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

Published

I'm currently at a university and I've gotten A's in all my math and science courses and most of my other courses. I have 3 more science courses left and I'm trying very hard to get A's in those classes as well. The stress is getting to me. I no longer work out or go out just so I meet my goal.

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.

Specializes in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

Grades matter but are most def not the most important.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"All that matters is if I pass."

Scary statement. Forget the grade. Learn as MUCH as you can. Let the grades fall where they may. But for the love of God, don't learn just enough to pass.

Focus on learning, not the grade.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I came into nursing school with a 3.9 GPA.

1) my #1 goal is to learn and understand. Unlike your prerequisites nursing school tests aren't just about recalling information, it's about applying what you learn in a way that shows you understand. Don't just spew back the different types of fluids you can give to the patient, you have to know WHY you would give that (or why not) what are you looking for in your patient that shows improvement, when you would become concerned, etc. Because in real life, when you start working as a nurse, these aren't just questions on a test, it's people's lives.

So my #1 goal is to learn and understand. As a result, that usually also translates into good grades. I got a B+ last semester and probably another one this semester.

2) you may not have plans right now to get a Masters or become an APN, but what about 5,10,15 years down the line? If you change your mind or find a different passion, it would suck to be limited because you focused on simply passing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

Strive to learn all that you possibly can. This may mean As and it may mean some Bs too, and that's okay. I will probably have two As and two Bs this semester. In my prereqs I had all As.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Some of the more prestigious hospitals include GPA as a factor in their new grad positions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Remember that you will need to be able to apply everything you have learned once you pass your NCLEX and start working as a nurse. Doing your best will increase the likelihood of passing the NCLEX and will also help make the transition from student to nurse easier than if your only scored the minimum required to graduate. You will be responsible for providing safe and competent nursing care to all of your patients. When going to school I looked at it this way, who do I want taking care of my family? The driven individual who got the good grades and was able to apply that knowledge when needed on the job? Or the one who believed C's make degrees? When it comes to our patient's lives, we don't want to not know the information needed to avoid making a damaging mistake.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

During nursing school I studied my butt off, because I wanted to learn everything I could, so that I could understand as such as I could, because I worked hard to get there and did not intend to do it half way. Why would I have worked so hard to get there so that I could just get by?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Try your hardest to be an "A" student, but be content with a B or B+ on a test or final grade in a class. Do your best on every assignment and every test. That is all that you should expect from yourself, regardless of the grade you receive. That being said, don't be the student that feels the need to study every waking moment for a test that is 3 weeks away because you will be devastated if you do not get an A in the class.

I graduated with a 3.55 GPA in nursing school. Did I wish I had a 4.0? Yes. Am I upset that I didn't get a 4.0? No. Did not getting a 4.0 make harder to pass NCLEX? No, I passed at 75 questions. Did my employer care I didn't get a 4.0? No.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Postpartum, Onc, PACU.

As are never pointless. If you want to continue your education, they will matter though. I say that there's nothing wrong with being a A/B/C student (hopefully way more Bs than Cs, especially with how nursing school grades are done!) if you're doing your best and learning the material.

Some teachers give crappy tests. Some teachers don't want to help you when you ask for it (I had one tell me the answer to my question was "right there in the book in front of me"). However, those situations are usually few and far between because most teachers want to help you along if you're having issues. I was one of those who was a good test taker/guesser so I still needed help with concepts at times:sour:

If the As are making you unhealthy and not enjoy your life, then I would say that's a bad thing and could possibly sour you on your career before you even start. I've seen it happen. I could have gotten As if I wanted to, but (and I'm prepared for the judgments of others here lol) I wanted to continue my music education because I was going to be NO good to anyone without my music. Going out sometimes and even a fun job can do wonders for your morale and nursing school is hard so you're going to need to find "that thing".

It sounds like you have a good work ethic and you know what you are able to do, so "slacking off" shouldn't be a problem. You won't let that happen. You do, however, need to enjoy yourself so that you don't go crazy (and drive others around you crazy in the process! lol).

I knew I didn't want to be a CRNA or get my masters so I would have rather gotten my Bs, been great in clinicals (cause it came more naturally to me than the book stuff), and have a bit of a life. I wasn't always out doing things, but I had my therapeutic hobbies to ward off the bad juju and it worked.

Speaking of which, I need to get to practicing again more seriously...thanks for this post to remind ME to take it easy! haha

Best of luck

xo

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It depends if you want to go grad school. If you do not then it doesn't matter much as long as you know enough to pass the NCLEX.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It really depends on you as an individual, and how you learn. I just happen to be really good at multiple choice tests, so I would be able to get B's without trying. But I wouldn't be learning, so I study like crazy, because I know if I'm not getting A's, then I'm not truly getting the material.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

It depends what you want to do later in life. If you ever intend on going to grad school then yes it does matter. If you just want to work on a floor for the rest of your life then I guess it doesn't. However, what if you change your mind in 5 years and your GPA stinks? It'll be harder to fix it then. My undergrad GPA was 3.96 and it allowed me a place in one of the top acute NP schools in the country for which 60 people applied for my track and only 15 got in. My grad school GPA is 3.94 and I take pride in it because I earned it. It means something to me. Why bother going to school just to coast through it and party? You can party in the summer. Do or do not. There is no try.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion