So... How important are grades... really?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2005

Why do you even ask? Because you know you're not going to be a slacker in school and you're going to get that 4.0. No need to justify it or defend it.

Just ribbing you for fun. LOL

I've only had two employers and neither of them looked at my grades. But it was on resume that I graduated with honors.

I agree with Lisa, just always strive to do the best that you can. For you, I know it's going to be all A's. So enjoy those A's and be proud, whether in ten years it matters, doesn't matter, just keep on keeping on. :)

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2005

Never has an employer asked about my GPA. Maybe it is depending upon location or, like someone said, if there are many applicants. I was salutatorian of my class, but I don't think that grades should carry a lot of weight in the hiring decision. Perhaps a deciding factor when it comes down to 2 very qualified applicants, but grades aren't everything. I've known great nurses who can't test to save their soul.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 9, 2005

And what if you wish to further your studies down the road? Transcripts definitely come into play then.............

grinnurse, RN · Apr 9, 2005

I think it's important to do the absolute best job that we can do, whether it's in nursing school or on the job. I don't want to be a slacker nurse so I'm not going to be a slacker nursing student. It is one thing for me to study hard, do the best I can do and get a C. It's another entirely for me to learn the absolute minimum I need to in order to pass. We have people's lives in our hands. If we can learn more, then we should.

I so agree with what you've said. The more I know the better off my patients are going to be!!

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Apr 10, 2005

I have had to submit transcript 2x for job interviews. Could it be different areas that we live in? The bigger hospitals in the area in which I live always ask for a transcript b/c you've got 47 applicants for 5 jobs so I think they are looking for the "cream of the crop". To me that would be the ones that don't slack but give it everything they've got!! They also ask for at least 2 letters of reference. Who is going to get the good letter would you think? The slacker or the A student? I agree with the other poster, you want to know as much as you can so you can treat your patient.

The hospital I've had interviews at is the biggest hospital in West Michigan. So, no, I don't think it's the size, maybe just that it's a different hospital. And at this hospital there are a lot more than 5 positions open to new grads. I don't have a 4.0 but was certainly able to get 3 wonderful letters of recommendations from professors. I don't believe that because I don't have a 4.0 that means I'm a slacker by any means.

hippienurse · Apr 10, 2005

I have thought the same thing when I see those *sliding by* with low theory grades but still above passing. I think, why did I study so hard? Then I remember that even though I can pass with a C, doing my best is important to ME. I think that is a personal drive that some have, and some don't. It is also important to me when continuing into a BSN program and getting scholarships...

grinnurse, RN · Apr 10, 2005

The hospital I've had interviews at is the biggest hospital in West Michigan. So, no, I don't think it's the size, maybe just that it's a different hospital. And at this hospital there are a lot more than 5 positions open to new grads. I don't have a 4.0 but was certainly able to get 3 wonderful letters of recommendations from professors. I don't believe that because I don't have a 4.0 that means I'm a slacker by any means.

I am by no means even remotely implying that if someone doesn't have a 4.0 they are slackers. If I was, I would be considering myself in that category. I certainly didn't mean to ruffle feathers but I can't understand why anyone would want to slack on their grades when they could me making A's in school. I guess it is my personal philosophy to do the very best that I can. I would just wonder if getting into the habit of slacking off would carry into a person's nursing career??? I just think that it would be an awfully bad habit to pick up.

I apologize to anyone that may have been offended by my opinion. The hospitals that I am referring to have lots of openings for GN (in the different units) but I think that grades along with good letters of recommendation is how they narrow down their choices.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Apr 10, 2005

I am by no means even remotely implying that if someone doesn't have a 4.0 they are slackers. If I was, I would be considering myself in that category. I certainly didn't mean to ruffle feathers but I can't understand why anyone would want to slack on their grades when they could me making A's in school. I guess it is my personal philosophy to do the very best that I can. I would just wonder if getting into the habit of slacking off would carry into a person's nursing career??? I just think that it would be an awfully bad habit to pick up.
I apologize to anyone that may have been offended by my opinion. The hospitals that I am referring to have lots of openings for GN (in the different units) but I think that grades along with good letters of recommendation is how they narrow down their choices.

No hard feelings. :)

blue chips · Apr 10, 2005

I am one of the top students in my class (i'm actually convinced that i have the highest grade average in the class, but i dont know if it is true). when i first started off nursing school, i had a very strong drive to do as well as i could academically. i hadnt been in school for about 3 years since my 5 years at a university. being back in school made me realize how academically inclined i really am. so... in order to graduate my program, i need to maintain above an 85 average (or 75... i dont remember...). in college... i initially tried to do well, until i realized that a diploma was a diploma was a diploma... if ur and lpn/rn, you are an lpn/rn no matter where you graduated from... so i'm wondering... how important could grades possibly be while im in school, as long as i pass above the minimum grade... should i continue studying my *** off and keeping that A average... or glance and my book and just pass...
to slack or not to slack...
what difference does this make in acquiring a job?
aside from advancement in post graduate studies...

A little FYI, if you are plaining on going to GRAD. school you need to have at least a 3.0 or 3.5

It is good to have good grades always but do not play in to it too much because all the so called good grades students in my class did not pass BOARDS. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

future_nurse_Alex · Apr 10, 2005

There are kids in my class who live with their parents and don't work. All they do is go to school. I live on my own (= bills that need paying) and work full-time while attending school full-time. So if I don't have the extra 40 hours a week to spend studying, getting a B doesn't bother me at all. Could I have an A? Certainly, but it's not worth the stress. Plenty of sleep and a B vs. sleep deprivation and an A. Hmmmm.....

Grades are not everything. But if you can get an A and retain your sanity, by all means go for it.

Alex

septicwad · Apr 10, 2005

I go to FGCU (for twenty more days! ) and there are a bunch of women in my class that have been all jumpy and constipated about grades. They reminded of me poodle lapdogs. You know, the ones that are high-strung and shaky, and yap constantly. Don't be like that. Make sure you have a little fun, too. The only reason to go for a high GPA is to meet a personal goal. Me, I set a goal of graduating with honors, and that means a 3.50. I'm on a fast track to nurse anesthesia school, so maintaining a reasonable GPA is also a goal. I have a BS and MS in chemistry, and when I went to my first and only job interview, I was interviewed by nurses, so my previous degrees didn't count for much, if anything. They were more interested in the experience I had gotten as an Army medic, many, many, moons ago. They are not skilled interviewers. I'm not sure where you're interests in nursing lie, but whatever they may be, you would benefit from picking the brains of someone doing that kind of work. Also, since nurses are not skilled interviewers, and tend to ask trite questions, you should benefit from a book called something like "Knock 'em dead" by Martin Yate.

pmchap · Apr 10, 2005

They are not skilled interviewers. I'm not sure where you're interests in nursing lie, but whatever they may be, you would benefit from picking the brains of someone doing that kind of work. Also, since nurses are not skilled interviewers, and tend to ask trite questions, you should benefit from a book called something like "Knock 'em dead" by Martin Yate.

Please let me sit on a panel for a job you go for..... :chuckle But I will agree often interviews I have gone to (for the job) have been semiformal at best when it comes to nursing as compared to other occupations (I have been through finance, education and nursing jobs). Have you considered the idea that perhaps on a nursing interview it is about attempting to findout more about personality and whether the person is suited to nursing...not answering abc in the correct and fomalised order.

By the way - regarding the OP - your quiery reminds me of when I was finishing my final year in nursing and a mate and I had just finished one of our last exams. We where working as aides in a hospital and where trolleying a patient to OT. We where discussing our marks (both of us had recieved in the mid 70's). We noticed that the patient was a little stressed and asked him what was wrong. He was quite conserned at the fact we only got 70's in our exam. His question was - 'you don't know everything about looking after us as patients then do you?' A quick response assured him that we did ('They teach us 2x what we need to know so we can pass with 50 percent' ). It did highlight the importance of what you are learning. You are studying to be a nurse.... the information isn't being taught so you can pass a test - it is being taught to help you treat your patients. Even if you think some subjects are not related to what you will be doing at work don't underestamate them. Even if what you learn is how to dedicate and commit yourself to a task to ensure its completion it is still a skill you will need.

By the way - I worked as an assistant virtually in a fulltime capacity during my training - I thought real exposure to wards and nurses would teach me more than the theory..... what I learnt was that unless I was learning from the textbooks and lectures all the work experience did was make me efficient at doing tasks - it did not improve my abilities to understand and think critically about my patients....