I am actually just about to start my sophomore year in my undergrad so I am still only 19 but I am positive my heart is set on pediatric nursing. I got a 3.0 my first semester which I worked my butt off to get because I was placed in a Molecular, Cellular and Developmental biology class that I was not ready for at all and ended up with a C, and the rest of my classes were A's and B's. For my second semester, I took a huge dip and that is what really has taken a hit at my confidence. I really enjoy chemistry and I put a ton of hours into being able to pass that class and I feel like I am actually pretty good at chem, sometimes I just don't test well. I ended up with a C+ in that class which I took proudly because of how rigorous it was. However, my genetics class (the second class to the molecular biology from my first semester) is what really took down my gpa. Once again, I was not prepared for that class whatsoever but I was advised by advisors to still take it because nursing schools would be looking for it. I put a ton of work into that class but I just couldn't understand it (probably cause the last time I took a bio class was my sophomore year of High School), and I ended up failing the class. I got a 2.4 GPA and it took my cumulative GPA down to a 2.6.
I know I still have 3 more years to go and have a lot of time to get that up but I am just extremely discouraged and intimidated that I am going to finish my four years and not be able to get into any nursing schools. I know I have the heart, determination and motivation to exceed in nursing school but I am scared I will be completely over looked because of my gpa. My major is Integrative Physiology, and I have been thinking about possibly switching majors because it requires me to take classes that only pre-med students have to take, not pre-nursing.
Anyways, I was just wondering if I should be completely counted out or continue to strive for it even though I took a dip in my gpa? I am taking a class this summer that is the easier version of that genetics class, but the grade of this summer class will not replace the F, so it will always be there on my transcripts. It has always been my dream to be a pediatric nurse and that dream only continues to grow and I don't want to give up, I am just discouraged in my ability to thrive in school because I know you need to have more than the heart to become a nurse, you need strength in academics as well. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!!
If nobody has mentioned it yet (sorry didn't read all the comments from everyone!) find out if your university (or other universities you are considering attending) only looks at your nursing pre-req GPA when reviewing nursing program applications. That is what my school does, so they only looked at my grades in Microbiology, A&P I&II, Chemistry, Psychology, Math, and a few other courses. This gave me a completely different GPA than my cumulative GPA of all the courses I've taken.
Also, I'm sure it was mentioned already but when you hear nurses say their hospitals look for nurses with their bachelors, this is probably true, but they mean BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing.) You can get your bachelors in something else, but if nursing is really what you want to do, go for that! Don't spend 4 years on something you don't wanna do, just to go back and spend 2 more years trying to finish what you do wanna do. Change your major or talk with a nursing advisor, they will be able to give you a lot more information. Also I know if you already have a bachelors degree, I don't thing you qualify for financial aid anymore.
Again, sorry if that was all a repeat of everyone else. Good luck to you on your nursing school journey :)!
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
Well most nurses I have talked to/shadowed have been saying that almost all hospitals would like to see nurses with their Bachelors. I am going to try to do as much as I can to bring my gpa back up, most likely along the lines of what you suggested! Thank you very much!
They mean a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, not A Bachelor's in Integrative Physiology. You do not need to get a bachelors degree before nursing school. You get it FROM nursing school.
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MinneNurse, BSN, RN
104 Posts
If nobody has mentioned it yet (sorry didn't read all the comments from everyone!) find out if your university (or other universities you are considering attending) only looks at your nursing pre-req GPA when reviewing nursing program applications. That is what my school does, so they only looked at my grades in Microbiology, A&P I&II, Chemistry, Psychology, Math, and a few other courses. This gave me a completely different GPA than my cumulative GPA of all the courses I've taken.
Also, I'm sure it was mentioned already but when you hear nurses say their hospitals look for nurses with their bachelors, this is probably true, but they mean BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing.) You can get your bachelors in something else, but if nursing is really what you want to do, go for that! Don't spend 4 years on something you don't wanna do, just to go back and spend 2 more years trying to finish what you do wanna do. Change your major or talk with a nursing advisor, they will be able to give you a lot more information. Also I know if you already have a bachelors degree, I don't thing you qualify for financial aid anymore.
Again, sorry if that was all a repeat of everyone else. Good luck to you on your nursing school journey :)!