"It shouldn't be that hard to be a nurse"

Nurses General Nursing

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Competition tough for nursing school

Earning a spot in nursing school can be tough, even in the midst of a nursing shortage.

Just ask Georgia State University student Rachel Edmundson, who has failed three times to win entry to GSU's program despite carrying a 3.29 GPA.

"I don't think it should be that hard" to become a nurse, the 21-year-old said over a chilled coffee drink near the GSU campus.

Interesting. I am sure that some of our pre-nursing and current nursing students may agree but after 16 years in this business, I am convinced that it should be that hard. Nursing is a tough field which requires smart, fast-thinking people. If there is a bright side to the nursing shortage, it's that nursing schools are forced to accept the highest quality students. And raising our standards isn't a bad thing IMO especially since people's lives rely on our skills.

Here's a little gem from her daddy:

We're not talking about medical school, we're talking about nursing school," her father, Chuck Edmundson, said

Yeah, it's only nurses and everyone knows you don't need to be that smart because after all our work isn't that critical, not like a doctor.

Specializes in PEDS ~ PP ~ NNB & LII Nursery.

I tend to agree with chickapin. I also agree that nursing school should be hard to get into but not in the way that it is. I think it's hard because there isn't enough spots for all the applicants not because a person lacks the desire, willingness, or capability to learn to be a good nurse. I've seen many students rejected or not accepted into nursing school that I felt would have made AWESOME nurses! GPA definitely has had way to much attention in my opinion. Yeah, it CAN show that a person is dedicated and book smart, but really doesn't say much by it's self as to what kind of a nurse a person will be.

As for the poor girls dad. He sounds just like 90% of society. Just because he (like so many others) doesn't realize what it takes to be nurse today doesn't make him a bad person. Just an ill informed one.

rags

Specializes in O.R., E.R/Trauma, I.C.U., Med-Surg, Tele.

Nursing is not for just anyone. It is not a field that should be entered just because it is makes someone a "good provider" to their family. A good GPA is not the only requirement to being accepted. If a person still has the drive and desire to enter a program, try and try again is the best advice I can offer.

Now that being said, nurses listen up! I graduated from an ADN program and thought I would never look for further education than that. I thought I was a great nurse, "as is". I got lured into my BSN because my hospital offered it for free. I am now working on my master's degree, which is something I thought would NEVER happen (again, can't turn down "free" tuition). I learned something important along the way during research for a project in my master's program. The reason we don't have enough nursing school spots is because we don't have enough nurse educators. In order to become a nurse educator, a nurse must advance in their education level. Moral of the story? Nurses, if all you want to aspire to is a diploma, ADN or BSN, the problem will NEVER end. We are the solution, and have no room to complain on behalf of others if we do not get the education. End of story.

Unfortunately, in my case my GPA (3.4) wasnt even a factor. My ADN program required only a 2.75 GPA for acceptance, however, once that was met the cumulative GPA was not taken into consideration for priority, but instead, entrance was based on a "lottery" system. As a result, I was on the waiting list for almost two years, as people with lower GPA's than mine were accepted. Oh well, what can you do right? :deadhorse

let the father work as a nurse for two days, and reed his comments after those days.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
I agree. I don't think a 3.29 is a bad GPA. Many (most?) nursing programs require a B average anyway, don't they? A higher GPA doesn't guarantee a better graduate -- or nurse ....

Just my .02 worth. (Hey, didn't there used to be a cent sign on the keyboard? No, that's right ... you had to type a c and than backspace and type a slash. I am old enough to remember that ... :uhoh21: )

I learned typing on non electric type writers. No, not stone tablet and chisel like some accuse me of.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
However, dad has a point.........Americans wanting to be nurses, yet importing foreigners. Do we check their GPA's prior to importing them? Probably not, as long as they pass NCLEX.

Not only foriegners coming to this country, but also its easier for minorities and other nationalities to go to school in this country and to get into nursing school.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I disagree with the prior comment. As a minority with a 3.74 gpa and a

microbiology major, I got wait listed for medical school. I decided to give nursing school a try. I do not believe that it is easier for minorities to get into nursing school. Look at the national stats on enrollment.

My long term goals are to complete the RN-MSN, and become a Nurse Practitioner. I plan to work as an NP and complete a PhD program so that I can teach someday.

As a former patient, I know how important competency is. I do not believe that competency can be faked. So, if someone unqualified gets in, they probably won't make it through unless they step up to the plate and hit the ball out the park.

Specializes in Hospice, Med Surg, Long Term.

5-10-2007

Nursing is a tough profession, always! It is hard work with long hours. It takes a tough person who is well organized, efficient, quick thinking, and you better have good work ethics. It is so true that Nurse's eat their young, so toughen up, be prepared. A lot is expected of us all, and you may be young, we'll help you learn and mentor you, but get ready to pull your own weight. Older nurse's can't carry your weight, if you come in tired from partying, or other personal issues interfere with your ability to function. We all have our own load to carry. The best thing you can do in school is learn excellent assessment skills and excellent problem solving skills, it takes alot of creativity to solve alot of problems. The hands on skills that are required, will come with time and practice. But assessment skills and problem solving skills are essential in making an excellent nurse. They are your survival skills.

a21chdchic in AZ

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Not only foriegners coming to this country, but also its easier for minorities and other nationalities to go to school in this country and to get into nursing school.

Ok I am going to have to address the direction of the thread here and ask you all a favor:

Please, let's not open up a can of worms going into this area. Please, keep focused on the topic as it was presented and however we feel about international nurses joining us, leave that for the many threads that already exist on this site.

thank you.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

While I don't believe that just anyone can be a nurse, I do not believe that a 4.0 GPA assures us that you will obtain a qualified nurse. I don't have the solution or suggestions, but grades alone is not reassuring. It is the quality of the person. NCLEX does not crank out the best, either. It forces us to regurgitate all that they may want to hear, but the real world does not allow for such.

.....

Specializes in OB.
Yep, I am a Pinellas student. So far, everything's going well. Summer's gonna be tough though. They have us taking Med-Surg I & II together. Do you guys do the same?

We did Med/Surg I & II this spring, so thankfully, I'm done! I really enjoyed most of it though and I'm very glad we took both at the same time because I think it made the med/surg HESI much easier with all the info being fresh. Plus I felt like I progressed in the hospital a lot faster because I had a larger base of knowledge to use. But man, doing it over the summer in such a short semester will be tough. At least they'll be your only classes, right? Good luck!

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