Catma63

As an RN student working as an NA, I can easily say that some nurses have attitudes and don't want to work either. ;-)

You so said it....One of the things that has helped me the most was remembering that I, in my new status of failed student, will not be the first and I won't be the last. I recall my nursing instructor telling us (this was the first year instructor) that she would rather have a former "C" nurse who knew her stuff and knew how to see patients as people than the "A" nurse who treated people as textbook examples. And no, I in no way think a 70 is low but I would be lying if I wasn't sitting here yearning and wishing that was what our passing grade had to be. I feel I worked so hard...I lost precious time with my family, was always afraid to enjoy a movie, never went out except to go to school or the grocers or church....diligently studied, typed notes...I tried so hard yet failed. Your reply goes to show that even with helping students there is a good success rate with the NCLEX and again makes me feel....dare I say it?.....that we were robbed.

Congratulations on passing!! You are so blessed, too. I look at the requirements to pass in your course and am so envious. Were I where you are, I would have passed...(still moaning and groaning in Virginia....*shrugs*) We had to have an 80 to pass and my final grade was a 79. Students who have graduated from your school....How have they done on the state boards? I ask because that's the reason my instructors gave for taking away points that were afforded to last year's graduating class (even though only one student from that class had to resit for the boards but passed on the second take). Congratulations again!!

I've known all of my life that I wanted to be a nurse.....just didn't think the option was open for me. I'm a 41 year old and feel blessed to have the opportunity. I'm now in my second year (eight months to go....again, God willing) and though it's been incredibly hard (emotionally, physically, financially) I'm reminded everytime I do a clinical and see a patient needing care why I've wanted this. I've so often heard that grand ole reminder, "If He leads you to it, He'll lead you through it." I don't suppose anyone can tell if this is something you, personally, want to do. I reckon that's something you have to search for from within yourself to know. I think, should you decide to continue. you'll find it worth it, though. Something led you to it in the first place, right?

80 and over is passing at my school. Anything under is failing. An 80 is, of course, a C. You must make a C to pass the course.

I've gotten where I just go for concealer, foundation, powder, a tiny bit of blush, and a tad of mascara for clinicals. I save the lipstick, eyeliner, and eye shadow for class days and "I want to look less like a haglet days." May I suggest....Mary Kay? That's the only makeup I (and several of my classmates) have discovered will look just as fresh after a clinical shift as when you first arrived.

I haven't read through any of the other replies yet...Just figured I'd interject my own thoughts first. I wear makeup every day. I fix my hair every day. I don't see the point in letting nursing school stress appear obvious...haha. And good grooming is a plus. Think about it: I truly feel a patient would much prefer looking at a nurse who is wearing a little makeup to brighten her features than a nurse's face demonstrating fatigue and all that....Makeup just gives a little lift. No, doesn't take a whole lot. A little dab'll will do ya; but it will do wonders for the patient (and you!) And don't forget....At this time, being in nursing school, you do NOT want to start neglecting yourself or your needs.

Well, I've done lots of baths already (several on male patients) and I've yet to have one get "excited". Let's face it, most folks who are in the hospital have had medical hands placed on them so much they get used to it....They'd be no more titillated by a genital washing than a baby. Doesn't phase me either. I've raised two sons and am raising my two youngest..I figure if you've seen one nekkid bum, you've seen 'em all. Bathing's not hard. Just remember to only expose the body part that is immediately being washed. Dry and recover as you move down. End with the bottom last. Concerning foleys though and male patients...If the man still has an intact foreskin remember to pull it back so you can cleanse it thoroughly and of course the area where the foley enters the urethra. One girl last semester was so turned off by the idea of actually having to touch her male patient in order to do this actually lifted his member by grabbing the tubing of his foley! I gasped, she dropped it. Anyhoo, she's no longer in our class; not sure if she's planning on returning. Like I said, just bathe and cover as you go. If the patient CAN do it, by all means! After all, we're to promote self-care, right? Sometimes the patient wants assistance with the body bath but wants to wash their own perineum. I simply hand them the washcloth. Also, don't forget that this is the perfect time to assess. Check symmetry, scars, lesions, color....anything you can see. No problem, really. You'll see.

Sounds like stress is getting to your classmates in a big way. I've seen classmates cry too after failing a test and I can feel nothing but compassion for them. I always try and think, "There but for the Grace of God go I." A lot of times the students feel they know the material but are sabotaged by test anxiety and don't know how to fix it. We can't know what other underlying factors in their lives are playing into their anxiety. It could be they study more than you or I do but cannot manage high-anxiety nursing tests because they're thinking their car may be repossessed or some other kind of worry. Thus, they mess up again and exhibit it in ways like you've seen, frustrated beyong coping. Fact is, failure could happen to any of us....Nothing is a given. Praying for your classmates.

I agree, it really did get a bit blown out of proportion. I understood what the original poster was complaining about and I understand her frustration over being criticized or receiving ugly comments for her As. It's horrid to think she's has such experiences from obviously immature folks. Thing is, folks who get Cs don't want to be criticized either. I've never once heard that C nurses make better nurses (I've heard C=RN!) but I've also never heard that A nurses make better nurses either. You can have all the book smarts in the world, make the bestest grades in nursing school. However, if you don't get out there and be the best possible nurse in hands-on that you can be, what good is that A, B, OR C letter grade? It's what you do with what you've learned that's important.

EXACTLY!!! Congrats on your achievement! :balloons:

Oh my Heavens! You broke out the big guns! A Bart t-shirt! Noooo! Nottt Bart! Thing is, Hellllllo Nurse, I don't think that anyone's saying necessarily that good grades don't make a difference but rather....being a C student does not make a person a failure......or an underachiever. If the grade I have at the end of my studies is a C and I'm that nurse by the bedside who manages to relax that patient for surgery or helps a patient breathe easier, will I be an underachiever then? Any nursing student out there who is making As. Shoot, of course you should be proud of them! You worked hard for them! It's a wonderful accomplishment! However, don't look down on the student who came out with a C or assume he/she didn't try as hard. Fact is, they should be proud too. There's no shame in a passing grade, no matter what it is.

Guys, guys, can't we all come together and remember we're all in this together? We're all going for the same goal: To be nurses and danged good ones. Everyone's got their own opinions about this and it's been danced over a humpteen million times, right? Not just in this post. Can't everyone agree to just disagree? Everyone's entitled to their own views...so be it. No skin off of anyone's back, right? C'mon, c'mon, let's kiss/hug/cuddle and make up.....c'mon, whadya say? :kiss :kiss

Kewlness! Another Virginian! Excellent Post!

Ahhhhhhh, I see. Yeah,they came to a different conclusion but does a better nursing student mean the same thing as a better nurse? Just pondering out loud here. I DO think it was wrong for those instructors to say that C students make better nurses. It also would have been wrong for them to say that A students make better nurses. Looove your emoticon, btw.