Insecure about not graduating nursing with honors..

Published

My biggest fear is to not graduate with honors in school with my cohort. The pinnings that I have gone to, EVEVERYONE graduated with honors. Not sure if this is true with other cohorts or nursing students.. This is my last year in nursing school and yes I had some struggles that held me back from excellent academic grades, such as financial issues(I have a family of 2 kids that I support) and family losses along the way, but I felt like I won't graduate with honors with my cohort during pinning.. I feel I would be embarrassed for being the only one without honors. I know I shouldn't be worried about it as long as I pass, but why do I feel so ashamed at the same time?

I felt I let a part of me down, but I also look at it this way that I still had the strength to keep moving forward regardless of how difficult nursing is and how overwhelming my person situation was.. Is there anyone out there who didn't graduate with honors and felt this way or is it just me???

I hear the saying: grades don't matter as long as you pass, but I feel like that's not true, especially if I want to go to grad school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'm still in school and hoping to keep my gpa high enough to get honors. At my school that is at least a 3.3, I'm in my third semester with a 3.4. Of course I'll be happy to be able to graduate, but I will feel a little let down if my gpa drops below the 3.3. Like you I'm also concerned about grad school in the future. I try to think though, of the people who either don't make it into nursing school or didn't make it through nursing school that I'll at least be a nurse even if I don't get the gold tassel.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

If that's your 'biggest fear' - then you have your priorities wrong. Believe me- you are the only one who cares about this. Future employers don't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Only 2-3 in my class graduated with honors. I find it odd for everyone in a program to have honors. In a sister nursing program to mine, almost everybody had good grades; however, their NCLEX pass rate was less than 50%.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I didn't graduate with honors and I landed my dream job the day after I found out I passed my nclex. Now on the job, no one has ever asked me what my GPA was, if I graduated with honors etc. In the insulated nursing school bubble it can seem important, but there's a lot more things to worry about. Having a good GPA doesn't mean anything if someone has poor interpersonal, time management, team playing, critical thinking, or clinical skills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

No one will care about this but you! As long as you pass the NCLEX, you're hire-able. Regarding grad school--just get the best grades you can. I didn't get into Sigma Theta Tau, and many of my classmates did. I felt terrible about it, at the time. Now I'll be the first from my BSN class to become a CRNA. Just do your best :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

How can EVERYONE have graduated with honors when cum laude is the top 25% of the class, magna cum laude is the top 10% and summa cum laude is the top 5%? Everyone cannot be in the top 25%.

This is not something anyone cares about in the real world.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I doubt EVERYONE in the class is graduating with honors. I think about 5-7 people in my class graduated with honors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My biggest fear is to not graduate with honors in school with my cohort. The pinnings that I have gone to, EVEVERYONE graduated with honors. Not sure if this is true with other cohorts or nursing students..

How is it an "honor" if everyone gets it?!?

At the pinnings I've attended, only a few members of the cohort graduate with honors. Most people don't graduate with honors. No need to feel embarrassed!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If that's your 'biggest fear' - then you have your priorities wrong. Believe me- you are the only one who cares about this. Future employers don't.

Agree with this. You need to spend some quality time in a room of 29 people who failed to graduate from nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you. I actually ended up graduating with Departmental Honors. It was a personal accomplishment, so that's why I was insecure about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes you are right. That's what my friend told me lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion