Question about pharmacology grades in regard to CRNA admissions...

[cooper86]

I am in a BSN program, and I have taken 1 out of 3 exams in Pharmacology. Unfortunately, I simply didn't study enough for my first exam and I got an 84. In my school, a 94 is an A so even if I got a perfect score on the remaining 2 exams and the final and the other coursework, the best grade I could get for the course is an A-. After speaking with former students in the course, it is pretty much impossible to get perfect scores on the exams, so I'm thinking even with tons of hard work and some luck I could get a B+ but most likely it'll be a B. I've heard that CRNA programs are so competitive that getting anything lower than an A- in pharm will drastically hurt chances of admission. The school I'm going to currently only has 6 slots a year in their program. Should I withdraw from the course now before it's too late and retake it the next time it's offered so that I can be sure the same thing doesn't happen again? In other words, what do you guys think about how much the pharm grades influence CRNA admission? And do you think I should retake the class at a later date if it means I can get an A in the end??? Help!!! I don't want to waste my time and money now finishing out the semester if a B is going to kill any chance I have of getting in.

[Jdog19s]

No way, stay in the class and do the best you can. I got a C+ in my undergraduate pharmacology course. It was 1 of 2 C's that I received in my undergrad degree, it was also a tough course. Don't be so afraid of a B or a B+, if you really want to show the graduate schools what you can do, after you graduate and while you are getting your years of ICU experience, take an advanced pharmacology course in a masters level nursing program and work really hard to get an A. It will be a lot easier when you can focus on one class, and when you have some hands on experience to apply to the classroom setting. Not to mention, some schools will take that credit and transfer it in towards your CRNA credits when you get accepted. That is what I did and was accepted in my top choice school. Keep on working hard, and get A's in everything else that you can, I'm sure it will all work out-

[AbeFrohman, BSN, RN]

Ditto what jdog said. Well except I got a B in pharm and made a C else where.

[ucan2ccrn]

I will have to agree with you all. I'm taking a graduate pharm class online and its all self study. Three quizzes and a final and a huge powerpoint on a drug. I like it so far, much better now since this is the only class I have to take and using it for a CRNA gre buffer. Hoping for an A, but did poorly on the first exam, but got a 96 on the second one. Perservence till the end.