Not Naturally Smart

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm feeling kind of down today because I think I got a B on my first Anatomy & Physiology exam. I've already been accepted to the nursing program, but I'm still just so mad at myself for not ace-ing that exam. I study a lot, and I put in the effort. I'm not "naturally smart" like many of my peers, but I work hard. Im starting to become uncertain about if I'll be able to pass nursing school. My grades in the past have been all A's and one B. However, it was purely by hard work. Many of my friends are naturally smart and don't have to study as much. Will not having that natural talent hurt me in nursing school? Any advice for me? It's just one of those days :(

Specializes in Public Health, TB.
I just wanted to respond to this comment. I agree with it for the most part, but wanted to point out that employers in my part of the world are including GPA as part of the screening criteria for new grads - along with exit test scores. So..... grades can be important outside of academia.

I have not heard of this. Hoe terribly short-sided on the employer's part. Perhaps this is to narrow down the list of applicants. I wonder if this actually helps to find the best applicants.

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I definitely wouldn't say that "nursing school is almost impossible to pass" because it's definitely not. You don't need to be a genius to pass or do well for that matter. A lot of people drop out or fail out because they 1) Don't have the passion to be a nurse for the right reasons and 2) They don't put in the hard work that is needed everyday 100% of the time. As you know, the higher the credit count for a course, the more it counts towards your GPA. I'm sure it is different for some nursing schools, but for mine, A&P was worth 4 credits whereas the main nursing course I am taking is worth 8 credits so getting a B in the nursing class will lower or raise your GPA double that of a B in A&P. So just make sure you are putting your all into your pre-reqs because come nursing school you will need that high GPA because chances are it will drop.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Grades mean sh-- at the bedside. Some of the best nurses I know suffered tremendously through their time in school with academics, but have done very well in their careers. I've seen some academically gifted nurses not be able to nurse their way out of a paper bag.

As my coworker, I care way more about you doing your job, being a decent nurse, being able to get along with everybody and help out, and not being totally crazy. If you can do all these things, I promise you're already ahead of 70% of nurses!

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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.

I felt that way in Nutrition, which was the hardest class I've taken to get into a nursing program. Seriously, her workload was insane for a seven week course. I got a B on the first exam and was so bummed... Then I saw that my B was the highest in the class. If available, check the average. It might be close to what you received. Keep it up... You obviously did all the right things prior to this, and I do not doubt that hard work will continue. ☺ Try not to kick your in the butt too much until you really need that.

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"Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard"

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS QUOTE!!! I have been preaching the same message to my sons since they were little!!

Happyinmyheart, I have been getting nothing but A's as my final grade in my pre-reques up to this point. Math is my challenge and I just started college algebra and I am already sweating ending the class with my first B. Just like you, I have to WORK my butt off for these A's. But you know what? Rather I end it with an A, B or even, God forbid, a C, it is not going to stop me from knowing that I will be a hard working, caring and compassionate nurse in the end.

And your B is NOT going to stop you from doing the same. Like the others here have said: YOU GOT THIS!!! Lift and hold your head high and go on with your bad a$$ girl!!! :)

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I am not naturally smart either, I work my ass off to get decent grades. I'm in my senior year of nursing school and have received straight B's so far (some of my grades were 90-92%, which in regular college would be an A)... At my school, being naturally smart does not help you one bit. And just a little of my two cents, the first test in any class is hardly ever a good grade. Nursing school is a whole different way of thinking, and a good school will brain wash you (in a good way) to think like a nurse. NO ONE goes into nursing school knowing it all. And EVERYONE has to try really hard to get good grades. Do the naturally smart people get A's? Not necessarily. My best friend in school was valedictorian of her high school class and received no less than a 95% in any of her prerequisite college courses. Nursing school changed that. She got two B's her first semester (in the 90-92% range) just like I did. As long as you keep working hard and stay dedicated, you will do fine. I promise.

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Nursing school is a different animal. Yes, there is a lot of information and a lot of studying but it's more than that. I had a classmate and good friend I was surprised to hear had gotten in with a "C" in a pre-req class. And you know what? That person is a great nurse. Don't stop yourself before you start. :up:

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Specializes in Med-surg, home care.

What do you mean by "smart"? Being "smart" is relative. Also if you are already accepted into nursing school, which is really the goal, why are you being so hard on yourself? Some students are naturally "book smart" or they are more scientifically inclined but I think if you do your best, even if that means studying harder than others, you will be fine. Nursing is more than just about grades anyway, isn't it? If it makes you feel any better I got B+ for both A&P I and II and I had to bust my a%$ for those and I am not even close to being accepted into nursing school.

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Anatomy is hard. Good job with the B nothing wrong with that.

Thank you! I agree that it is a difficult class. My college crams Anatomy & Physiology into one semester so it is also a bit fast paced :)

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I have not heard of this. Hoe terribly short-sided on the employer's part. Perhaps this is to narrow down the list of applicants. I wonder if this actually helps to find the best applicants.

I have only heard of this to a certain extent, such as not taking students who didn't get a 3.0. However, I suppose when there is a surplus of new grad nurses, the hospitals need an easy way to "sort" out everyone. I wonder as well if it helps to find the best applicants.

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I definitely wouldn't say that "nursing school is almost impossible to pass" because it's definitely not. You don't need to be a genius to pass or do well for that matter. A lot of people drop out or fail out because they 1) Don't have the passion to be a nurse for the right reasons and 2) They don't put in the hard work that is needed everyday 100% of the time. As you know, the higher the credit count for a course, the more it counts towards your GPA. I'm sure it is different for some nursing schools, but for mine, A&P was worth 4 credits whereas the main nursing course I am taking is worth 8 credits so getting a B in the nursing class will lower or raise your GPA double that of a B in A&P. So just make sure you are putting your all into your pre-reqs because come nursing school you will need that high GPA because chances are it will drop.

I would definitely say that I am ready to put in the hard work that is needed. I have just heard countless horror stories about students giving it their all, and failing by a fraction of a point. My A&P class is worth 5 credits, because they shove Anatomy & Physiology into one semester. This is my last prerequisite, and I'm done taking my gen eds after this semester. So after this semester, I will only have nursing classes. The way our program works though, is that all the classes are broken down and are worth only 1 to 3 credits. Our nursing program doesn't have any of the big 8 credit hour classes. I hope that my GPA will stay at a 3.9 after this semester. I know the nursing program will lower it- but I'll be happy just to pass :)

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Grades mean sh-- at the bedside. Some of the best nurses I know suffered tremendously through their time in school with academics, but have done very well in their careers. I've seen some academically gifted nurses not be able to nurse their way out of a paper bag.

As my coworker, I care way more about you doing your job, being a decent nurse, being able to get along with everybody and help out, and not being totally crazy. If you can do all these things, I promise you're already ahead of 70% of nurses!

I definitely hope that I'm smart enough to pass nursing school. I'm not academically gifted, but I'm am a very hard worker. I am a team player, so hopefully I can be that good coworker someday :)

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