How does a Straight B student Survive an Accelerated Nursing School World?

Nursing Students General Students Nursing Q/A

OK, I know this is ambiguous and I'm going to get a lot of responses as to how it depends on the person but I wouldn't mind people sharing their experiences.

I just applied to a couple of accelerated 1 year nursing programs and I'm confident I'll get accepted into at least one but I tend to worry on how I'll do in nursing school. I keep going to these boards and reading about how A-students are having so much difficulty in nursing school and I just wonder how I will do? I'm mostly a straight B student with a couple of A's. No C's at least but I feel like for the amount of work I do to get that B, I feel like I should get an A. If straight A students are having problems, then, how will a Straight B student survive?

The curriculum is designed so everyone has trouble with it. Everyone has to work hard just to get a C (which is a perfectly fine grade in nursing school.)

Just wanted to point out that at some schools, a C equals failure.

Just wanted to point out that at some schools, a C equals failure.

Actual failure? Like an "F" try again failure?

Actual failure? Like an "F" try again failure?

Yes. In my school the minimum passing grade was a 77.

Good thing I'm not a "C" student

Yes. In my school the minimum passing grade was a 77.
Actual failure? Like an "F" try again failure?

Yup, if you get anything less than an 80, you have to reapply to the program and if they let you back in, then you will retake the class the next year.

Most "C" students do continue to score passing grades. "Straight A" students tend to feel the hit not just because you need at least 93% for an A, but 96% is about the best anyone can perform on some tests no matter how hard they study or know the material. In nursing school test questions, sometimes none of the choices may be ideal and you have to choose the "best" of the sometimes seemingly odd choices.

I am a first year NS in Washington. We must have an average exam grade of 80% or more. All other assignments are extra. It is true that the tests were not meant to be aced. The best thing to do in nursing school is to do and learn the matterial: not like AMP with endless memorization but rather critical thinking.

Specializes in CNA.
Just wanted to point out that at some schools, a C equals failure.

Just to clarify. If you get a 75% and you need a 77 or 80, you didn't get a C, you failed.

Just to clarify. If you get a 75% and you need a 77 or 80, you didn't get a C, you failed.

That depends. At my school, you don't continue on because you don't have the minimum passing grade, but you still get the C- on your transcript rather than an F. You have still failed out of the program and have to repeat the class if you want to continue on, but it's easier on your GPA than a straight up F would be.

Just to clarify. If you get a 75% and you need a 77 or 80, you didn't get a C, you failed.

Right, my point was was in regards to the poster who said that a C is an acceptable grade in nursing school. I just wanted to stress to pre-nursing students that some schools don't accept C's at all, because my school is A's and B's only; anything below is failure, therefore, what would have been considered a C elsewhere is failure. Every school is different, so I don't like statements that are too broad!

Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
Yes. In my school the minimum passing grade was a 77.

Our minimum passing grade is 79%

Specializes in CNA.
Right, my point was was in regards to the poster who said that a C is an acceptable grade in nursing school. I just wanted to stress to pre-nursing students that some schools don't accept C's at all, because my school is A's and B's only; anything below is failure, therefore, what would have been considered a C elsewhere is failure. Every school is different, so I don't like statements that are too broad!

The statement was not "too broad," you are conflating two entirely different concepts. The OP's topic here is Nursing School performance.

Once you are in Nursing school, getting an overall grade of 80-84%, or a C, is indeed perfectly acceptable. It doesn't matter what a C is considered elsewhere for the purposes of the conversation. The truth is that some straight B students do end up C students in nursing school - and they graduate like everyone else. Of course you want to do the best you can, but if the very best you can do is 83% you get a C - which again, is fine.

In prerequisites (which we are NOT talking about) the situation is different. Straight Cs are not acceptable. But the OP didn't ask about that.

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