Are your fellow classmates really serious about nursing?

Carebear77 · Oct 15, 2005

Hehe, well, we hear ya, but, you gotta have high GPAs to get INTO nursing school in the first place due to the competition of the programs. That means getting A's when possible. When the GPA to get IN is no lower than 3.6 or 3.4... not getting those A's consistantly is the difference between getting a chance to be a nurse and not getting a chance... I'd be much less anxious about my grades if this were not the case!
J-9

Exactly what she said above. Were not all about ourselves or think we are better than anyone, we just HAVE to get good grades to get into the program.

Other people may not be taking it seriously as we are, that was our whole point for this thread.

SkanauxRN2009 · Oct 16, 2005

I'm in nursing school right now and have a couple words of advice, especially after reading all of this thread. (I just finished a test and have a little break!) In no way do I want to degrade everyone's hard work ethic and great study habits, but "get off yourselves"!
I'm saying this from experience, believe me. I was also at the top of my class during pre-reqs. All-state academic team, numerous awards, highest grade in the class, blah,blah,blah. I felt the same way as all of the other over-achieving people. However, now that 7 weeks of nursing school has gone by, I've realized that everyone has gone through a major reality check and have come down off of that "I can't stand anything but an A" to "I pray to God that I pass (75+)." Don't measure your worth by your GPA or test score. Start focusing on how to cope and persevere, even when you have a a test for each class everyday that week!!! You'll realize really quickly that those who do the best are those who have the best time-managment skills.
One more thing, don't think that the "clueless" people will disappear after pre-reqs. You may find out that you've become one once you get into the first couple weeks of class. In other words, don't bad-mouth other people for not being as quick to learn as you are. You will become so obsessed with your frustrations that you waste energy that you could be using to study!!! There's nothing worse than sitting near someone who is constantly making fun of other people for asking "sub-par" questions. Remember, if you are questioning something, it's likely that 10 other people are asking themselves that same question.
Sorry, to get on a soapbox, but I just wanted to let everyone know that EVERYTHING will change once you get into nursing school. It's difficult to imagine right now, but trust me, your whole way of thinking, including your priorities, will change. Keep your family first, don't forget to have fun every once in a while and don't take yourself so seriously. Good luck to all of you!
~ENP-wanna-be
BSN-RN, May 2007!!!!!!

I give you a high five. If you read enough of these posts, it is like your in high school or something. I am also an A student, but I would never cut down anyone who is not making these grades. It does not mean they are not serious or giving it their all. I am actually getting disgusted with this whole nursing/ pre-nursing student snobbery, I am going to change my major and go into something else. I don't want to be stifled by a bunch of snobs in nursing school. I am right there ready to apply to it, and after talking to some of the nursing students at my school and reading some of these posts, I am just really tired of it. These attributes of cutting down others are not my attributes. There is more to life than trying to say because another student does not have the same work/study ethics as you do, that they are just wasting everyone's time. I agree with you EN -Wanna-Be in every sense. I have always wanted to be a nurse, but the more exposure I get to the snobbery the more it is turning me off. I am going into Enviromental Science, at least there people are down to earth, literally. Good luck EN wannabe, wish you lot's of success.

Nurse-To-Be-Joy · Oct 16, 2005

I don't think anyone here is being a snob. To get into the program, your GPA has to be good. One requirement at my school is that you have to get an A or B in A&P I to even get accepted into the program. I go to class to learn and it can be difficult to do so when you have so many distractions. I don't know if these people are serious or not; that does not concern me and my grade. It's when they interrupt frequently (about non-related subjects), talk over the teacher, have their cell go off constantly, etc. I hope this makes more sense.

maliat · Oct 16, 2005

I would say I'm fairly tolerant about other's abilities. I'm even enjoying explaining how to do different statistics problems. It helps me remember what to do.

What my problem has been is what happened last week. I had two different instructors go off on a rant on how they're doing their best to teach us. They are willing to help, but we have a certain responsibility to pay attention in class, study, do the homework, develop our critical thinking skills, etc. What happened is that people were blaming the instructors for their problems in class. There are some bad ones out there, but I honestly think these two are that bad. Especially my micro lab instructor. Come on, half the class is averaging a 9 out of 10 on all the quizes.

That's my two cents.

Malia

minnib · Oct 16, 2005

I agree with you and Marie. The fact that these people are attending classes is a good thing. Some people don't even make it that far. School is not a priority to everyone. At least they are attempting to get an education. I go to school with a lot of young people. Our chemistry teacher said there is not a dumb question, and everyone in the class is not an idiot, for not getting things on the first try. I like his attitude. Especially in a class that is so hard anyhow. I personally only concentrate on my studies and my grades. I am the one who has to get through all of the requirements with decent grades and I am the one who is footing the bill for my education. No one else is doing either of those things for me. I try to help someone when I can, and if they ask me. Sometimes judging others is not a very positive thing, and in nursing your going to run across a vast array of different folks. Being judgemental and superior are not good traits to carry. Those A students that brag all the time are also a prime example of that. They are annoying at times. There is usually is not many of them, but there is one in every class. Some tend to stick out more than others. Oh well. Good luck on your studies, and hope we all do well in school.

Well said!!! What a compassionate person you are to realize everything you said!!! Remember the true story about that doctor who all he did was crack jokes and seemed to not take anything serious; that doctor is Hunter "Patch" Williams and look how much he has done for patient care! We are all unique individuals and how we choose to face anything in life whether it be school, a life change or anything in our lives is a trully personal thing..you never know there could be another "Hunter Patch Adams" in the making! Peace to all.

Minnib

nurse2be2007 · Oct 19, 2005

I just dont get why people have to be so judgemental of someone elses accomplishments or lack there of. Like I tell my daughter, if a B or C is the best you can do and you gave it your best effort then that is all that matters. The grade doesnt matter, its what you get out of that grade that does matter.

I happen to be a very good test taker because my mom took me to a seminar when I was in third grade that taught about test taking and the "how to's" of taking test properly. I have utilized those techniques and they have been very useful to me throughout my education. I have been bashed and judged because I get good grades and basically told by someone a couple semesters back that I should keep my grades to myself when we are all sharing our test results.

I try to encourage my fellow classmates and be supportive of them. I do get good grades and I cant help that and I find that the negativity can go both ways. You have those that look down on others who dont make all A's as if they arent good enough and then you have those that look at the A students as if they are bragging or something. I am proud of my grades and work very hard to achieve them and I will not let anyone make me feel bad for getting those grades. Its this kind of negativity that really disturbs me. I just dont understand why people just cant be supportive of each other whether it is good or bad.

I really feel sorry for those students that feel like they have to intimidate others to feel better about themselves. I have made some great friends on my journey and I will do anything in my power to help them succeed as they will with me. We help each other and I just wish that everyone could be like this. Nursing school is so cut throat and I believe its the schools that make it this way by making it so competitive to get in.

Maybe one day compassion will become a human trait :rolleyes:

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2005

I just dont get why people have to be so judgemental of someone elses accomplishments or lack there of. . .I happen to be a very good test taker because my mom took me to a seminar when I was in third grade that taught about test taking and the "how to's" of taking test properly. I have utilized those techniques and they have been very useful to me throughout my education. I have been bashed and judged because I get good grades and basically told by someone a couple semesters back that I should keep my grades to myself when we are all sharing our test results. . .I find that the negativity can go both ways. You have those that look down on others who dont make all A's as if they arent good enough and then you have those that look at the A students as if they are bragging or something. I am proud of my grades and work very hard to achieve them

What you say is so true. After so many years being in and out of school and having taught in a vocational school, I have an understanding of how to study, how to take a test, and how tests are constructed. I still have to work to get my "A"s and have found it best to keep my grades to myself unless other students bug me to find out what I get on a test. They ask after one or two tests and then stop and I don't volunteer anything. It's partly so they won't feel bad themselves and partly so I won't get bashed and ostracized. I've been re-taking the entire sequence of Algebra/Geometry/Trigonometry in order to take Calculus and have been consistently getting the highest grades in these classes and some of the other students know this. What the bashers don't get is that I spend hours working problems at home and consulting supplemental texts in order to understand the concepts we are supposed to learn, something I didn't do 40 years ago in high school which resulted in my failing Calculus before. The fact is, once I started to do well on tests it fed my ego and I wanted more and am willing to put the effort into it. Grades do not come easily without the effort. It's interesting that no one every has asked me "how do you do it?" Everyone just seems inclined to just B&M (B***h and moan).

sunnyjohn · Oct 19, 2005

Less competition!

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2005

Math! I am so afraid of math. The hard sciences were fairly easy and fun for me. The math kills me. My heart rate goes up even at the mention of math.

Even w/ a live in tutor (my dh was a math prof- he thinks vector calculous and differential equations are fun) I just do not have the math neurons in my brain. I admire and envy everyone who does.

stpauligirl · Oct 19, 2005

What you say is so true. After so many years being in and out of school and having taught in a vocational school, I have an understanding of how to study, how to take a test, and how tests are constructed. I still have to work to get my "A"s and have found it best to keep my grades to myself unless other students bug me to find out what I get on a test. They ask after one or two tests and then stop and I don't volunteer anything. It's partly so they won't feel bad themselves and partly so I won't get bashed and ostracized. I've been re-taking the entire sequence of Algebra/Geometry/Trigonometry in order to take Calculus and have been consistently getting the highest grades in these classes and some of the other students know this. What the bashers don't get is that I spend hours working problems at home and consulting supplemental texts in order to understand the concepts we are supposed to learn, something I didn't do 40 years ago in high school which resulted in my failing Calculus before. The fact is, once I started to do well on tests it fed my ego and I wanted more and am willing to put the effort into it. Grades do not come easily without the effort. It's interesting that no one every has asked me "how do you do it?" Everyone just seems inclined to just B&M (B***h and moan).

I wholeheartedly agree with the two of you.....what makes things worse in my case is that I have a learning disability on top of everything ( I had a potentially deadly illness which affected my brain 4 years ago) and I get the highest grades in class. You know that making good grades takes alot of work for me... more work than the average person and I don't use my disability as an excuse. What I see as the problem in my A&P class is the following: too many people take this class too lightly and don't study enough. Too many think that it is ok to either don't show up to class at all, or are chronically late or leave early. Some people have not figured out that they need to provide their own scantrons (paying for it) and if they need photocopies of something that they need dimes for the photocopy machine....and not for me to provide that for them. English is my second language and yes, you need to speak and understand ENGLISH! Tests are not given in any other languages! It's one thing to help someone who tries and works hard, compassion is definitely called for in those cases. But for those who are downright lazy and think that I am a charity organization, or worse yet, because I am foreign I owe them a scantron and free photocopies: I have bad news, get lost!

KatieBell · Oct 19, 2005

It's interesting that no one every has asked me "how do you do it?" Everyone just seems inclined to just B&M (B***h and moan).

:lol2: Daytonite-

I had some students once ask me how I managed to get "such good grades" So I explained about how I had a system of study...included index cards, reading the test book (heavens no!) and notes...it wasn't so fancy. The girls told me, "Oh, that sounds like ti is too much work to be worth it." Oh well, guess they didn't particularly want to work for it...:wink2:

stpauligirl · Oct 19, 2005

Math! I am so afraid of math. The hard sciences were fairly easy and fun for me. The math kills me. My heart rate goes up even at the mention of math.
Even w/ a live in tutor (my dh was a math prof- he thinks vector calculous and differential equations are fun) I just do not have the math neurons in my brain. I admire and envy everyone who does.

I don't have a math brain either.....maybe find someone else but your husband as a tutor? My husband is smart and was able to help me with numerous hurdles in numerous classes but he DRIVES me crazy how he explains things, which inhibits my ability to learn. Good luck and keelp trying, thank goodness I don't need calculus.

BTW, the bedpan is half full :rotfl: