C's in Nursing

patricia0809 · Dec 20, 2012

Stop you from getting a job NO, getting into a BSN program maybe! You are right, nursing school is extremely difficult and sometimes all you can do is your best. Some tips I can give you is just study hard, but also study smart. See if you can try different study routines that work better for you. Review your exams and see what you are getting wrong and talk to your professor. Buying a nclex review book is also a good idea. I just finished my third semester, taking OB, mental health, and pediatrics. I got two As and a B with just reading my nclex book and doing questions.

cheri1859 · Dec 21, 2012

I have the same issue...I have C's in both NUR 1 and NUR 2. I was panicked about getting into a BSN program around where I live. However, a couple of them require a 2.5 GPA which I was pleasantly suprised to see! One of them was Seton Hall University. That being said...I guess I'll need to see what competition I'd be up against when I apply.

Unfortunately, I have no advice for you but I want to give you a huge pat on the back for swinging it all!!! I am married with 2 kids (a 13 year old and a 10 year old - which is a lot easier than one 4 year old....hahaha) the difference for me however is I don't work. I give you a lot of credit pulling off a part time job as well! The 2 year ADN program is brutal (i overheard a professor saying that they are essentially cramming 3 years of info into just 2 years! No wonder we're only getting C's).

My goal for NUR 3???? Getting a B!!!

Good luck sweetie! You'll get through this.

SSNS07 · Dec 21, 2012

Wow! Good for you! I bought an NCLEX book and do extremely well with the questions. But once I'm in front of the exam, I think I do well and I get disappointed with my grade. It always happens.

SSNS07 · Dec 21, 2012

Thank you so much Cheri1895. Good luck to you!

Racer15, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2012

I'll be completely honest. With some hospitals, your GPA may be an issue. The main hospital in my town hires new grads based on their GPA. Their theory is, the higher your GPA, the more likely you are to pass NCLEX the first time, and they invest too much in new grads to risk losing them on a failed NCLEX. That hospital wasn't going to hire me despite the fact that I interviewed well and had a 3.5 GPA. I used my contacts to get that job (know a guy that is close friends with the VP of nursing). That isn't the norm everywhere though, and if you're willing to travel a bit, it won't be an issue.

Go to your instructors! I am NOT a C student, and when I did poorly on two exams my third semester, I went straight to my theory instructor's office and told her I obviously needed help. She guided me through my weaknesses and gave me input on how to do well. And I did. The best thing I did? A study group. I am not a group person, but just getting that additional input from some good friends, and also having to teach them the material, really helped me.

SSNS07 · Dec 22, 2012

Trust me when I tell you I've tried it all. I'm in a study group now, I've tried studying alone. My school does not allow you to see your exams. Exam review is handing you a copy of the exam and answer key yet you don't remember every answer you put on your exam. I know that I have an issue with the select all that apply questions. For passing the NCLEX, my school is in the 99% percentile even though most of the students get c's. Sometimes I feel my program is just harder than most but idk.

What town are you in?

DoeRN · Dec 22, 2012

May not be practical for you and I've been out of school for a while. I got C's in my first 2 nursing classes. What I was doing wrong was reading the NCLEX book and the professor's notes. So I buckled down and read the text books. I would read each chapter twice and supplement with the class notes as the NCLEX books. I received A's in all my nursing classes afterwards.

BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2012

I definitely understand what you're going through. I'm getting ready to start my third (and final!! Woo hoo!) semester and just started doing really well this semester. I got B's and C's my first two semesters (except in our clinicals - straight A's there, luckily) and was frustrated. This semester I pulled out B's and really in other classes they would have been A's given they were a 90% and 91% but it takes a 92% for an A in our program.

I have started doing a LOT more ATI and NCLEX style questions, as well as studying in groups. I know that bouncing things off of others, as well as just plain saying them out loud to give me that auditory connection really helps me.

Honestly, our motto the first semester became "C is the new A!" because we were all so used to A's. Yes, you may have a school that's wants straight A's for a BSN or MSN program but those are few and far between. Be proud of yourself for your hard work and just keep plugging along. :)

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2012

When I was in my nursing program I had pretty much straight C's once I started clinical classes. I was working full-time, and didn't have a ton of time to study. I thrived best in clinicals and not the classroom. I had no problem passing NCLEX, getting a job, or getting into a RN-BSN program (where I maintained almost all A's). Now, after working as a nurse for four years I am in a master's program and am maintaining an A average.

Just goes to prove that you can be that C nursing student and still end up succeeding. :)

SSNS07 · Dec 23, 2012

Thanks so much for that. That gives me hope!:)

Feistn · Dec 23, 2012

I've heard that there are many, many BSN programs out there, and they take into account your entire academic performance, not just nursing school. The goals is to have 80% of all RNs be BSN qualified by 2020, which is not that far off. A C will get you your degree. As far as the hospital is concerned, you could try and get a job now as a PCA or whatever, or absolute worst case scenario, you work LTC/TCU or homecare to gain experience. My nursing school instructor said that no one has EVER asked her what her grades were. If you passed nursing school with C's you passed nursing school, especially considering that C was what other college students know as a B.