I think I am dumb.

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Specializes in LTC.

I am a pre-nursing student. I am taking A&P I this semester and I got a 'C' on my last lecture exam. I am so dis-heartened! I worked hard and got a 'C'. The more I dwell on it the worse I feel also, it makes me stupid and worthless. I am still enthusiastic about nursing but I hate feeling this way and I wish I could just relax.

The nursing program has yet to get back to me in regards to whether or not I have been accepted. I feel like if I don't get accepted then that's it, I'm screwed it's over! I feel like I have to get accepted or else. Of course that's ridiculous because I will probably have another shot but I am 29, I want to get through it and graduate a.s.a.p so that I can get on with my life. It's feels like I am in the waiting room.

Deep down, I know I am not goint to get accepted. My cumulative GPA is only a 2.5, (but I have an A.A degree, and an 86 percentile on my NLN, which are the good things), I haven't finished A&P 1 and finally if I were going to get accepted I really think I would have heard something by now. *sigh* Stressed out people. :banghead:

Anyway, how do you folks deal with the stressors, ups and downs of pre-nursing/nursing school?

You should feel free to say anything you want in this thread about your nursing education. Advice, rants, worries etc.. are all welcome here.

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Oh, I'm sorry you got a C! If you can, maybe you should take it over again and perhaps you'll get a higher grade. Some schools average the 2 grades, and some take the higher of the 2. It may be worth your time. I also am 29, but think of all the students in nursing school who are 40 years old! 29 isn't that old really.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Well, I'll start by saying that I was a junior in high school when you were born.

A few comments:

1) Regardless of your intellectual capacity, you should learn to control your self-talk. Your brain will believe what you say about yourself and you will perform down to whatever level to which you assign yourself. Be your own cheerleader.

2) You are relatively young. Believe me, I understand about the desire to "get on with it" but you must learn to temper the impatience and live in the moment. Just yesterday I was speaking with a 3rd-year medical student about his long-term plans... he did talk about it but then said, "At this point I just need to focus on here and now... the future will take care of itself." Very wise comments from a pretty young dude.

3) If you really, truly feel worthless because of your grade then I would highly encourage you to seek out professional counseling. Your self-worth is not defined by your performance in any one class, any program of study, or your success in any particular career. Tying your worth to your performance is a very dangerous thing. Think about the kinds of things you might say to your adolescent child who was feeling worthless over getting a C...

4) Lots of comments are sure to follow about how "you can do it", "you're not dumb", etc. I will be honest and point out that perhaps you are pursuing something for which you're not well-suited and that a 2.5 GPA will probably keep you out of many programs. However, I wouldn't draw any conclusions about suitability based on performance in a single class. And if you really, really want to become a nurse then you should give it your best shot and let the chips fall where they may. The truth is, though, that not everybody gets to do what they want to do...

I hope it all works out in a way that makes you happy.

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It sounds like your class involves a series of exams that will all go in to your final grade. There's a lot of information to cover in human anatomy and physiology. You will understand some of it better than other material. It's probably possible to have a final grade of A even if you get one or more C's - depending on how your course is structured. My point - a C in one exam doesn't make you dumb. For that matter a final grade of C doesn't make you dumb either.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

I was shooting for A's because of the competition in our local CC, but I am going to be applying to a private school where a C is accepted and has no wait list! Don't worry about your mark, redo it if you need to be more competitive, but look elsewhere too where your marks can get you in. I am 40 btw, so age is not a consideration, if you want it you can get it.

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Specializes in LTC.

Some very sound advice from everyone and I appreciate the replies. About ten years ago I went to the University of Cincinnati and just goofed off and got a 1.2 GPA. That is why my cumulative is so low. Obviously, if I could go back in time and take it back I would but I chock it up to a learning experience. I don't really think I am dumb or worthless, but I do feel that way from time to time because whether we want to admit it or not, in this world we are measured by what we can produce, bottom line.

By far the best advice in this thread is, "the future will take care of itself", indeed it does.

Thanks so much to all who have replied thus far.

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Ok, let me tell you something... I did A&P1 last semester, I busted my butt and got a "C" on the 1st exam. I was disappointed but after discovering me and another person got a "C" and everyone else got a "D" or below, I felt better. I still finished the class with a "B" and so far in A&P2, I'm at an "A". So, point is.... don't let 1 grade flip you out! There will be plenty others that you can make it up with. Good luck!!

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I don't know where you live, but in Texas there is a policy called fresh start which allows you to have the state colleges ignore all grades more than 10 years old if you choose. If you choose that option, you are not allowed to count any of the classes or grades more than 10 years old. You might want to check if there is a similar law in your state.

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