It just isn't fair

cad4296 · Jun 30, 2006

Who cares how many times someone take a A&P class or Micro class, just because you get an "A" doesnt mean your going to be a good nurse, it just means your book smart. Some people (including myself) have a hard time grasping the information the first time around, and may need more time than someone else. Someone who keeps trying and doesnt quit is considered good to me. They are paying for it, your not so if they are in the same class for three or four time then so be it.

I'm not talking about people who need more time. The girl I was refering to is in her 3rd try with micro, not because she didn't quite grasp it, but because she flat out doesn't study or apply herself. Even this time around, every test day she sits there and talks about how she didn't have time to study for this test and is so not ready because there was "a rockin party this weekend and I got so wasted was hung out for at least two days" (Her exact words, she's single, no kids, no job, no responsibilty so no reason not to apply herself.) People at my school will take the same teachers over and over so they know exactly what is on the test so they can get an "easy A" without learning the material. This only hurts them when they do get in with their 4.0 and fail out because they didn't actually learn the prior material. These are the people I am refering to. And I personally know quite a few of them. May just be my school. I don't know. Meanwhile I work 50-60 hours per week and still take a full course load and am happy with my hard earned and sleep deprived B and possibly get passed over by the above types I mentioned. Not saying its an across the board thing, just something I deal with at my school....which is why I am trying to get into a BSN school and have no desire to apply for the ADN at this particular school.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Jun 30, 2006

I think this thread should be deleted because it has brought about to much anger among the members of this community!!! Good luck to you all.

LAROSILIERE, I hope this thread isn't deleted that easily. I haven't read any post that was disrespectful. I think that we are simply trying to point out a thought process and judgement by the OP that may actually be harming her and not helping her at all. If she (and you) will take it in the spirit that is meant, to educate, then there will be no need to delete the thread. I think we've all felt frustrated at one time or another and vented it to others. Hopefully the feedback will simply add perspective to the OP and will help steer the frustration toward more positive and productive thinking. :)

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 30, 2006

True sn, Allnurses is a community where one's opinion can be expressed while not receiving criticisms for it.There are many people within this comminty who don't argree with the views/imputs presented on the site, but that does not make it right to attack any member of the allnurses community.However, if you feel offended by my statement, I say pretend that you didn't see it!Lol

Getting the sneaking suspision that if i were in agreement with the prior post i had replied to, my disagreement wouldn't be a "criticism".

No memeber was attacked, Their opinion, however, was.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 30, 2006

she (and you) will take it in the spirit that is meant, to educate, then there will be no need to delete the thread.

Exactly.

Nurse-To-Be-Joy · Jun 30, 2006

I went to school full time until I got my AA in Psych. Then I had my son. When he was a almost 2 years old, I went back to school to finish my 4 science courses (A&P 1&2, Chem, and Micro), but could only do 2 a semester. I can't leave my now 3 y/o son with a sitter so I could've done all 4 classes in one semester. As for nursing being my 2nd degree... I have always wanted to be a nurse. Yes, the money is wonderful, but so is the actual career. My mother and I have both been in and out of hospitals so I've always known what a nurse does and I've always wanted to be one. It just took me having a child to give me the confidence to go for what I really wanted. :)

AmericanChai · Jun 30, 2006

I happen to be one of those 2-class-per-semester people. I have no idea where people get the mentality that people do this to devote more time to the class, but it just so happens that some people have to work full time to pay for school, eat, you know, silly things like that. That doesn't allow much time to take a full schedule so i had to settle for "bit by bit".
That doesn't make me any less or more dedicated than anyone else that i'm attending class with, nor should (would) it have any effect on whether i'd get accepted into a program :angryfire
(I'm aware that wasn't directed at me, but i certainly take offense when someone assumes someone taking 1 or 2 classes a semester is doing it to devote more time to the class, like that's unfair to other people.)

Thank you! :) I am taking *one* class at a time (have a former degree so have a bit of a head start). I am also the mother of two children, one whom I homeschool and one who has special needs. So it's not like I'm just sitting around doing nothing but taking one class to make the good grades. Everyone's situation is different. Some people are holding down full time jobs or have families to support. Believe me, if I could get these classes over with sooner I would. I have better things to do for the next 2.5 years than to take pre-req's one at a time . . . like apply for nursing school and get on with the rest of my life.

By the way, the people like CAD4296 is referring to, they may or may not make it in real life. I think when they interview you or have you write an essay, which they do at many nursing schools, they can tell who is real and who isn't. ((HUGS)) I may get only B's but my reasons for wanting to be a nurse, and my life experience are very powerful and I am confident that I will get in based on those things, not just my grades.

Holly27 · Jun 30, 2006

I'm confused....are you seriously knocking the people that took it slow in order to get better grades?? What possible difference should it make how long someone takes getting the prereqs out of the way?!

I understand where she is coming from. I think maybe she felt looked over for others that had a higher GPA. I would rather go part time and get better grades on those 2 classes. But If you are going full time and taking 5 classes its harder to keep all A's. Sure when I went part time I had a 4.0 but when I was full time it went down to 3.67.I think they should always use the Cumulative GPA not just Current GPA. I think nursing schools need to take more consideration when it comes to grades.

Another thing is on our first day of school the instructors came in and said if you are here for the money please leave today and get your money back. They had several nurses come in that day and talk with us. Like a Q & A session. The next day 2 girls had dropped. They weeded people out throught out the first semester. Some said forget it and others fought till the end and graduated.

I also tell you something else. I graduated 2nd highest in class, but I KNOW that some of the people in my class are going to be way better nurses. I just got lucky that I was able to study more than others and didn't have to work this past year. Doesn't make me any better of a nurse, just maybe a nerd!!

lisamc1RN, LPN · Jun 30, 2006

I understand where she is coming from. I would rather go part time and get better grades on those 2 classes. But If you are going full time and taking 5 classes its harder to keep all A's. Sure when I went part time I had a 4.0 but when I was full time it went down to 3.67. I think nursing schools need to take more consideration when it comes to grades.
Another thing is on our first day of school the instructors came in and said if you are here for the money please leave today and get your money back. They had several nurses come in that day and talk with us. Like a Q & A session. The next day 2 girls had dropped. They weeded people out throught out the first semester. Some said forget it and others fought till the end and graduated.

That assumes an even playing field for everyone. A person with 4 kids, a husband, a pt or ft job, and going to school part time may disagree with you about the difficulty of taking 2 classes being easier than taking 4 at a time. I could list a whole bunch of circumstances that may make it much harder for a person to get that 4.0 taking 2 classes at a time but they make it work. I suggest to you that comparisons are not helpful to anyone. We cannot possibly know all the challenges that a person faces in their day to day living. If we did know, we might be thanking the good Lord above that we are not in that situation ourselves!

Holly27 · Jun 30, 2006

That assumes an even playing field for everyone. A person with 4 kids, a husband, a pt or ft job, and going to school part time may disagree with you about the difficulty of taking 2 classes being easier than taking 4 at a time. I could list a whole bunch of circumstances that may make it much harder for a person to get that 4.0 taking 2 classes at a time but they make it work. I suggest to you that comparisons are not helpful to anyone. We cannot possibly know all the challenges that a person faces in their day to day living. If we did know, we might be thanking the good Lord above that we are not in that situation ourselves!

Im not comparing people just MY grades. I have the husband, kids, and job at that time too. Thats why I said they need to take in consideration other things not just grades. Like work history, reason for wanting to be a nurse and etc.

LoriAlabamaRN · Jun 30, 2006

Methinks that someone is blaming everyone else out of frustration.

As for the anger at those who flunk out of the program, I certainly don't think that their attitude was "Well, I'm going to go to nursing school and spend all this money even though I know I'm going to fail, at least that way I can take the spot away from someone else."

Them's the breaks. If you didn't get in, you didn't get in. It would be a lot more constructive to work on the reasons you personally weren't accepted rather than putting down those who were.

DDD · Jun 30, 2006

What is more American than the free market (not considering the pros or cons...though I tend to not trust the "self correcting mechanism" it suggest)? So, likewise, what could be more American than filling a position for income in response to supply and demand?

I became a nurse for income and job security alone. Sure, I like helping people. But who can argue with me that my loyalty to my wife and kids will drive me to be a better nurse than I would be just for simply loving the job? The same dedication that would cause me to die for them pushes me to excel.

May the best man or woman prevail, regardless of the motivation. Don't get me wrong. I've had my share of disappointment and I sincerely feel for you. But to suggest I am not as a good a candidate simply because I reject the notion of a "higher calling" or that of a capricious interest in the profession simply isn't fair.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Jun 30, 2006

I'm sorry if I misunderstood you. I was responding to this,

"But If you are going full time and taking 5 classes its harder to keep all A's."

I think it's harmful thinking to make such a broad statement. It doesn't take into consideration that there are many people (including myself) who did maintain the 4.0 while going to school part time, with kids, homeschooling part time, maintaining a part time job,etc. It's almost like a slap in the face to say it was easier for me to do than someone who is going to school full time. I disagree. We all have our challenges in life. We all have the things that we must perservere through in order to be a success. My success was no less earned or deserved because I did it differently than someone else and it is painful to me to hear people knock it or ascribe to it a lesser value.