Do Grades Matter? What Kind of Grades Did You Get?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2009

This will be a touchy subject for sure. B's are good enough, I am not sure if it is like this everywhere but most nursing programs I am aware of have a stricter grading scales, in my fundamentals class if you miss more then 2 questions you lose your chance of getting an A. I am currently maintaining B's in all my classes (Pharm, Fundamentals and Dosage and Calculations) and I am proud of them! Our B's are usually A's in other programs!

pharmgirl · Sep 25, 2009

If your question is : is your future employer going to ask if you were an A student or a B student? the answer is no. An A RN is an RN just like a B or C RN. However, do grades matter? yes because if you can't get through the tests you can't get through the NCLEX. And the bottom line for all of us is the NCLEX. Good Luck!

kimmyj74 · Sep 25, 2009

I have a different view of this. I'm a month out of school, still waiting to my ATT letter to take my boards. I was salutatorian of my class. I've been applying and interviewing along with my classmates. Here's the thing..... I've never been asked @ interviews how my grades were, AND I'm not getting more interview then classmates. Actually I think the opposite is true (only had 2 interviews, where others have gotten 3-4). I'm thinking of taking salutatorian OFF my resume. :banghead:

In the end, we are all nurses whether u got an A or B. As long as u pass the board test your a nurse!

BluegrassRN · Sep 25, 2009

Kimy, don't take an achievement off your resume, that is NOT the reason why you aren't getting as many interviews!

Do grades matter to employers? Not so much.

Do they matter? Depends on you and your goals. A "C" student can still pass the NCLEX, but not as easily. Do you want to apply for scholarships or internships that are competitive? Do you want to go on in school? Then yes, grades matter.

And personally, to me, my grades "do" matter. It's a point of pride to do my best. I'm also a bit obsessive.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 25, 2009

I agree that you don't have to get all A in nursing school to get a job. They are rarely weighted heavily in the job selection process. However, there are some exceptions to that:

1. If you are graduating from a school whose reputation is not all that great ... some local employers may only hire you if your grades are exceptionally high. They may look at C's, D's, and F's on a transcript and think, "If she can barely meet the low standards of XYZ school, she's probably not someone we want to hire." The same hospital might hire someone from that school though, if she got top grades.

2. If you are competing against several applicants for a very popular job -- particularly for a special new grad program or student extern program an an elite institution or in a highly selective specialty (such as ICU). If they get multiple applicants for each treasured open position, they may look at the transcript to help them identify those most likely to be successful. I am in that position when I select students for an extern program that I coordinate. I get about 8 applicants for each position. Yes, grades are looked at in the selection process.

3. If you want to go to graduate school. Here again, you don't usually need all A's to get into a reputable grad school. But bad grades hurt you. The admissions committee will be looking for students who have a track record of success, not failure.

In the end, there is no need to obsess about grades and to feel you need all A's. But those who say grades don't matter at all are probably fooling themselves. The truth lies somewhere in between.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 25, 2009

When you graduate and pass your NCLEX, you're still as much of an RN or LPN as the next person--it doesn't matter what your final GPA was.

Grades definitely have an impact on continuing your education though, as I'm finding out while I apply to RN-BSN programs. Fortunately my grades are very good so I don't have a lot to worry about (I hope!).

But can grades matter to employers? I guess they could, because nearly every place I've interviewed at asked for my GPA and/or transcript. There's so many applicants for jobs that employers can be as choosy as they like.

Hopeful3 · Sep 25, 2009

I am working my hardest and really want to be a nurse, I am giving my all. I know there is people who are in my class who seem to get an "A" without hardly any effort but I don't think some will make the best nurses. Then there is me, working my butt off and I am lucky to pull a "B"!

Just do your very best and good luck!

HappyMeNow · Sep 25, 2009

I definitely want to transfer to a BSN program after I graduate. The school I'm looking at requires a 2.5. I hope I can apply with a minimum of 3.0 though.

paynck · Sep 25, 2009

Usually in a semester I get about 1 or 2 A's and the rest B's. From my experience, grades do not matter as much as experience and leadership roles. If you are finding that you are killing yourself studying trying to make A's, I would advice you relax a bit and be happy with a B or two.

miacool2005 · Sep 25, 2009

Hello, I am looking for a very good LPN program to enroll in DC. I know that Maryland does not have any private LPN programs; only community colleges in Maryland offers LPN, but they also require you to take a lot of prerequisites so I prefer to go through the shorter route. Please anyone who knows of a very good and accredited school that offers LPN program in DC, please let me know. Any advice or suggestions are welcome. Thank you so much.

cingle · Sep 25, 2009

Do grades matter? That depends on why one works to get good grades. Although I know my program will graduate me with a B average, I'm working for better. I want to know I did my absolute best and, for me, that will be partially reflected by grades. Likely the only other person who will see my grades is my husband -- and I really want him to be ultra-proud and also to know that his many, many sacrifices for my schooling have been worth it.