Not Naturally Smart

goddess9 · Sep 8, 2015

Comparison is the thief of joy.

You worked hard for your grades. You got accepted into a program as a result of your hard work. You seem like you will continue to bust orifice in order to succeed. It doesn't matter if you are naturally anything (at least to me!), your work ethic shows. Keep on, regroup before the next exam, review what went wrong and try to grow from it. One B on an exam in a hard subject will not be the end of you.

USNHM2RN · Sep 8, 2015

I agree with the above! When I read your post I immediately thought to myself: "Someone who can relate to how I feel about academics!" I feel as though I have been going to school all my life and I finally got my BSN in 2011 after obtaining my ADN in 2002. I KNOW you can do it! Yes, you and I may have to work a tad harder (okay, a lot harder) than most people. Do not allow the grades you get make you feel inferior to others. In the end, does that "C" make you any less compassionate than the student nurse who made an "A"? You must try your best and do your best to understand concepts and theories, but it is possible. VERY possible. Procrastination is a BAAAAD thing for people like us, so organize yourself well and do so early. Do not accept defeat and push towards excellence regardless of the outcome. You CAN do this.

happyinmyheart · Sep 8, 2015

Comparison is the thief of joy.
You worked hard for your grades. You got accepted into a program as a result of your hard work. You seem like you will continue to bust orifice in order to succeed. It doesn't matter if you are naturally anything (at least to me!), your work ethic shows. Keep on, regroup before the next exam, review what went wrong and try to grow from it. One B on an exam in a hard subject will not be the end of you.

Thank you so much for the encouragement. It is exactly what I needed to hear. I will continue to work hard, and if that doesn't work, I'll work even harder. I just get very upset with myself, and I seem to be my worst enemy sometimes. Comparison is truly the thief of joy.

happyinmyheart · Sep 8, 2015

I agree with the above! When I read your post I immediately thought to myself: "Someone who can relate to how I feel about academics!" I feel as though I have been going to school all my life and I finally got my BSN in 2011 after obtaining my ADN in 2002. I KNOW you can do it! Yes, you and I may have to work a tad harder (okay, a lot harder) than most people. Do not allow the grades you get make you feel inferior to others. In the end, does that "C" make you any less compassionate than the student nurse who made an "A"? You must try your best and do your best to understand concepts and theories, but it is possible. VERY possible. Procrastination is a BAAAAD thing for people like us, so organize yourself well and do so early. Do not accept defeat and push towards excellence regardless of the outcome. You CAN do this.

It's comforting to have somebody to relate to! I just need to learn that it's okay if I'm not as smart as all of my friends. I am just hoping and praying that hard work will be enough to get me through nursing school. I'm terrified the day will come where I just don't have 'the brains' to make it through.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2015

Oh, sweetie, I just want to give you a hug. And some chocolate.

Your "B" against their "A"s on one test doesn't mean you aren't smart. There will be many more tests. Sometimes you will do better than your friends. Sometimes they will do better than you.

Before I started my Nursing classes, I was tired of school and just wanted my Gen Ed classes to be DONE. I did well in them but I was chomping at the bit to get into the good stuff-Nursing!!

Honestly, once I started those classes, school was a breeze (still a lot of work, but I was actually learning stuff that was relevant to what I wanted to do).

One piece of advice I would like to give you: Don't get so focused on your studies that you neglect yourself. If you have a hobby, set aside some time to indulge it. If you don't, go to a museum, go window shopping (we all know how poor students are lol), go outside and find pictures in the clouds. Whatever you need to do to decompress.

Good luck with your studies-let us know how things are going. (But don't spend TOO much time in here lol.)

nursej22, MSN, RN · Sep 8, 2015

In the real world, nobody cares about your grades except academia and your mom. As long as your scores are high enough to let you advance, don't focus on the letter.

There is so much more to nursing than achieving high academic marks. There are the so-called soft skills like interpersonal communication, creativity and critical thinking. I've known nurses who got high grades but had zero compassion.

You got this!

Mbro5 · Sep 9, 2015

Nursing school requires more hard work and critical thinking than pure book smarts. You'll often see people who worked hard to get a B in their pre-reqs do better in nursing school than the people who got straight As in their pre-reqs. Don't beat yourself down for getting a B on your first exam, just keep studying hard and do better on your next one. I always enjoy telling people one of my favorite quotes... "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard"... It doesn't help just being naturally smart if you don't put the work in. A hard work ethic is so important in life. Like I said, continue to work hard and it will pay off, trust me. Good luck.

happyinmyheart · Sep 9, 2015

Oh, sweetie, I just want to give you a hug. And some chocolate.
Your "B" against their "A"s on one test doesn't mean you aren't smart. There will be many more tests. Sometimes you will do better than your friends. Sometimes they will do better than you.
Before I started my Nursing classes, I was tired of school and just wanted my Gen Ed classes to be DONE. I did well in them but I was chomping at the bit to get into the good stuff-Nursing!!
Honestly, once I started those classes, school was a breeze (still a lot of work, but I was actually learning stuff that was relevant to what I wanted to do).
One piece of advice I would like to give you: Don't get so focused on your studies that you neglect yourself. If you have a hobby, set aside some time to indulge it. If you don't, go to a museum, go window shopping (we all know how poor students are lol), go outside and find pictures in the clouds. Whatever you need to do to decompress.
Good luck with your studies-let us know how things are going. (But don't spend TOO much time in here lol.)

Aw thank you Jensmom. You are too sweet, I definitely could go for a hug and some chocolate right now haha :) I'm definitely ready to be done with all these prerequisites/gen eds. I start the first nursing 'track' next semester, and I'm excited!

I'm hoping that despite struggling a little in A&P, I'll still be able to pass my nursing classes next semester. My program is known for "weeding out" in the first and third 'tracks' (there are five tracks). I guess that I'm just so worried for the future that it's giving me anxiety now!

Thank you for the advice on taking some 'me' time. I definitely could use a small break, because studying and working is all I have been doing nonstop lately. Maybe I will attend my group fitness class that I have missed lately :)

happyinmyheart · Sep 9, 2015

Nursing school requires more hard work and critical thinking than pure book smarts. You'll often see people who worked hard to get a B in their pre-reqs do better in nursing school than the people who got straight As in their pre-reqs. Don't beat yourself down for getting a B on your first exam, just keep studying hard and do better on your next one. I always enjoy telling people one of my favorite quotes... "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard"... It doesn't help just being naturally smart if you don't put the work in. A hard work ethic is so important in life. Like I said, continue to work hard and it will pay off, trust me. Good luck.

You have a good point. My work ethic is pretty solid ( I would like to think). Hopefully it can get me through this class and nursing school! I'm jealous of those people with lots of natural smarts and work ethic I just wrote that quote in my planner. That's going to be my go to quote for a while :)

AspiringNurseMW · Sep 9, 2015

I'm "naturally smart". But be thankful you are not and see that as an advantage. I am just in my 2nd week of school and I am already studying more than I ever have. And I know it's only going to get harder. And this puts me at an disadvantage because this working hard for grades is new for me!!

Like everyone else said, who cares what everyone else does and what grades they get, as long as you UNDERSTAND the info and know how to apply it's the beginnings of a great nurse.

happyinmyheart · Sep 9, 2015

I'm "naturally smart". But be thankful you are not and see that as an advantage. I am just in my 2nd week of school and I am already studying more than I ever have. And I know it's only going to get harder. And this puts me at an disadvantage because this working hard for grades is new for me!!
Like everyone else said, who cares what everyone else does and what grades they get, as long as you UNDERSTAND the info and know how to apply it's the beginnings of a great nurse.

First off, I hope that you have a great semester :) It sounds like you are rising to the occasion by studying harder than ever. I'm sure you'll do great!

Thank you for your words of encouragement. Hopefully I will be able to understand and apply all of this knowledge. I definitely need to remind myself that others don't matter, I just need to make sure that I am learning what.I need to know :)