I'm posting this because I am alarmed to see this attitude so often in nursing school.
I don't think people realize that they are limiting their future options, often permanently.
I fully acknowledge that nursing school is VERY difficult, that the grading scale is jacked up and it is very difficult or sometimes impossible to get a high grade. I also realize that everyone has tough semesters ( nursing school is very taxing on all aspects of our lives) and sometimes just passing is the best anyone can do.
But this does not mean we shouldn't strive for higher grades.
Unless you are 100% that you never want to go on to be an NP or get a masters in nursing, Grades DO matter very much. Every MSN program I have ever looked in has GPA requirements of usually 3.0- one I looked at will not even consider you unless you have at least a B- in every nursing class.
Additionally, in very competitive job markets, such as here in Minneapolis/St Paul, employers are starting to ask about GPA- I have filled out two applications that have requested my GPA.
We all know a high GPA doesn't automatically equal a superior nurse, but frankly with such a glut of new nurses every year in many job markets this trend is not likely to go away but increase- and yes, you may believe there is a zero percent chance you ever want to got back to school for a higher degree, but can anyone really say 100% how they will feel about their career 10 or 20 years down the road?
SO please, I'm not trying to stress out those of you still in school, but I'm pleading that you try for the higher grades if you can. DO the extra reading and extra time in lab, stay on top of your assignments, never miss class/clinical, and so on.........
Grades matter, and so does experience as a CNA/tech/unit secretary/anything healthcare related. I hope incoming nursing students are told this from the get go in orientation. I've managed to stay in the B range for some time, but next semester I need to do better.
I wasn't told this because some people just can't make this happen. Yes I would have loved to be a CNA but I don't have CNA course money unfortunately. I wish it came with part of the nursing programs but this isn't allowed anymore in our state.
Some people work their BUTTS off for a C and I think that's great if you put in the work, but let's be realistic, some people don't. Some people say "A C is the passing, I still want a life, I'll have a license they won't care about these grades". I don't know maybe these people don't get externships because every externship program I've seen wants a 3.3 or higher and nothing lower than a B- in nursing courses. I'm going to do the best I can, as much as I can and I will try for A's and if I can't get it but know I worked hard, I'll be satisfied, but if I get an 80 I'm not going to say "well that's good enough" and not try harder for the next exam.
Well I am a type of person that I aim for A's and if I don't get there, hey, at least I tried. Finals week, I calculate my grades to see if I have a hight A or B and when I do, I don't study that much for the finals.. there are lots of notes and books to read and I am probably going to read the stuff that are not even on the test ( which I do alot ) I always over study. I also get tired of school by the time of finals that's why I don't study that much.
Im starting clinicals next month and I'm going in with a 3.6 GPA...I want to maintain that through out but sometimes it is hard to obtain that "A" that you want so to those who have previously posted and are getting "A"'s tell me how you study so I can get A's too. I've heard all the sayings (C= Continue, C= degree, C=RN,ect) and I feel like as long as you are putting in the effort and you still get a "C" then you shouldn't beat yourself up and neither should anyone else but to the slackers who cruise to get by then they deserve the grade they get. In all grades do matter....so tell me how to maintain my current GPA.
All I can say is to not buy into the mentality that it is impossible to get A's in nursing school. Work, work, work. You've already demonstrated that you are capable of getting A's, so just apply your work ethic to nursing. In all honesty, a lot of people in my school spent a whole lot of time complaining about how hard school was. That time could have been a lot more productively spent studying and learning material/practicing skills. They seemed to have bought into the 'you can't get A's in nursing school' mentality and ran with it.
My husband was relocated 800 miles away my first semester. I was pregnant. Term II I gave birth and had surgeries. I was extremely determined to excel, however, so despite all of that I only ever missed one day of class. I dragged myself to class a day after I was discharged from the hospital in one case. I tutored others, because that helps me reinforce and better understand information. I got all of my assignments done ASAP because I knew that if I waited until the last minute it would be too late to do a good job on them. I couldn't work because it simply would not work while I had a newborn and my husband across the country, so I made sure to take leadership positions within my nursing program. I sought out extra opportunities to perform clinical procedures on patients. I also accepted particularly challenging patient assignments (while maintaining safety, of course). Through all of this I maintained a 3.5.
My point is, if you are determined and push yourself to do the very best that you can, you will, even if you are busy, and even if you have a lot on your plate at the time. Does that promise a 4.0? No. Does it mean you will never get a C? Nope. But it will mean that you have done your personal best, and that is something to be proud of, no matter what grade you recieve. If you currently have a 3.6, I find it unlikely that your personal best would result in a major drop in your GPA. Just don't buy into the mentality that nursing school is too hard to do well in, because it's not.
I will be entering nursing school so much better prepared and informed than I was when I entered law school, thanks to you guys!
I never bothered to excel tremendously in law school, because out of the gate I subconsiously knew I should not be there. But I trudged along and graduated as an average student. My shining goal throughout was: as long as I don't get a D or F in anything, I have succeeded. I managed to do that. In fact, many of us were simply of the mindset to "dodge the D." Hindsight tells me that I took such a lax attitude because little did I realize I really did not want to be there. Even taking the LSAT was like pulling teeth, but of course I was too young and immature to see the signs back then.
My law school had a very strange grading system, using other letters in lieu of A, B, and C grades and did not have a GPA (though as I mentioned, we did have D and F ironically). So in essence it was supposed to create a sense of noncompetition. Yeah, right. What it did do was confuse anyone who looks at our transcripts despite the grade key on the back. Of course, I also thought my JD was my terminal degree so I never bothered doing better than I know I could have. Also, no one ever told me that employers were going to be looking at transcripts to weed out candidates for interviews. That was a rude awakening for me. And once I was actively practicing, no one told me some employers were going to start requesting candidates from the top 25 law schools only. My top 100 law school degree became just a tad worthless from that point forward.
Now that I am headed for nursing school sometime next year (I hope), I have a new and positive mindset. I go in knowing that my transcript will speak volumes for me and will give employers and graduate programs a window into who I am and an opportunity to learn more. Do I agree with transcripts being used by employers to weed out students? Of course not, not in every instance. A transcript does not tell the whole story. I was a better lawyer (despite my unhappiness in the profession) than my transcript will ever profess. I am sure there are people out there who were not good students but are stellar nurses today. BUT, the reality is that given the competition that exists in nursing now for jobs and residencies and what have you, this is probably a growing trend that we cannot control and we might as well run with it just to be safe. I personally do not believe it's impossible to get A's no matter what program one is pursuing. If one has the desire to do well and wants it bad enough, one finds the way to do it (honestly of course) ... that has been my experience. Yes, I believe I could have been a top law student but clearly I did not care to want it. I feel a passion for nursing 100x over than I did for law, I am confident I can do very well in my 2nd career.
I excelled in high school and in college, and have excelled in my prereqs (have A's despite a regular and grueling 40+ hour workweek) ... in all of these instances I have wanted to be there, wanted to do well. Law school was the clear exception, but fortunately came out with just decent grades. When I want to be or go somewhere, I know I can do well. Time is here for me to come full circle back to my original career plan of entering the medical profession and recapture the enthusiasm I had for school and a happy career. I got excellent grades once, I know I can do it again!
With the current situation, I'm all for students self weeding themselves out of the job pool without me lifting a finger. Your ignorance is my gain.
However as railing on these type of students is quite entertaining, the professors who encourage this are far worse. What a sham, ruined during the first day of school, sad really because students do take that advice in order sustain that "COLLEGE IS FOR PARTYING" mentality which MOST high-school students graduate thinking.
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
this is such an interesting thread.
i was hanging out with a group of nurses one night and i was talking about how im trying to keep my gpa in the 3.5-3.7+ range (because i do plan on getting a masters eventually.. :)] one of the group said " oh dont even bother stressing yourself out, as long as you get a C & graduate you're good to go"...
my jaw literally dropped on the floor. i was thinking to myself... WHAT?!?!..how could anyone say such a thing?
im working my chicklets off, just so i can get killer grades and in the end be an EXCELLENT nurse. ,i mean after all we are going through all of this for our patients right?
A friend I graduated with (first degree - nonnursing) wanted to do a direct entry MSN program (FNP) because of a 2.4 GPA (although she did well in her prerequisites). She knew her grades didn't reflect her academic ability so she did an ADN program with a 4.0 and a RN-BSN program with a 4.0. She tried really hard to prove herself but her cumulative GPA is still below a 3.0 and she still can't get anyone to take a chance on her. Sometimes, grades as a whole matter too much too...
Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.
I haven't gotten accepted to the Nursing Program yet (just the University as a transfer), but grades definitely matter to me because of finances. I have already been offered some scholarships by the U, but I have to maintain a 3.5 GPA to remain eligible. Since they could total over 50% of my tuition, you can be certain grades matter a whole lot to me!
I worked hard for my GPA so far, and I plan on doing what I need to do to keep it up. I actually get great personal satisfaction from challenges and pushing myself. I am already aware that I may not get the grades I want; but if I do my best, and keep working to improve, then I have to remind myself to be satisfied.
And, those people who think C's are 'good enough' aren't the people I plan on studying with when I get into NS!
Besides grades, we can't forget our performance during clinicals. Besides our performance with our assigned patients, there is always, always something to do even if your patient gets discharged at 10 in the morning! If someone asks you to do something, don't forget to tell them your name and ask them what their name is. In this tough job market, I'm looking at clinicals as learning and networking; I'm looking at clinicals as my job interview.
Grades, clinical performance and networking, healthcare experience as a sitter or CNA. And remember, sitter or CNA is also part of the job interview, not just something to put down on your resume.
I have to wonder what % of A students are the ones saying that grades do not matter...I have a feeling it is more of the C students that say this.
Aside from going on for your masters, there are other reason's to get good grades...and yes having a job is one of them. I graduated with honors, am a member of Sigma Theta Tau, did two extra preceptorships through an additional nursing program, had extra certifications, and interviewed well...who do you think they would take for a job? Me or some one that also interviewed well but only had their nursing degree on their resume?
And yes, I did graduated right when the nursing jobs seemed to halt, and yes I did get a job offer before graduation.
Heartsopenwide reminded me of something else...get involved in at least one school organization. School is tough and money is tight, but the $30 membership fee and the extra work required for the organization can make a difference. Anything to make your resume stand out is worth pursuing.
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guiltysins
887 Posts
I wasn't told this because some people just can't make this happen. Yes I would have loved to be a CNA but I don't have CNA course money unfortunately. I wish it came with part of the nursing programs but this isn't allowed anymore in our state.
Some people work their BUTTS off for a C and I think that's great if you put in the work, but let's be realistic, some people don't. Some people say "A C is the passing, I still want a life, I'll have a license they won't care about these grades". I don't know maybe these people don't get externships because every externship program I've seen wants a 3.3 or higher and nothing lower than a B- in nursing courses. I'm going to do the best I can, as much as I can and I will try for A's and if I can't get it but know I worked hard, I'll be satisfied, but if I get an 80 I'm not going to say "well that's good enough" and not try harder for the next exam.