Grading in Nursing School?

It depends on whether you're attending a ADN, BSN, MSN, doctorate, diploma, or accelerated program.

I'm enrolled in an LPN-to-RN (ADN) program, where my entire theory grade is based on the scores I receive on the tests. My entire clinical rotation grade is based on the points I receive on the care plans that I submit. The heavy-duty research projects are typically reserved for BSN, MSN, and doctorate programs.

I should also add that any score that falls below 77 percent in the program that I attend is considered a failing grade. Some of my former classmates were forced to withdraw from the program after having achieved an overall score of 76.4 percent.

Here's our grading scale:

77-85% = C

86-92% = B

93-100 = A

It depends on whether you're attending a ADN, BSN, MSN, doctorate, diploma, or accelerated program.

I'm enrolled in an LPN-to-RN (ADN) program, where my entire theory grade is based on the scores I receive on the tests. My entire clinical rotation grade is based on the points I receive on the care plans that I submit. The heavy-duty research projects are typically reserved for BSN, MSN, and doctorate programs.

I should also add that any score that falls below 77 percent in the program that I attend is considered a failing grade. Some of my former classmates were forced to withdraw from the program after having achieved an overall score of 76.4 percent.

Here's our grading scale:

77-85% = C

86-92% = B

93-100 = A

:yeahthat:

In general, though, in any nursing program, you're going to be graded on a wide variety of activities -- clinical performance, written projects, objective exams, classroom presentations, maybe classroom participation, etc. How the grades are determined and weighted should be clearly explained in each course syllabus.

And lots of people are v. surprised to find that grades work differently in nursing programs than in general academics -- in most programs, anything below a "C" is failing and gets you put out of the program. The actual numerical scale may vary somewhat from school to school, but I've never encountered a school where you could get below a "C" and not have to at least repeat the course, and, in most cases, you flunk out and may or may not be allowed to reapply later.

Papers drive me insane.

Well, it might be comforting if I told you that the longest paper that I've ever had to write in any of my nursing courses are the one-page APA format summaries that I must submit with every care plan.

However, I attend an ADN program. Since you are aspiring to attend a BSN program, you may have to endure writing academic papers. I can almost assure you that they will need to be submitted in APA format, as most nursing programs generally do not accept the MLA format.

Our classes are scored mostly on quizzes and tests....including a final and a HESI. Clinicals are P/F, not graded.

P/F is still a grade -- you either get a "Pass" and move forward in the program, or you get a "Fail" and (in most cases) don't. It's just a different grading scale than the didactic courses. :)

I'm looking at BSN programs. I'm used to anything below an 80% being unacceptable, so not worried there, I just hate writing lots of long papers.

Quizes, Tests, practical exams, presentations, I can do well at all those. Papers drive me insane.

BSN programs typically involve quite a bit of writing, including research papers. If that's really an issue for you, you might want to look at ADN programs. However, if you want to pursue further education in nursing later on, you'll still have to write.