Don't Blow the Curve !!!

smk1, LPN · Oct 25, 2006

It isn't your responsibility to make sure others graduate. You can show them how you are studying to get those high grades. What they choose to do with the information is their choice.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Oct 25, 2006

We also don't have curves in NS....as our instructor pointed out, do you want a nurse who passed because of a curve or because they knew what they were taught?!?!

One thing I'd like to point out, is that no one loves the person who likes to brag about their grades, either....when I was taking A & P II (which was curved) the instructor mentioned there wasn't much of a curve on one test because someone had gotten 100%...when she handed back the tests one gal yelled, "YES!!" and instantly got the wrath of the rest of the class...that attitude isn't appreciated either, particularly by the students who want this as bad as the "smart" person, but maybe has to work much harder...sometimes academics come much harder to others, regardless of how much they work....something to keep in mind as just learned during the nursing process chapters -- "humility"....

Sheri257 · Oct 25, 2006

harder...sometimes academics come much harder to others, regardless of how much they work....something to keep in mind as just learned during the nursing process chapters -- "humility"....

Spare me the humility lecture ...

As I previously mentioned ... I only told a couple of friends who asked what I got. I didn't realize they were going to tell others. Usually there are others who score a lot better than me so I didn't think it was a big deal at the time.

:typing

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2006

We also don't have curves in NS....as our instructor pointed out, do you want a nurse who passed because of a curve or because they knew what they were taught?!?!
One thing I'd like to point out, is that no one loves the person who likes to brag about their grades, either....when I was taking A & P II (which was curved) the instructor mentioned there wasn't much of a curve on one test because someone had gotten 100%...when she handed back the tests one gal yelled, "YES!!" and instantly got the wrath of the rest of the class...that attitude isn't appreciated either, particularly by the students who want this as bad as the "smart" person, but maybe has to work much harder...sometimes academics come much harder to others, regardless of how much they work....something to keep in mind as just learned during the nursing process chapters -- "humility"....

So . . .. in order to be "humble", it's okay for a person to be disappointed, sad, mad, upset about a bad grade, but if he/she is happy about a good grad, that's not ok. The person who got the lone 100% should be happy. It's not like she called you guys stupid for not getting the same. Why should someone bury her accomplishments because other people are insecure?

Sheri257 · Oct 25, 2006

So . . .. in order to be "humble", it's okay for a person to be disappointed, sad, mad, upset about a bad grade, but if he/she is happy about a good grad, that's not ok. The person who got the lone 100% should be happy. It's not like she called you guys stupid for not getting the same. Why should someone bury her accomplishments because other people are insecure?

But that is the unwritten rule in nursing school. Don't bruise fragile egos.

Quite frankly, if somebody yelled out that they got a good grade, I wouldn't blame them. NS is so hard ... that when you do well, you do want to scream it from the mountain tops ...

But I did not do that in this case.

:typing

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 25, 2006

So . . .. in order to be "humble", it's okay for a person to be disappointed, sad, mad, upset about a bad grade, but if he/she is happy about a good grad, that's not ok. The person who got the lone 100% should be happy. It's not like she called you guys stupid for not getting the same. Why should someone bury her accomplishments because other people are insecure?

No one should bury their accomplishments, but it shouldn't be thrown in someone's face either (and i'm certainly not saying anyone has, either).

If someone asks me my grade, it's actually not their business. I made have made 100 on a test, but my reply if somemone asks what i got is "i passed."

WDWpixieRN, RN · Oct 25, 2006

No one should bury their accomplishments, but it shouldn't be thrown in someone's face either (and i'm certainly not saying anyone has, either).
If someone asks me my grade, it's actually not their business. I made have made 100 on a test, but my reply if somemone asks what i got is "i passed."

Thank you....that's more or less my point....some people really do struggle and it's very frustrating for them and my heart goes out to those who covet the successes that we have....some of us easier than others....perhaps that's because I'm an older student with grown children who can actually relate to the differences people have academically...I saw it with my own kids....2 highly successful academically, and one who struggles for everything she's gotten...

That being said, I still say that for someone to feel angry that anyone "blew the curve" is wrong, and you shouldn't be expected to dumb down for them....everyone is expected to do their best...and for some that's just easier than for others....

luv2shopp85 · Oct 25, 2006

This is just a vent but, I'm sick of hearing this.
Like I'm supposed to intentionally start answering questions wrong just so other people can pass?
I'm a former anal A student who finally got used to getting B's in nursing school. Now that I'm in the final semester I've accepted the realities of testing which is: the teacher's aren't going to tell you everything you need to know, and you're not going to find it all in the assigned reading either.
So what did I do about it? I transcribe the lectures verbatum so I better understand how the teacher thinks. If I understand how the teacher thinks I may not know all the answers but, it helps me ... for lack of a better term ... "game" the test. And, of course, I do all of the reading.
I also do at least 200-400 NCLEX questions for each test to hopefully get the material they don't tell you about. And it helps me discipline myself for things like ... making sure I'm paying attention and reading the question right.
In other words ... I work my butt off.
The result is ... I've been doing fairly well with high B's and occassional A's. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal because there are other students who usually score higher than I do. But, apparently, I've been getting some of the highest grades and a lot of people are failing ...
Since the last exam is an NCLEX predictor and it's going to be curved, everybody's pressuring me not to blow it for them since they may not graduate.
Why don't these people just get to work? That's what I did.
Yes ... I know ... I shouldn't have told people my scores. But, quite frankly, I didn't think my scores were that great ... especially since I used to get straight A's before nursing school. Little did I know that many others were failing for the first time.
I only told a couple of friends but, apparently, word spread like wildfire.
My bad.
:typing

I wish I Had the decscipline that you have. I study and study and I get a high C on exams usually. What Nclex books do you use? And do you go over only nclex questions that relate to the material you're going to be tested on? Or do you just do as many as possible on anything?

BoonersmomRN · Oct 26, 2006

Curve? What's a curve? Just kidding....we dont use curves.

I am the mentor for my class and I can tell you this. I was nominated because of my grades. I have helped a lot of people out. MOST are thankful. You can't help those who can't help themselves, though. If you offer advice and they don't listen....their loss. Not everyone has the discipline or TIME to put into my studies what I do........but when they ask I tell em exactly what I do...and then I ask them their normal ways....and I try to help from there- IF THEY REALLY WANT MY HELP!. Since I was nominated- the majority of the class knows I get good grades...but I don't publicize what I make....if they ask...I may answer...unless it's a friend I normally just say " I did well".

firstyearstudent · Oct 26, 2006

Well, how about this... on our math & meds test, we needed an 88 to pass. About 1/2 the class didn't get it. I did, in fact I got a 100. I did work my ass off, did problems every night for about 3 weeks prior.
So then the next week, the instructors just said, well, everyone who didn't pass the math test, stay after tonight. Here's what they did: they simply gave everyone their test back and told them to correct it. Everyone passed.
So what the hell did I try so hard for?

Because you wanted to learn and do your best.

I used to get really mad at one of our instructors who would throw out the really hard test questions that everyone missed -- except for me. Then I remembered that it wasn't a competition. It's school.

Sheri257 · Oct 26, 2006

I wish I Had the decscipline that you have. I study and study and I get a high C on exams usually. What Nclex books do you use? And do you go over only nclex questions that relate to the material you're going to be tested on? Or do you just do as many as possible on anything?

I focus on NCLEX questions that relate to the test material. So ... I like Saunders, Lippincott 3500, Mosby and Davis because they have NCLEX questions broken down by subject matter. I like to use the computer disks that come with the books because you can go through questions like the computer tests we have at school.

Between those four NCLEX disks, I can usually dig up anywhere between 200-400 questions on whatever we're being tested on. Sometimes it's a pain ... like we just had a test on the liver and those questions were buried in the GI sections of the NCLEX disks. So, I just skipped all the questions that weren't related to the liver.

I definitely get a lot more material that from those disks that the teachers and the books don't mention but, nevertheless, tends to show up on our tests. The practice questions also me avoid stupid mistakes ... like not reading the question carefully.

:typing

destiny5 · Oct 26, 2006

Sorry Lizz you do come across as "haughty". With someone of your obvious intelligence I find it hard to believe #1. that it didn't occur to you until the "final"---that sharing good grades especially where a curve is concerned may not be such a wise decision. #2. that you didn't know that your grades were "that great". Somehow I find it hard to paint you as the victim ....My advice, keep up the good work & keep your mouth shut if you don't want to deal with your classmates and their unreasonable requests.......I have a feeling though that you like the attention.