My Two Cents

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I think that the field of nursing is one of the most rewarding, challenging and well paid careers in the world. However, as a pre-nursing student (still taking prerequisites) I would just like to say that, GETTING INTO NURSING SCHOOL SHOULD BE AS EASY AS GETTING INTO A CNA PROGRAM!!!!! And that's just my two cents....

dang, i'm all for raising the bar to gain admission.

i mean, really raising it.

if they did this, i'm certain i wouldn't be shaking my head as i suffer through the how-did-you-become-a-nurse syndrome.

op, what are you thinking??

leslie

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In most cases nursing schools are teaching you to be able to reach a certain level to allow for critical thinking and passing the NCLEX. So they base their entry requirements on those they feel have the best chance to succeed. The dean of our nursing school has found that those that don't get a least a "C" on their prereqs, will struggle and most likely fail nursing school. Those that don't at least achieve a "C" in nursing school will most likely fail the boards.

If you allowed anyone to just get in, you would not only find it harder to get in yourself, but you find many more failing.

Remember there are limited spaces in most nursing programs. Unless you open up more spaces you have to be selective.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

No, I don't think so.

We don't need "just anyone" to be a nurse. You need to be smart, and have the ability to critically think.

There are some places that are lowering their standards just to expand. Not good.

So, no, OP, I do NOT agree with you.

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I am in nursing school as well. Honestly, I would be ticked off if they made it easier. It's better to work HARD at something than have it handed to you on a golden platter. That would be absolutely obscene.

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Specializes in LTC, ALF.

I was expecting responses just like these....Even though I wish it were easier to get into nursing school, I do not want just anyone to be a nurse or for just anyone to care for me or my loved ones. Its just a little frustrating how nursing school is compared to getting into med school with the demand of a high GPA and so many prerequisites, that may I add change on a regular basis. I appreciate the hard work that goes into being a RN and I look up to nurses more than I do doctors sometimes. I just wish that not all nursing schools would look at high GPA's to get into their schools...Because we ALL know that just because someone has a high GPA DOES NOT mean they are going to be a good nurse!

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
I think that the field of nursing is one of the most rewarding, challenging and well paid careers in the world. However, as a pre-nursing student (still taking prerequisites) I would just like to say that, GETTING INTO NURSING SCHOOL SHOULD BE AS EASY AS GETTING INTO A CNA PROGRAM!!!!! And that's just my two cents....

I disagree. The responsibilities of a CNA are much much different than the responsibilities of an RN. Licensed nurses have to be at the top of their game 100% of the time. If a CNA forgets to give someone a bath, most of the time the patient doesn't die from it.:rolleyes: SHe might be reprimanded, but nothing else would happen. If an RN forgets to give a med or neglects important labs or misreads a cardiac monitor it can have grave results. She would surely be reprimanded and possibly fired for her neglect. RNs are expected to practice at a much higher standard than CNAs

There are limited places in each nursing program so of course they are going to take the cream of the crop, as well they should. Past performance is the best predictor of future success. A high GPA doesn't necessarily translate into a competent nurse but a low GPA would certainly be a red flag. Nursing school is very difficult, in part to weed out those who are just drifting through. When I went to nursing school it wasn't as hard to get in but the curriculum was a real booger. About half my class flunked out in the first 2 semesters. Those who remained were those who could keep up with the studying while performing at an excellent level in clinicals. It was really intense and I can't imagine that someone with a marginal GPA could have kept up. Nursing requires the best of the best.:nurse:

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.
Because we ALL know that just because someone has a high GPA DOES NOT mean they are going to be a good nurse!

This is true, but a high GPA reflects test taking ability, critical thinking, and dedication which are all needed to succeed in nursing school and as a nurse. Although they couldnt ace their pre reqs, there were plenty of people I met in pre reqs who had these qualities, but the fact of the matter is, the high GPA is necessary to weed out individuals who have the least likelihood to survive the rigors of nursing school. It sucks, but there has to be a way to ensure quality of candidates uniformly and objectively, even if it means some worthy candidates are excluded unfairly.

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Specializes in LTC.

I agree nursing schools and programs should be tough to get into because here are people who have no business being in nursing or the medical field in general. I had 2 in my class that I still don't know how they 1 got in the program and 2 passed class and boards. One was and still flies high as a spruce pine and the other was just careless and wreckless. Imagine a class of 40 like that Omg! I'd never want those people taking care of me or my family. If it was so easy there wouldn't be such a high turnover in nursing. It's not meant for all to do just like being a cna isn't for everyone. And they are very separate jobs with different rules and scopes of practice.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

You certainly have an interesting perspective on the nursing profession just like one person who posted in the past wanting to know what nurses do. It is not like being an CNA. You will have to get some nursing experience under your belt in order to know how much responsibility you are going to have on your shoulders once you get your nursing degree. And I hope you take that responsibility seriously because if you don't, you can kill someone.

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.
I was expecting responses just like these....Even though I wish it were easier to get into nursing school, I do not want just anyone to be a nurse or for just anyone to care for me or my loved ones. Its just a little frustrating how nursing school is compared to getting into med school with the demand of a high GPA and so many prerequisites, that may I add change on a regular basis. I appreciate the hard work that goes into being a RN and I look up to nurses more than I do doctors sometimes. I just wish that not all nursing schools would look at high GPA's to get into their schools...Because we ALL know that just because someone has a high GPA DOES NOT mean they are going to be a good nurse!

When there are a glut of applicants, it is easier to tighten up the admission standards. When I started college there was the dreaded waiting list (and that number was 46 - I'll never forget that magic number because they only accepted 40 and I was number 46 so I had to wait for the next round of clinicals to start). The last I heard there were >300 on the waiting list - and it is getting longer. The college I went to was one of the ones that started upping the GPA requirements to help make the waiting lists smaller. There was a 2.5 minimum GPA when I started (which was the minimum standard set by the BON I believe), now I believe it is 3.0 just to get on the list in the first place. If you have a 4.0 I've heard you get special consideration to get fasttracked into clinicals. I don't know how that system works though.

My old neighbor just finally managed to get into clinicals after waiting patiently for 2 years.

Just remember, all the hard work and waiting pays off. You can either give it up or do it. I've been there, done that. I think everyone else who wants to be a nurse should do it too. Think of it as a character building exercise. Just my 2 cents :twocents:

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Alright OP, I do get where you're coming from, in fact many of us waited a long time to get "IN". I waited three semesters way back in 1995.

I can promise you that with only the best of the best having been chosen in my group, we graduated 1/3 of our class, the 2/3 either failed semesters, dropped out or were asked to leave.

It's hard to understand when your doing pre-reqs that nursing is nothing like CNA duty and nothing like an A&P class. That's why you've gotten the responses thus far that have been SPOT ON by our nursing friends.:yeah:

Two years in as a nurse, you'll most likely look back and wonder what you were thinking:eek:

Kind regards and kudo's for taking these responses so well.

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Specializes in LTC, ALF.

To Diane227 AND TO THE REST OF THE PEOPLE RESPONDING-

Yes, I realize that being a RN is completely different from being a CNA. I was venting...something is allowed on this website. RNs have advanced practice because they do more than a CNA, and therefore require more schooling, great grades and thorough training to become a RN. I desperately want to be a nurse and with raising my son, being a wife and working while doing prerequisites, it can be a little overwhelming. No, I do not want just anyone to be a nurse...I just want to be a nurse and wish it was a little easier...FOR ME! I know the hard work will pay off in the long run and I am excited for that. I am allowed to vent, and I realize that being a nurse is a serious thing...why would I want to kill anyone when the purpose of me being a nurse is to care for people???? Encouraging words would be better than condemning ones...thank you.

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