Made A's prenursing and now.......

CHATSDALE · Oct 6, 2006

different instructors have there own way...learn everything you can and let the grades take care of themselves

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 7, 2006

How do you guys handle dropping one letter grade? I was an A student and I have been in nursing school for a week. I have made B's so far on two test. Okay, it may not seem bad. For me it's an adjustment. The instructor grades hard. She will take of points for a missing semi-colon. I do eat some of the responsibility because, I am trying to be so thorough that I do fail to do some things. I know nursing is serious . I can see clearly her point in it all. I am just having a hard time adjusting. Any tips?

Most people have a hard time adjusting to nursing exams, because they require critical thinking and not totally based on memorization. The fact that you are still hanging in there with a B is a great statement for you. You may improve as time moves forward once you get used to the discipline, but I remember what one of my instructors told me; "C" your way out. This may sound discouraging, but actually it is not, because when you apply for a job, the concern is did you pass NCLEX-PN...and they rarely ask for your grades. I would concentrate on comprehending the material, for once you understand the process, it gets easier to answer the questions.

Jules A, MSN · Oct 8, 2006

Lol our class used to say C=LPN! I found it tough to go from all As to mostly Bs and some As but you get used to it especially when you realize that everyone is in the same boat. In fact I rather liked getting a low B instead of a high B because it took some of the pressure off my study schedule. Hang in there. Jules

Halinja, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2006

I had a 4.0 before nursing, so it was a little hard to accept the occasional B (it is still possible to get the A). I'm proud of the fact I still get A's in clinicals, I figure that's where the rubber meets the road.

I was stressing so much about the B's until I was talking to my preceptor of the day on a med/surg floor during one clinical. She, like me, is a single mother, struggling to juggle school/family/etc. She said her grades had stayed low enough that a couple of her instructors had pulled her aside and told her they KNEW she could get better grades if she'd just work harder.

Her response was...I have a life outside of school, I have children who will never be this young again. I CHOOSE to give you those grades.

And her final comment to me was...once you get a job, no one asks you what your grades were in XYZ class.

Words to live by. When I start stressing about an assignment, and know that my 11 year old is struggling with his homework...I think...I CHOOSE to do "b" level (or even c level) work...and then I go help my son.

indigo girl · Oct 8, 2006

I had a 4.0 before nursing, so it was a little hard to accept the occasional B (it is still possible to get the A). I'm proud of the fact I still get A's in clinicals, I figure that's where the rubber meets the road.
I was stressing so much about the B's until I was talking to my preceptor of the day on a med/surg floor during one clinical. She, like me, is a single mother, struggling to juggle school/family/etc. She said her grades had stayed low enough that a couple of her instructors had pulled her aside and told her they KNEW she could get better grades if she'd just work harder.
Her response was...I have a life outside of school, I have children who will never be this young again. I CHOOSE to give you those grades.
And her final comment to me was...once you get a job, no one asks you what your grades were in XYZ class.
Words to live by. When I start stressing about an assignment, and know that my 11 year old is struggling with his homework...I think...I CHOOSE to do "b" level (or even c level) work...and then I go help my son.

Good for you!!

Some of the those with the highest grades have the least common sense, and that makes one sorry nurse. Some of the worst test takers have turned out to be great nurses.

It's not about grades. It's about critical thinking skills, and knowing enough about what you need to know to take care of people.

MD1211 · Oct 8, 2006

Welcome to nursing school. At least you are making Bs! I think it's almost unheard of to make A's. I too, was an A student before nursing school, but I find happiness in passing and making B's. It was in the second semester that I said, I only THOUGHT I was smart till I got in the nursing program. The reality is that we all are smart- that's how we got to this point. But, we are just being pushed to our limits. What kills me is that at my school, the points are readjusted. 74-83 is a C (under 74 is failing), 84-90 is a B, 91-100 is an A. And if you get a 73.9- you still fail. They don't round up. I am sitting on the fence with an 83 point something. And sadly, this makes me happy that I might still pull a B! Hang in there!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 8, 2006

Welcome to nursing school. At least you are making Bs! I think it's almost unheard of to make A's. I too, was an A student before nursing school, but I find happiness in passing and making B's. It was in the second semester that I said, I only THOUGHT I was smart till I got in the nursing program. The reality is that we all are smart- that's how we got to this point. But, we are just being pushed to our limits. What kills me is that at my school, the points are readjusted. 74-83 is a C (under 74 is failing), 84-90 is a B, 91-100 is an A. And if you get a 73.9- you still fail. They don't round up. I am sitting on the fence with an 83 point something. And sadly, this makes me happy that I might still pull a B! Hang in there!

Yeah, that is the deal...make it through! At least with a B, it is showing that you are understanding the material! I would actually aim for B's and eventually got A's. But, it didn't matter once I sat before NCLEX...the computer was the boss and the pilot...I had to make it through THAT demon!

TX_PSYCH_LVN · Oct 9, 2006

How do you guys handle dropping one letter grade? I was an A student and I have been in nursing school for a week. I have made B's so far on two test. Okay, it may not seem bad. For me it's an adjustment. The instructor grades hard. She will take of points for a missing semi-colon. I do eat some of the responsibility because, I am trying to be so thorough that I do fail to do some things. I know nursing is serious . I can see clearly her point in it all. I am just having a hard time adjusting. Any tips?

Grades are just letters in a book. Yes you have to make passing grades in order to graduate, but when u get hired at a facility, its not the grades that get you the job its the hard work in clinicals that other nurses see and say thats the girl/guy i want to work with when he/she gets there license. Grades are good and u have to pass the classroom work, but you have to know what you are doing hands on. Nursing is being book smart and street smart as well as prior experience.