I'm in my first quarter of nursing school and I keep hearing "C Nurses make the best nurses". It makes me absolutely crazy. I'm the first to admit that being book smart does not mean that you have a lot of common sense, but I don't think that A nurses are destined to be bad nurses.
Our school has a tough grading scale, anything below 80 is failing, and I understand that makes it tougher to get really good grades. However, every time I hear that little manta, it feels like a put down, even though I don't discuss my grades.
I work extremely hard to get good grades-- I think it is important for obvious reasons and because I'd eventually like to attend CRNA school. I made the decision to be poor for two years and live on student loans so I could spend a lot of time studying. It is only the first quarter and I'm already tired of being made to feel like I won't be a great nurse because I dared to overachieve!
Does anyone else feel this way too? Thanks for letting me vent.
The only people who don't think high grades matter are those who don't get them.
Nope, not true...not true at all. Grades don't matter to me, it dosn't mean I want to fail but I don't put a lot of value into a letter. Oh, and I do get very high grades (A's sometimes B's) and I will support someone who gets a C...because I really don't care what everyones letter grades are. I bet you can't even tell the difference between a C nurse and a B nurse on the floor after X many years can you?
Oh, I agree! I fully think it's wrong (not to mention embarassing) to think there are those out there who harass students who make higher grades. Everyone should be proud of their accomplishments. I thought what you said so eloquently in your post (about giving it all you've got, doing your best) is what each and every individual student should do. It's wrong for C students to speak unkindly about A students but, on the same hand, it's wrong for A students to assume that just because someone lives by the motto C=RN means something more than what it's supposed to mean....I think reading that students who get Cs are jealous got to me a bit. It doesn't mean settling for what you get...it means giving it all you've got at that given time. There but for the grace of God, I always say. I would never belittle anyone's grades, be they great or small. I can't see that others have the right to do that either.
I am a solid B student, of course I try my best and would be happy with straight 100%, but I think I pretty much know my stuff while making 85's. I have a few extremely intellegent classmates who consistantly make Cs (failing is anything below 75%). These people know just as much as me in clinical, about physiology of disease processes, etc. Just for whatever reason (actually because our tests are rediculously hard) they get C's. Just becuase I know they'll be excellent nurses and because I don't want them to see themselves negatively, I will happily exclaim: A=nurse, B=nurse, C=nurse! As long as you have common sense (and a liscense) you can be my nurse anytime.
Lizz, I've always enjoyed your posts up until this one. Did you really mean it to sound so la-de-da? I've never seen it before in any of your other posts....(?)
I'm confused. The quote you cited was actually LPN2Be2004's. Or, were you referring to something else I said? If you can point that out, then I can answer the question.
NCLEX is what makes or breaks a nurse because ultimately you have to pass NCLEX to legally even apply to call yourself a nurse. It doesnt matter how many programs you go through or what grades you get, C or above allows you to sit for NCLEX and apply for a license after passing NCLEX(dont slam me,, im not saying if you dont pass NCLEX the first time you cant be a good nurse). Good nurse or bad, that and the state board is where the decision is made about who legally calls themselves a nurse. Whether one is good or bad is a matter of opinion and those that arent will be shown for what they are, and the board will deal with them as needed. Bigger powers than i have that responsibility. I'm sure we all have areas we have less competance in than others, thats why we dont work those areas.
Whoever earlier said that most C students fail their boards.. That is a crock.. I know A students have failed boards, B students also, and yes even some C students...
Grades DO NOT determine what type of nurse you are gonna be..
Oh, i was SOOOO sick of hearing that in school!!! My best friend and I always had very high grades, usually the highest in the class, and we studied together. Other students got jealous of us and actually accused us of "making" them fail because we "wouldn't let" the others study with us. How ridiculous!!!!!
Personally, I know a few students who got C's who were terrible in clinical and should not have passed. I also know quite a few C students who were great in clinicals and deserved to pass. I plan to be an advanced practice nurse within the next 10 years or so, and grades were important to me. I made my share of A's and a few B's. I made a C on a grand total of 5 tests throughout nursing school, and everytime I did it was because I didn't know the material very well and I didn't put in enough study time. I'm not saying that was the case for all the C students, but that was it for me. I think you just do your best, and if a C is your best, then great, you get to continue and become an RN. But if you can make better grades, then do it. Doing your best is the most important thing. So long as you don't get angry at other students who make better grades than you do, and you don't try to throw up the "C students make better nurses" in their faces everytime you start to feel inadequate or when jobs are discussed. That is disrespectful, rude, and down right uncalled for.
I'm confused. The quote you cited was actually LPN2Be2004's. Or, were you referring to something else I said? If you can point that out, then I can answer the question.
I was referring to these lines in your first post on this subject, Lizz. "I think it comes from people who feel bad about getting C's and want to make themselves feel better. " and this one "Chances are it's jealousy."
I was referring to these lines in your first post on this subject, Lizz. "I think it comes from people who feel bad about getting C's and want to make themselves feel better. " and this one "Chances are it's jealousy."
What can I say? That's been my experience. I've seen some C students go around asking people what their grade is, then proceed to make all of these excuses for their lower grade, including the "C means I'll be a better nurse" claim.
If some C students are really happy with their grade, I don't think they'd make a big deal out of who got what grades, or always try to find out who blew the curve. And as I mentioned in another post, I've experienced a lot of nasty remarks from C students.
Does this happen with all C students? No. Of course not. But the students who tend to say and do these things also tend to have lower grades. Or, at least, that's been my experience.
Quite frankly, I don't care about their grades, and I don't ask. I don't know why they care about mine. I can only assume it comes from jealousy and competition.
And the reason I don't tell them anymore is because I don't want to hear or deal with the nasty remarks which inevitably follow. And I can only assume that the nasty remarks are, once again, a product of jealousy and competition.
In the end.. Everyone who graduates and passes the NCLEX will be RNs... Who gives a flip whether they were a A or C student... I can tell you one thing.. The hospitals don't ask what your GPA was... They don't care...
I understand that if you are trying to go to CRNA school or NP school, grades are a lil more important.. But geesh, a C is NOT the end of the world...
I ended up as a B student, I got several Cs but I didn't whine and moan about it... I know my stuff and I know I am gonna be a good nurse regardless of what my GPA is.
And for everyone who is just doing Pre-Reqs.. Nursing school is MUCH different from those other courses.. Nursing classes make Chemistry seem like baby stuff... So if you DO make a C on a test, don't beat yourself up. It doesn't mean you don't know the information. Nursing tests are just different, and are much much much harder than any Pre-Req course could EVER be...
What can I say? That's been my experience. I've seen C students go around asking people what their grade is, then proceed to make all of these excuses for their lower grade, including the "C means I'll be a better nurse" claim.
Well, naturally, the ones who claim a "C" grade means they'll be a better nurse or misinformed. The ones who accept their "C" grade after striving to do their best have it goin' on. Not everyone who makes the same grades feels the same way.
If some C students are really happy with their grade, I don't think they'd make a big deal out of who got what grades, or always try to find out who blew the curve.
And I agree! If you've given it all you've got and you get a "C", then pat yourself on the back. If you've attained an "A", Likewise! However, one "C" student is a totally different individual from another "C" student. Don't we owe it to everyone to see them as such and not judge them by the actions or comments of others?
As I mentioned in another post, I've experienced a lot of nasty remarks from C students. Does this happen with all C students? No. Of course not. But the students who tend to say and do these things also tend to have lower grades. Or, at least, that's been my experience.
See, that's what I mean. Fact is, is DOESN'T happen with all "C" students so they can hardly be categorized. There are just those people in life, no matter WHAT they're doing, who want to pass the blame onto others or are not willing to accept responsibility. There are mature "C" students and there are immature "C" students. There are mature "A" students and there are immature "A" students.....eh?
Quite frankly, I don't care about their grades, and I don't ask. I don't know why they care about mine. I can only assume that the reason they ask is out of competition and jealousy.
I've learned to be careful about assuming anything about anybody. Until I've been given the ability to look and read into the soul and mind of a person......Yeah, okay, I hardly think God's going to hand that one to me or anyone else.
And the reason I don't tell them anymore is because I don't want to hear or deal with the nasty remarks afterward.
And I don't blame you. If you've come across people who really ARE that immature, then you owe it to yourself to avoid them, stay positive, and continue just as you've been doing. No one needs petty nonsense.
However, one "C" student is a totally different individual from another "C" student. Don't we owe it to everyone to see them as such and not judge them by the actions or comments of others?
See, that's what I mean. Fact is, is DOESN'T happen with all "C" students so they can hardly be categorized. There are just those people in life, no matter WHAT they're doing, who want to pass the blame onto others or are not willing to accept responsibility.
I definitely was not trying to categorize all C students. Quite frankly, I don't know why you read it that way. My comment was addressed to the OP and the topic at hand. Just because some of the people who say these things happen to also be C students (or worse), doesn't mean I was trying to categorize all C students. I simply addressed the OP's particular situation and nothing more. I think you read too much into it.
iliel
849 Posts
Nope, not true...not true at all. Grades don't matter to me, it dosn't mean I want to fail but I don't put a lot of value into a letter. Oh, and I do get very high grades (A's sometimes B's) and I will support someone who gets a C...because I really don't care what everyones letter grades are. I bet you can't even tell the difference between a C nurse and a B nurse on the floor after X many years can you?