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

[misskayy]

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.

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

It really helps if you want to try and get into Sigma Theta Tau. That looks nice on the resume.

[dunce002917]

I am about to enter Nursing School this fall. My lowest grade so far is a (high) B+. While it was frustrating that I lost my 4.0 GPA because of the B+, I felt I learned more in that Anatomy class and it taught me some lessons in measured expectations. I even volunteer as a teacher's aid in that class and most of the students I helped got A's on their grade. This semester, since my professor curves his grades, there is a high probability that would "only" get a B. I guess competing against pre-med and PA students would do that to you. That being said, I'm not bothered.

I think what I'm getting at is to strive to learn as much as you can and the grades would follow. Also, learn how to balance your life and make sure you make time for yourself and your relationships while in school. What good is a 4.0/straight A if you end up in the hospital due to stress and physical issues (which, by the way, happened to me).

The nursing school I'm going to is trying to make the culture more collaborative than competitive. Because in real life, nurses would have to work with their teams in order to provide safe and quality service. Can you just imagine nurses being competitive on the daily basis? It would be too exhausting and the industry would end up losing nurses at the time when they need more.

As for grad school, while I do plan to do it (and possibly get into the NP program) in the future, I would not sacrifice my present for something that too far off in the future. That being said, I would work my brain as hard as I can and let the grades follow.

[Larry2016]

Grades reflect your ability to memorize content that gives you a good broad based general knowledge of nursing. That is only one third of your nursing student program. It is a good start, so grades lay a good foundation for preparing.

Another third piece of the pie is clinicals. You have to be willing to be adaptable and anticipate problems. For example, just because a patient may have hypernatremia does not mean that a sodium level of 150 that the patient will display symptoms of delusions or hallucinations. The patient may not even display symptoms. It may be the patient's normal.

The last third of the pie is relational. Learn in clinicals how to relate to your patient and other nurses. So often I've heard people in my foundations 1 rotation they do not like old people (their words). Sorry, but nurses need to learn to relate to all age levels. During my precepting last month, we had an 8 year old on the med surg floor.

Put all three of those together and you will make and excellent nurse who is relatable, adaptable, and not afraid to participate in new evidence based research projects. :)

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Of course it's not "pointless" to be an A student. But it's not a requirement, either. Do your best, but don't study yourself into ill health.