So glad you asked, because things have changed from the day when a new grad's GPA didn't matter.
Your GPA can be very important if you apply for a position along with 300 new grad applicants very much like yourself.
Jamie, my good friend who is our Nurse Residency Program Director, personally screens 200-300 applications per cohort. On the front of every application packet is a little yellow scoring card used to total the following points:
GPA > 3.75 (1pt)
Referral by an employee (1pt)
Current employee (1pt)
Outstanding essay (1pt)
Sponsored collaborative student (student sponsored by local hospital) (1pt)
Of course, every employer determines their own screening criteria, but it seems reasonable that many would include the GPA because it's an easy metric to use. All things being equal, the candidate with the higher GPA has a better chance of landing an interview.
The Nurse Managers at my hospital typically do not even see applications until Jamie has whittled the number down substantially.
GPA also matters later when applying to grad school or for an externship. Pass the word on to your classmates, and good luck in nursing school!
Personally I think there is much more to,nursing school than GPA.. I'm hoping that places take into consideration other factors. While not having a 4.0 but doing well in nursing school. I worked full time and have two kids. If anything my gpa should mean more because it shows I can prioritize and have real life experience...well here's hoping.
Murse2954
14 Posts
Personally I think there is much more to,nursing school than GPA.. I'm hoping that places take into consideration other factors. While not having a 4.0 but doing well in nursing school. I worked full time and have two kids. If anything my gpa should mean more because it shows I can prioritize and have real life experience...well here's hoping.