to do over winter break before I start med/surge because I feel like my knowledge on it is not up to par. I mean I managed to do fine first semester but I could have done a lot better.

Like I said earlier though, I don't know of any school that doesn't require a minimum of a C

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Your friend will find nursing school very hard if she can't pass A&P after 3 attempts. I passed A&P1, and 2, with easy A's and I find my nursing classes to be far more difficult. No college program will let anyone with a "D" unless your the son of a politician or something.

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^^ I agree!!!

Nursing school is very difficult....im a junior and i WISH i could go back to A&P. A&P is the foundation for everything in nursing...every class builds on top of the previous one. If she cant get the first one, she won't get the next one and so on. I dont think she should give up on it by any means....it isnt impossible!

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Can honestly say have *never* heard of any nursing program in the USA, this includes ADN, Diploma, and BSN schools that will accept anything less than a "C" in both the pre-nursing sequence, nursing and core classes.

Most if not all nursing programs have strict rules on if and when an pre-nursing,nursing or core class can be repeated. Usually one is allowed to repeat *One*, in each (pre-nursing and again after being formally admitted), though some programs allow only one repeat including both pre and nursing.

Without a good understanding of A&P, much of nursing will be beyond this person. Everything from meds, to disease procces, builds upon a nurse having a good understanding of A&P. If one does not understand A&P, then one does not understand the human body, if one does not understand the human body how can someone treat an illness?

If the person retook the course and still couldn't manage better than a "D", then one can safely assume one of two things: either the person did not apply themselves, or the course is simply beyond them.

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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.

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