Is it pointless to be an A student in nursing school?

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

If you intend on going to grad school after completing your BSN, grades will most certainly matter.

cecile9155, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

You want to pass the NCLEX right? Having a solid knowledge base and not slacking off during school will help. Do you want to provide safe care to your future patients? If so, working hard and not slacking off doing nursing school will help.

Purple_roses · Apr 25, 2016

Grad school, resumes, and simply knowing what you're supposed to know to keep patients safe are all good reasons to strive for high grades.

Also, do the best that you can on every test and assignment because it could save your grades if you happen to bomb a test. Sometimes those tests are unpredictable, and it's nice to have a little cushion just in case something goes wrong. You don't want to be one of the students who has to get a 95% on their finals in order to pass the class.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Apr 25, 2016

Focus on learning the material.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

I don't want to do this in nursing school. People tell me "You should still strive for high grades in nursing school too" But what for? If I'm already in, all that matters is if I pass, right? By the way, I plan on getting a BSN.

While everyone in our graduating class lost their 4.0 during the 1st semester of RN school, there has been no such thing as "coasting." Those who had 4.0's going into the program didn't loose their A's because we coasted. We lost them because the exams are extremely hard; and, in our program there's no such thing as extra credit, curves, etc. You get a 74.99999% on an exam, and you failed the exam which requires a 75% or higher to pass. I cannot speak for all of our graduating class; but I know I study for A's every single exam. I would imagine that's the case for most of our class.

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

Do you know what they call the person who graduates last in the nursing class?

Answer: Nurse

I would advise to do your best and try to retain the material without so much emphasis on the letter grade.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 25, 2016

Um, yeah.... you do know that nursing programs raise the grading bar, right? Chances are, you'll have to have >85 in order to get a B.... and expectations overall are much higher. The vast majority of "A" students hit the wall in the first semester of clinical studies when their former study habits don't work very well any longer.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

It's never pointless to set your sights higher than the bare minimum required to pass.

That being said, studying and learning in college and nursing school are vastly different than high school.

When you are in high school, you are spoon fed the information you need for tests. In college, you are considered an adult learner, which means that your instructors don't always give you all the answers. The expectation is that you will pay attention to lecture material and do some research on your own to gain further information.

That's why a lot of students who pretty much skated through high school are shocked when that 4.0 becomes harder to maintain.

There's a reason nursing students frequently feel that school sucks up most of their lives. It does. It's up to you to decide whether the goal is worth the sacrifice.

Emergent, RN · Apr 25, 2016

I was straight A's in my pre-reqs and only got a 3.5 in nursing school overall. And I was one of the stronger students in the class, most definitely in the top 5.

My advise is to study hard and learn as much as you can. My school did NCLEX style questions on tests, they are an entirely different kind of animal, you'll soon find out.

elpeet · Apr 25, 2016

Honestly, no. I received my BSN through an above average ranked accelerated nursing program in Michigan, passed my NCLEX on the first try, and am currently in grad school and didn't get a 4.0. I didn't try for a 4.0. I had a social life. I hung out with my non-school friends, worked out - not as much as I'd like but I was still pretty active in the gym, had time for my girlfriend, and had time to socialize with my school friends. Grades are great and incredibly important when it comes to graduate school but you're only young once. I didn't want to miss out on those things. I was lucky enough to do well in school either way (3.61) but there has to be a balance.

Having a base of knowledge you learned in school is nice but I don't think it is that helpful when it comes to the job. I worked in a level 1 trauma/surgical ICU, the OR, med/surg, and a CVICU and I think the majority of learning comes from experience on the job. I think an overwhelming amount of my colleagues would agree. A lot of people referred to graduate school with the grades and I agree, better grades will increase your chances at getting in. I was fortunate enough to get into my #1 choice while sleeping through my first interview. Granted, I think my resume was quite strong but this is just my view/experience. My two cents. I hope it helps.

direw0lf, BSN · Apr 26, 2016

The grad school I want to get into doesn't accept any grade lower than a B plus the GRE score is competitive. I think you never know what you might want to do in the future, so why not try your hardest just in case?

Maybe to reduce your stress look it at like this way: You don't NEED A's but they might be helpful.

The stress was getting to me too. Now I study very different then I used to. I always listen to music and take frequent, 5-15 min breaks. Force yourself to take a break so the stress doesn't keep at you.