How smart are you?

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Oct 16, 2006

I did not do too well in Highschool. I had maybe a B average. I did not try at all. I coasted. I just didn't care about school. I was more interested in other things.

I have a pretty average IQ. I think it was 116 when I was tested. Just average. Nothing special.

I graduated from both LPN school and RN school with straight A's. I received multiple awards. I found the material to be stimulating and interesting. I tried very hard to do well. I made school my life. I did not have a child or husband then.

I did not find the material to be difficult, but I did find the program to be very demanding. By demanding, I mean a lot of work has to be learned in a short amount of time. It can be overwhelming. But anyone of average intelligence can get through nursing school if they want to. I feel that if you are of average intelligence, and want to be a nurse, you can graduate. But it will be a lot of work. It depends on how willing you are to work for your goal if you can get through it or not. I have known very intelligent people fail, and knew not so smart people graduate.

kukukajoo, LPN · Oct 16, 2006

Hello- I'm a high school dropout. Got my GED. Went back to school in my 30's to be a nurse. Not smart or stupid- pretty much in the middle unless you count common sense which I seem to lack sometimes, lol!

Anyhow, I have a 3.92 GPA now because I am DETERMINED, not because of brains. My high school transcripts look like a joke becuase I was too lazy, rebellious, or whatever. I want this bad enough to make it count and to get the most out of it- high school I just hated and thought I was too smart, cute or good to be there. Now

In the first year of the program now with all the core courses completed and loving life!

kukukajoo, LPN · Oct 16, 2006

Deleted- Stuttering again!

kukukajoo, LPN · Oct 16, 2006

Deleted- Duplicate- I must be stuttering!

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2006

Oh heck no! I am far from a genius! The thing is, well...at least I think...is I was so excited and eager to go back to school and really learn something I wanted to know that I was able to appreciate it, strive for it, and make it fun!

When I took my prereqs...I found out HOW I learn. This was a big help to me before I went into the full force grind of RN school! I actually had to teach myself how to break things down into smaller parts for me to fully understand each concept before I could make connections! You know...Kind of like re-learning your ABC's before you can read! That took a lot of time with books or research...but then again I liked that part!

Then I learned how I test! I found I learned best by reading the question twice and fully, answer it to the best of my knowledge as if it was the only question on the test, then move on to the next NOT thinking of the past questions! If I overthought, I would change an answer and almost 90% of the time I changed it to the wrong one! That was a hard habit to break! Pretty soon I was getting A's in all tests! Whooooooo hoooooo! I just had to trust myself that the answers were indeed in my head, I just needed to let them out one question at a time and move on!

After I learned these two pearls, I was able to really make my school experience personal! I would attend lectures and basically go home to 'break it down' and re-learn it the way I know. I got a study group together and we had fun as well as studied (very helpful). I also did all my clinical assignments with the toughest of the group of pts so I could learn! I thought...heck I am here to learn, I will do my best...but if I do mess up or what not...at least I am with an RN that can explain things to me! (I didn't do ANYTHING technical/treatment wise without my RN present!).

I think what made it easier for me was my dedication to not just get the information from school...but to really TAKE it and make it mine and go that extra step to own it! Took a while to learn, but after I learned my basics...I was doing it, still doing it very easily and routinely!

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2006

I was an average student in Highschool, with a grade of 75-80%. I found nursing school moderately tough. I went straight to university from highschool so I think that was an adjustment for me as well but I still didnt find it that bad. I got average marks in nursing school, but I know that if I tried better I could have done better. Also I do better with lecture style teaching, and our university had recently implemented "context based learning" for the core nursing classes. This type of education in my opinion and most students opinion a joke. We would get different scenarios that a nurse may come across, then we would research the different areas of the scenario. Instructors would never help us if we had questions, so all we could do is try to find the answer for our selves even though we tried for hours the first time.It was very frustrating, but the school seemed to think that style of "teaching" was good, even though the instructors wouldnt participate in the discussion....tell me what am I paying them for? After I graduated last year, I worked med/surg for a year, then got accepted into the critcal care course that our region offers. It was lecure style, so we were ensured we were learing all we needed to know. I did very well, with a 95% average over the 6 week class. All through nursing school I felt dumb because I never did extremely well, but when I took the critical care course, that when I actually "got it" and alot of the stuff I tried to teach myself in nursing school actually made sense.

So im sure that since you already have a backround in post secondary education, it will not be too bad. The style of education we had was relatively new, and luckily most schools dont do it yet, at least here in Canada anyway.

DaFreak71 · Oct 16, 2006

4.0 student on ACT and foundation scholarships. NOT a genius. I just read a lot and study hard.

My husband, on the other hand, is a genius. He rarely ever studied during nursing school and got 4 A's and 1 B. The B was due to spending all his free time playing Everquest though, lol. He's now getting his BSN and is heading toward CRNA school.

Seriously, anyone can get through nursing school if they try. You have to make time to study every day (or most days), ask a lot of questions. The best advice I can offer is to have a curious mind. If you want to understand the body and how it reacts to various conditions and what to do when faced with those conditions, you will do great.

RN and Mommy · Oct 17, 2006

I don't think you have to be a genius to do well in nursing school. I sure am not one. It requires hard work and determination. It is time consuming and you have to realize that going into nursing school. Nursing school requires total commitment and you must put nursing school at the top of the list. I worked 24 hours/week thorough nursing school and managed to raise my daughter (with help from my dh) and I graduated with a 3.7 GPA. It can be done. Good Luck!

RITA2007 · Oct 17, 2006

To me, one of the hardest parts is remembering everything I learned in school in the clinical setting. Good thing for resources!

zenman · Oct 17, 2006

Please be honest: are all you successful nurses out there "super smart"? :)

Well, yes, I'm "super smart" LOL! I took the state boards (now NCLEX) after medic school and passed...so I was an RN before going to nursing school.

pcicurn7 · Oct 17, 2006

You cannot give a general comparison based on how smart people think they are. You have to take so much into account...someone mentioned having a family...that's huge! There are many students who have children, some who work full time, others who are taking care of ill family members. You also have to take into account the professors and the manner in which they teach nursing content. I have had great professors and instructors, who explained everything well and were clear cut in what they expected from students. Then i have had professors basically didnt teach and were there to complain about life and proctor their exams (of which no content was ever covered in class). So much depends on so many different things.

Time management is important, as it would be with any other educational program. The more time you devote to studying, the better you will do. IMO, having a previous degree or experience in a big university really has no bearing in how you will do in nursing school. Yes, you may be more proficient at, say, writing assingments...but in general, its a separate expereince.

Nursing school was my 3rd educational stop. I attended 2 big name universities, came pretty close to graduating, and then let my mind wander. My gpa back then must have been 2.something. It was average. I didnt work very hard. Fast forward several years, and i am NOT that same student. I am more focused, try to manage my time better, and attending a smaller school. My gpa is now 3.72. The biggest difference between now and then? AGE. i am more mature. I have much more at stake. i am vested in scoring high grades through nursing school because i want to continue my education after graduation...

Anyone could be a nurse, if their heart is in the right place and they are willing to do whatever it takes...the program i am in is pretty competitive (500 applicants for 90 seats), and i go to class with people who arent the brightest in the world...but they work their butts off...

nurse4theplanet, RN · Oct 17, 2006

Yes...all nurses are geniuses!!!! I'd like to think so at least...

Here's my track record:

I made a 27 on my ACT in 10th grade, then dropped out of highschool just 4 months before graduation in 12th grade (genius move...I think not!)

I changed my major three times: general college, psychology, and accounting before I dropped out to party, binge drink, and do drugs with my friends (genius move...I think not!)

Saw a commercial on tv about MA school through Concorde Career College and spent $8,000 on that program..which I never completed! (genius move...what do you think?)

Desperate...I applied for RN program, got accepted, and I am scheduled to graduate in December. Never even considered it before I just applied for 'the heck of it', ended up loving it, and now thank GOD every day that I did it. (genius move...by the Grace of God..yes it was!)

I started out with a 2.5 GPA due to messing around in my early college career. After three semesters...GPA is 3.2.

I make almost all A's.

I think it is extremely challenging, despite my good grades. It takes dedication and motivation (which you either have or you don't). It takes impecable time management skills. A Good support system is necessary. Critical thinking and application of theory are the most challenging aspects of nursing, and it sets this profession apart from many other majors. Nursing is more than a major...its a lifestyle. For some, it is not a good fit. For others, there is no other alternative. Even more, school itself is different from real-world nursing...just look at the "First year in nursing" boards.

The best advice I can give you is try it out, and see what you think. Only you can make the decision whether nursing is for you. It doesn't matter who thinks its hard or who thinks it isn't. If you aren't willing to work hard for something you want, then your problems are bigger than any solution or suggestion that could be offered on this board. Good Luck!