How do you get A's in Nursing School?

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 25, 2010

First of all, there is room between "not failing" and "getting A's." Maybe setting all A's as your goal will just cause anxiety and get in the way of your performance. How about making it your goal to do as well as you can in every course. If you pass, great. If you get an A, even better.

In my experience, the reason that some students didn't do as well as they could have is that they only studied the information for THAT test. It was like all their previous coursework didn't exist, and they would be indignant, like "How were we supposed to know that? It wasn't in the book," even though it was covered in A&P, or Micro, or Patho, or some other class. So if you're taking extra classes and really absorbing a good base of knowledge, that puts you way ahead of many of your classmates.

If reading is a problem for you, which types of learning are you good at? Audio? Visual? Tactile? Will it help to listen to a tape of the lecture? Watch a video? Play with a model? In nursing school you use all the different modalities.

If writing or structuring a paper is a problem for you, most schools have a writing center where you can go for help. You'll have to come up with ideas yourself but they will guide you to put it together into a coherent paper.

Good luck!

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Oct 25, 2010

"I want A's because most nurses were the ones that got A's in nursing school and didn't fail."

Let me take some pressure off...this is not true at all. I'd say most nurses got a wide range of grades and some maybe even failed a time or two. I applaud your goal of wanting to "know everything," but, honestly, that's just placing unnecessary pressure on yourself. I agree with the PP, set your goal to do as well as you can and go from there. Utilize your school's resources for tutoring and mentoring.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2010

Like the above poster talks about...I don't know where you found out that most nurses got "As" and never failed but I highly doubt that's true. My own cousin in-law barely pulled a "C" through school and even failed a semester and she's now a nurse. I'm in nursing 3 now and have gotten an "A" for both nursing 1 and 2 and I honestly don't know how I did it and certainly didn't expect it. This semester is a bit harder and I'm getting "Bs" so far so I'll most likely end with a "B" and I'm definitely ok with that. Grades don't necessarily make you a good nurse and I bet it's darn near impossible to get straight "As" all the way through. Don't beat yourself up if you get anything lower then that....you'll still be a nurse one day. Also about the learning disabilities...I don't know about your school, but mine has tutoring and special accommodations for those with learning issues, maybe check into it. Anyway good luck!

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Oct 25, 2010

If you have a learning disability you should get testing accommodations such as a quite room or extra time to take your exams. I have a learning disability and graduated Cum Laude and am a Sigma Theta Tau member. I did not get all As, it was hard to accept at first, but you have to realize that always getting the A once in nursing school might not be realistic. I studied a lot in nursing school, mostly on my own because I get distracted, but some times in groups. Say good-bye to parties, vacations, and extras while in nursing school if you want the top grade...some will tell you that grades do not matter, that it is wrong to give up your social life; but to me it was only four years and I want to get my masters so it was not an option. I still saw my friends but did not go out as much as before school. But now I have a job I love and have a lot more time to do things I want.