It seems that some students are not a good fit for nursing.

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 2, 2016

I would not be too concerned about classmates' progress unless it directly affects you, such as a group project. Those who truly aren't cut out for nursing school will at some point weed themselves out.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

Ultimately, when you graduate, you're going to discover that all nursing school did was prepare you to pass NCLEX. And your pre reqs? No one's going to care in the real world.

You will know precisely **** about how to be a practicing nurse. That knowledge you are going to learn from your preceptor.

I just hope you don't broadcast the feeling of smug superiority that comes across in your post. Seasoned nurses aren't going to be overly impressed by your book knowledge.

Don't get me wrong, none of us want to precept someone who skated through on their keen fashion sense. But personally, I always valued common sense and the ability to say "I need you to watch me do this, I know the theory but haven't had much (or any) practice." Kind of gave me a warm feeling, like maybe you WEREN'T going to kill the patients on my watch.

sailornurse · Mar 2, 2016

Wait you are also a pre-nursing student? Confused about your username, "Doctor-Nurse"? Please change your name, see TOS. You have not started nursing program yet? If you are talking about pre-req courses you really can't say until you get into a nursing program and see the level of students that actually get accepted. There are many, many pre-nursing students that will not ever get accepted. Wait until you are actually accepted to see the caliber of students that have the GPAs needed.

loriangel14, RN · Mar 2, 2016

So you are better than all of them and you are disappointed in their lack of smarts?

Nurse Leigh · Mar 2, 2016

This post is just a bit of a rant so please take it with a grain of salt: I am finding MOST "pre-nursing" students I come across are not cut out for the gauntlet that is nursing school. It may be a maturity issue or an ignorance issue, I do not know. What I am seeing is a total lack of competition in my prerequs. I may just be an over competitive young man wanting to provide for his family, but I don't see anyone in my classes who is on another level kind of smart. Has anyone had this experience? I have a desire in my heart to know EVERYTHING so I am kind of constantly studying everything that has to do with nursing all the time, and I don't see anyone, really, that is knowledgeable at an elite level. It makes me sad because smart people motivate me to be better and I'm not getting any of that in my experience. please feel free to comment negatively or positively to this thread. I would love some feedback.
Thank you

Well as a "Doctor_Nurse" who isn't even in a nursing program yet, I guess you would know more than us. :rolleyes:

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

So have u graduated and are a nurse? Are u talking about students coming into your facility for a clinical rotation or are u an instructor?

Inn. Infused by your user name - I wasn't sure.

I figure when people looked at me as a "pre-nursing" student" some of them probably thought I wouldn't be a "good fit".

Anne, RNC

Banana nut, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 2, 2016

Ultimately, when you graduate, you're going to discover that all nursing school did was prepare you to pass NCLEX. And your pre reqs? No one's going to care in the real world.
You will know precisely **** about how to be a practicing nurse. That knowledge you are going to learn from your preceptor.
I just hope you don't broadcast the feeling of smug superiority that comes across in your post. Seasoned nurses aren't going to be overly impressed by your book knowledge.
Don't get me wrong, none of us want to precept someone who skated through on their keen fashion sense. But personally, I always valued common sense and the ability to say "I need you to watch me do this, I know the theory but haven't had much (or any) practice." Kind of gave me a warm feeling, like maybe you WEREN'T going to kill the patients on my watch.

Thank for your post! I really appreciate your perspective. I have great respect for the nursing profession. I truly appreciate the need for humility when it comes to becoming a top notch nurse. Your post is very motivating for me. My goal is not be better than anyone, I simply want to be the best I can be. I hope that doesn't sound stupid. This rant i posted is simply an observation I've had so far. I truly have a heart to learn from others. Iron sharpens iron , so one man's continence sharpens another.

Thank you

seeyouinberlin · Mar 2, 2016

As a pre-nursing student who has already earned a Bachelor's Degree with honors, and even actively considered applying to medical school before choosing nursing, I would never look down on a fellow classmate for pursuing their dreams...with or without traditional "book smarts". How silly; just focus on yourself and your own path.

elkpark · Mar 2, 2016

My goal is not be better than anyone, I simply want to be the best I can be.

The best way to do that is to focus on your own studies, and not spend time worrying about the intelligence or capabilities of your classmates.

And are you going to change your user name to comply with the site's TOS, or are you actually somehow a "doctor" and a "nurse" now? If so, what are you doing in pre-nursing courses?

hstutz86 · Mar 2, 2016

you're not alone .. I feel that way too.... the bio course I took last term....the average grade was below 70 .. which was shocking. it was an introduction to A&P course.. should be easy right? people were not putting in effort.. one student started sitting next to me after a few weeks into the course and when I asked her... she wanted to get into a nursing program and was working hard! people who want it will work for it... .. so we both took notes together and answered our own questions.. looking through the book... etc...... not many students were getting 80s and above! .... a CNA in the class was complaining she didn't memorize the skeletal system.... I told her out right she needs to put time knowing this **** if she wants to be an RN! ...

Whispera, MSN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

In the decades that I've taught, I've seen many very motivated, high-achieving students. I've seen a few each year who didn't do enough, and eventually they were gone. Most students fell somewhere between these two groups.

Some highly intelligent students excelled and some didn't. Brains don't necessarily yield success. What you do with your brain is what matters.

I've also seen highly motivated students put tremendous pressure on themselves to excel, leading to a whole lotta stress in their lives. It's not necessary to be the best. It's necessary to be your best, not the best in the herd, in my opinion.

I've seen the the motivated and high-achieving work together to succeed common goals. Eventually you'll see who you will move toward.

The unmotivated sometimes try to glom onto the motivated in an effort to use their work.

Watch for that as you go forward.