Just how important are grades in nursing school?

[Ted D]

Would it really be that much more difficult to land a job for someone who got all Bs vs. someone who got all As from the same school?

Once you do land that first job, are the grades pretty much overlooked for experience?

[mariahas4kids]

Once you have your degree, no one is going to ask you what you GPA was.

[elkpark]

It doesn't make a great deal of difference in employment; employers are typically interested simply in verifying that you're licensed and that you actually did go to school where you said you did. Occasionally, grades will matter in the case of something like a highly competitive new grad internship, where there are many applicants, all equally inexperienced, and the facility has to find some reasonable way to choose among them.

And, of course, grades matter for grad school.

[KateRN1]

Once you have your degree, no one is going to ask you what you GPA was.

I've been in job-hunting mode again lately and have had several applications ask for my GPA--I'm over ten years out of school.

And then there's that ever-important continuing education. If you want to get into a grad program, some of them are pretty competitive.

[MedSurgeMess]

especially for grad school....and yes, I've heard from some of my students that while looking for jobs, the prospective employer wants to see grades. It's becoming that competetive.

[twinkerrs]

Every application I have filled out asked for grades. My grades also helped me to land a full paid scholarship to work on my BSN and since grad school is my ultimate goal my grades were super important to me. As far as grades keeping people from getting jobs the people who had c's all four semesters have jobs just as good as the students who had a's and b's.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I wonder if it's getting worse because of the state of the economy - I started working two years ago and was never asked about my grades, but then again, my hospital is affiliated with my school so they probably knew anyway.

[caliotter3]

Employers have never shown any interest in my education, only the fact that I am licensed and my license is in good standing. By the time I'm ready for grad school, I figure that situation will take care of itself or I won't be going.

[mykidzmom]

hey--what do you call the guy who finishes last in his med school class? DOCTOR! hahahahahahahahaha. there are many reasons why grades can be important, so always get the best you can. i was mildly offended and a little worried (as a straight A student) that our nursing instructors said that the B & C students usually made the best nurses because the knew the info...well enough...but typically had the critical thinking skills and common sense that cannot be tested for. no one has asked me for my GPA, which i want them to see because it is awesome. they don't care. however, i will be going back to school soon, and they WILL care. do your best--your badge won't say RN (a-) or RN (b+)----just RN!

[PrincessLa]

For some internships after nursing school they want you to at least have a 3.0 from what I've read.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Oh god, here we go again with the A vs C student debate.

Yes, it matters. Yes, you can get a job and do just fine without A's.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Once you have your degree, no one is going to ask you what you GPA was.

Not exactly true. Every single job interviewer has asked for my GPA and/or transcript--with a couple of them, that was the first question out of their mouths. Most nurse recruiters from the hospitals have asked me about my grades too.

Maybe it's different once you're an experienced RN, but grades seem to be the first thing they want to know from a new graduate...at least in my area of the world, given the job market at this time.

Oh god, here we go again with the A vs C student debate.

Yes, it matters. Yes, you can get a job and do just fine without A's.

Agreed on all three counts.