Hi there! I am new to this site, this is my first posting. I am an RN nursing student, approaching my senior year this fall. I have sort of a weird problem....has anyone else experienced this? I don't volunteer my test scores to anyone, of course, but occasionally people ask, and I will tell them what I got on the latest test. Long story short, in a small class (about 30) I and one other student very rarely get below a 90 on tests. I try to be friendly to everyone, I'm a "people-pleaser"! I want to be friends with everyone! But I feel lately like people are just avoiding me somewhat, and they act as if I am a snob or something. I go out of my way not to advertise my grades, and be open to friendships with everyone in my class. I'm not any smarter than anyone else, I just study my butt off, pretty much every night. Am I paranoid, or has anyone else experienced this?:wink2:
queenie, be proud that the fruits of your labor are evident. you have earned your stripes and deserve only the best of everything. if the others are jealous.....just forget it. way to go girl !
I am going to give you a view from the other side of the fence, and although I have done very well in my career, I only scraped through my uni course for various reasons. I can tell you from my own experience, you are not paranoid, my study buddies and I found comfort in secretly despising those who were top of the class, to compensate for our own extremely immature insecurities, yes we were jealous to the max, and for that I feel very silly. As previously pointed out the grades don't matter once you are out in the field, and the girls that were top of the class are now very good friends of mine. I think it would be very sad for you to play down your good grades, you should sing it loud and proud, and don't let anyone stop you enjoying what should be a very rewarding experience.
Our tests were posted by pin numbers we created and so occasionally, early in our program, my best friend would check mine for me if they were posted after I left. I was the top student until the very last semester out of a class of 150, worked FULL TIME(29-40 hours/week), had 2 kids under 4 and pregnant with my 3rd the last semester and so yes on occasion I feel SOME people were kinda taken back by my grades. But I pushed myself and I didn't get the good grades to impress or show off. I felt bad if I didn't make an A on every test or at least have an A EVERY SEMESTER.
But my best friend probably has the BEST nursing skills and SHE NEVER BOUGHT A NURSING BOOK IN SCHOOL AND GOT BY WITH C's!!!!!! She is awesome!!! Passed boards on the first try(I did also). My skills in nursing relate to the teaching side/education and hers hands on skills are kick a$$!!
So it doesn't matter what your grades are anyways and I believe we are losing a lot of potential awesome nurses because most schools look at the GRADES rather than the whole person!
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
When this started happening to me years ago, I started lying and lowering my true grade by about 10 points which put me "in" with the rest of the crowd. You have to act real disappointed about it too. Drives everyone nuts trying to figure out who the "brains" of the group are--or who is lying! When we had take home tests in my health information management classes recently I had to find ways to stop providing all the right answers to everyone because I realized after the first two tests that no one was doing any of the work. They would just wait for me to come in and give out the answers, the bunch of leaches. I stupidly assume that everyone works as hard as I do to study and attempt to learn the material.
Its true that once you start working the playing field is even...... however You never know what you may want to do later on...... if you want to pursue a graduate degree your previous grades do matter..... I have had that problem... and you know what ...... I just keep smiling....I dont feel bad about doing well..... and brush off the stink behavior..... because for me personally I have set my goals to someday getting into a graduate program...... besides I grew up in the south bronx I have a really really really really really tough skin......:wink2:
I've noticed on this site more than in class, a general disdain amongst some people towards intellectualism. Some seem almost proud of scraping by and arguing to keep or lower standards instead of raise them.
I do, however, observe some of this at school. A significant minority (I hope it's a minority, at least) of my classmates have a lack of interest in details or advanced understanding so long as they pass the tests and stay in the program. I fear for what kind of nurses they will be.
At work, too (I work in an ICU), I've asked many questions regarding why something is done to be met with "that's just how it is" or "I don't know...no one's really asked that before!".
I think top students need to take a stand for high standards and an intellectual approach, especially after graduating.
QueenJane I can totally relate to you! One classmate went as far as to tell me no matter how good my grades are that doesn't make me a good nurse. I was talked about, often felt isolated, hated on up until the day of graduation but I ignored them still graduated with an A average.:nuke:
I kept reminding myself the reason why I was there, and that was to become a nurse Most of the people there were there for the social gathering rather than what they were suppose to be there for and their grades reflected that. Continue to study hard and keep up the good work!!!!!
I've noticed on this site more than in class, a general disdain amongst some people towards intellectualism. Some seem almost proud of scraping by and arguing to keep or lower standards instead of raise them.
Yes, I've some of this, too. If anti-intellectualism exists in my classroom, I haven't noticed it. Then again, I am too busy studying to notice much of anything else...
The university I went to required a 3.0 GPA to stay in the nursing program. I graduated w/a 4.0 & I had to study my butt off! I WAS a little envious of my roommate though, she hardly studied at all & always got straight A's!! It was so frustrating- it was like she was just born w/all that knowledge! I lamented to one of my professors one day, and she told me: "thank God we're not all alike- what a boring world that would be!! True learning begins AFTER you graduate!" Anyway, it's all ancient history now, but I never forgot her words of wisdom, & it helped me feel that I was OK just being me!!
I was top of my class in LVN school... other students would ask me reference questions, as though expecting me to be as reliable as a textbook. I would just point them toward the book... I don't have multiple editors :wink2:
I have had some of the same problems. I am in my LPN year of school, and am one of the few students planning on going above my RN year. I eventually want to get my MSN, and open my own Alzheimers Living Home. I take many classes above and beyond my nursing ones, and make strait A's. The other students like to make fun of me, and tell me grades won't matter in the long run. To me they do. I'm an adult returning to college and my first time around I didn't do well. I am proving to myself that I can do it this time around...and I work my butt off to earn those grades. Plus, when I hopefully get into grad school those good grades will help me get scholarships and so forth.
I would say to anyone who asked to be proud of your grades, and don't be made to feel ashamed. Good grades do matter to those who strive for them. To those who do not strive than the good grades don't matter, but they shouldn't make us feel the same. Everyone's goals in life are different, we should be the judge of ourselves!
To me they do. I'm an adult returning to college and my first time around I didn't do well. I am proving to myself that I can do it this time around...and I work my butt off to earn those grades. Plus, when I hopefully get into grad school those good grades will help me get scholarships and so forth.
Keepstanding, ASN, RN
1,600 Posts
queenie, be proud that the fruits of your labor are evident. you have earned your stripes and deserve only the best of everything. if the others are jealous.....just forget it. way to go girl !