Don't Blow the Curve !!!

Nursing Students General Students

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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

Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

Maybe you should share your study habits with the rest of the class. So, everyone passes, you dont get pressured and everyone is HAPPY!

*Why don't these people just get to work? That's what I did.*

You know, pressure over time does very weird things to people. Y'all are in your final semester now and coming down the home stretch. A lot of your classmates are probably pretty stressed out and tired too, so I'd try to read their remarks as such. I can remember times when I've worked very hard and was so worn out that I couldn't remember much and wasn't effective. I imagine some of your classmates are right *there*.

They've asked you not to throw the curve? --That's like saying, "Please don't do your best, so that I can succeed" It's a desparate request, but I agree with the poster above that maybe you can share some of your techniques with them (and then maybe just let it go). You've sound like you've already got it nailed (congratulations BTW!), while others are feeling very insecure.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

We had no curves in nursing school. However, we had daily quizzes in A&PII and I would study hard and often made a 100. We would grade the tests after we took them, and the teacher would call role and we'd yell out our grades. (Just like high school). The teacher would curve the highest grade up to the 100 and adjust everyone else's accordingly.

I got used to hearing the same thing. It went in one ear and out the other because I could only own my own score, not anyone elses.

Kudos to you!

They've asked you not to throw the curve? --That's like saying, "Please don't do your best, so that I can succeed" It's a desparate request, but I agree with the poster above that maybe you can share some of your techniques with them (and then maybe just let it go). You've sound like you've already got it nailed (congratulations BTW!), while others are feeling very insecure.

Yeah ... I did share my study techniques. Then they started asking for my transcripts. Then they figured they could skip class because I transcribed everything ...

I had to end that real quick. It really got out of hand.

:typing

Yeah ... I did share my study techniques. Then they started asking for my transcripts. Then they figured they could skip class because I transcribed everything ...

I had to end that real quick. It really got out of hand.

:typing

Well, if you've read my other recent posts you probably know where I'm coming from regarding that type of behavior. I *do* take great pains not to go there, LOL.

Since that's the case, I'd just chuckle when they ask me not to throw the curve - and then warn them that they better start peddlin' hard to make it up that hill.

8o)

... we had daily quizzes in A&PII and I would study hard and often made a 100 ... The teacher would curve the highest grade up to the 100 and adjust everyone else's accordingly.

Hey, me, too! I got so tired of the smart-aleck comments about my always making 100s. I would always just say, 'Hey, I studied my a$$ off'. Honestly, I even read my micro text on the beach during our family vacation.

This semester, because I''m totally sick of the comments, when someone asks what I make, I say something like 'I did okay' or 'I could have done better'. No one asks me what my grade is anymore.

Truly, I study hard because I want to pass the boards and ultimately, I want my pts to get a nurse who knows something.

Don't compromise your standards. And no need to tell anyone your grade. It's your business! Good luck!!

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Let it go and be glad that you're doing as well as you are....many others are struggling and some of us are just "tweeners" and happy to be there! I know why my grades are what they are and so do those who accuse others of screwing up the curve...this is YOUR career and your education...unless they plan to start paying your tuition until you're through with education, it truly is their problem..

Keep up the good work!

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I agree. I have the reputation in the class of being the "smart" guy and I'm not really doing anything all that different! I just study what I know, read over the outlines that we're provided, and try to stay on top of our reading. If you know how the instructor thinks, you usually do better. (we do have 3 different ones this semester, so that may make a difference.)

I have no problems telling someone what I got, because hey, maybe you should take a hint and study a little harder, hmmmm?

Although, I do have to say that I do test well and can usually figure out a answer if there's 2 of them. It's just a matter of READING the question/answers and eliminating catagories. If it asks what NOT to do, and 3 answers are what you DO, then you pick the other one.

I'm not going to work less just because you don't feel like working as hard. Maybe you shouldn't have come to NS if you weren't ready for it.

Specializes in Urgent Care.

We have no curves. A score is a score. Luckily that is the case or I'd be getting that too.

Curves In Nursing School? Wow.....amazing...

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? :uhoh3:

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