"As long as we all get a 'C'..." HMMM?!?!?

Published

okay, so i've heard this on a few occasions from people in my Chemistry class this summer. please help me understand this...

i've read enough on this board about pre-nursing students who've gotten straight As in their pre-requisites -- Chemistry included. have you found that people in your classes are simply striving for a "C"? if so, who did you study with?

maybe i'm shocked with that "C" attitude because i've had Chemistry before -- in both high school and as an undergrad -- and, i'm only taking this class because it wasn't the right type of Chemistry to apply to some nursing schools..... i don't think so, though. the last time that i took it was in 1992, and the concepts that we're learning seem more like new material than review. i just don't get it...

do other students in your classes think like this? i.e., that they just want to get at least a "C"? it doesn't even satisfy the 2.5 science pre-req GPA that several ADN programs in the area require...

i've learned to just nod and smile when i hear it. but, it's tripping me out. oh! and one student (who's currently an LVN) said half-heartedly, "a 'C' nurse is just as good as an 'A' nurse". i may have just swallowed a "mortified" pill, but uh-h-h-h, i would not want to be her patient with that wonderful philosophy.

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I am trying to get into a 2 year program, and I have been told anything less than A's at least on the science courses will not get me in. They look at your grade point average on certain courses combined, then you get points for having completed other support courses, and then extra points for anything over 75% on the Hesi A2 entrance exam. All of my science teachers, and advisors have drilled it into me over and over again that only the 4.0 will get in. They say something like 300 people will apply in a given semester, and only 40 make it (and those 40 have 4.0's). It has been very very stressful. I have a friend who is working on her teaching degree, and she doesn't need to be accepted into any program, but simply complete the classes on her list. For her a C is no different than an A as she is able to get her degree regardless, and I have had a lot of envy over that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

I am horrible at chemistry. Terrible. And my professor for Chem II (or whatever it was called) was no good at all. I lost sleep over that class-seriously.

So yes, I was hoping, praying, begging for a C+ (min where i went). To me, if I didn't get that C+, it was gonna be a D. And this is coming from somone who had mostly As and a few Bs in school (and was upset over a few of those Bs). But chem scared the ever loving crap outa me!

Hope no one assumes I was lazy, stupid or unmotivated by expressing my desire to get a C. (I ended up with a B- and a mind blowingly THRILLED response! And let me tell you, I busted my hump for that grade!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i have nothing but praise for people who strive to do their best, and get a passing a grade -- no one can ask for more than that. i was taken aback by the comments because the students were talking like this during the first week of classes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
i have nothing but praise for people who strive to do their best, and get a passing a grade -- no one can ask for more than that. i was taken aback by the comments because the students were talking like this during the first week of classes.

:lol2:

I was acting like that before I even registered for the course!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You also have to remember that an exam doesn't accurately reflect on how well you know the material...it's a reflection on your ability to answer the specific list of questions provided to you by the instructor.

Have you ever got a low grade on an exam that you studied your heart out for? Did that mean you didn't know the material? Of course not!

For example, on a recent AP exam we had two questions about the Sodium-Potassium pump. I have studied this so much I could probably get up in front of the class and give a power-point presentation on it.

However, the two questions he had on the exam...I missed. He referred to some details based on the DIAGRAM we had in the book (label this, label that)...the book didn't make sense to me, so I went online and found animations of the process and did my own research, b/c I have been told how important this system is in the body, and I wanted to make sure I understood it.

Now, with that in mind....

Who do you think understands the process better? Someone who can label a diagram or someone that can explain the entire process?

Just something to think about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I knew several students (in my chemistry class!) who were going for Cs because a C was the required grade so they didn't have to re-take it. However, the nursing program did up the GPA requirement so a C would be a problem there.

My opinion of it depends - I knew one girl who worked hard, and wasn't stupid, but she really tested badly and would always kind of blow it on the tests. I felt sorry for her and helped her study so she would get the C . . . the more anxious she was about the tests, the worse she did.

OTOH, there was another girl in the same class who would miss class consistently for stupid reason (Cramps???? Ever heard of midol?), show up late, show up unprepared (no book, no calculator). She was also going for a C but I don't think she got it!

But yeah, for myself, I want the A, and so far I've been successful. If I do badly, I work harder for the next test.

Kelly

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That is absolutely ridiculous!!!! They only want a C!!!!!! I feel for ya, I was so frusterated to hear people in my Life Science class (who are effortlessly getting an A) talk about how they only want a C. I am busting my butt and bairly holding on to an A-

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Interesting comments. I have always been an A person, and it definitely helped getting accepted in the nursing program. But honestly, I'm going to try and not focus on the grade so much now. Nursing school is hard enough without tripping because I got a B instead of an A.

As long as I pass and graduate with the knowledge I need to be a good RN, I'll be happy. I guess if I know the material well enough to be a good RN, that means knowing it enough to get good grades, too, but I don't want to obsess over it. That's the plan, anyway. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Interesting comments. I have always been an A person, and it definitely helped getting accepted in the nursing program. But honestly, I'm going to try and not focus on the grade so much now. Nursing school is hard enough without tripping because I got a B instead of an A.

As long as I pass and graduate with the knowledge I need to be a good RN, I'll be happy. I guess if I know the material well enough to be a good RN, that means knowing it enough to get good grades, too, but I don't want to obsess over it. That's the plan, anyway. ;)

I see what you mean. Once I get past my pre-reqs, I can stop stressing about all A's as well... it's just that one area of ultra-competativness thats the problem

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i just FINISHED NURSING SCHOOL AND I GOT IN WITH A 3.5 GPA

HOWEVER , IN THE NURSING PROGRAM ITSELF MY GRADES DROOPED TO C+ AND AN OCCASIONAL B AND REGARDLESS I WAS GRATEFUL EVEN FOR THE C

I WAS JUST THANKFUL I PASSED SINCE WE STARTED OFF WITH 180 STUDENTS IN THE RN PROGRAM AND GRADUATED WITH UNDER 100 STUDENTS

ITS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT GETTING A C OR B SINCE I HAVE HEARD EXPERIENCED NURSES TELL ME THERE ARE SOME AWFUL A STUDENTS TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One More Thing, I Realised In Nursing School That Some Students Who Got All A Cheated

Some Were Friendly With The Professors And Even Went To The Teachers Houses And Got Help Ehhhhh....

And During Clincal They Were The Most Horrible With The Pts Calling Them Names Behind Their Backs

So I Have Learned That All That Glitters A.... Is Not Always Gold

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I HAD A FEW CLASS MATES THAT GOT IN THE NURSING PROGRAM WITH STRAIGHT 4.0 GPA AND THEY FAILED NURSING

AND ALL THE A STUDENTS ARE NOW B STUDENTS

ALL THE B STUDENTS ARE NOW C STUDENTS

THAT WAS A FACT IN MY SCHOOL

PROFESSORS WARNED US THAT WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT As and they were right no matter how hard you worked it WAS HARD TO GET CAUSE OF THE NURSING QUESTIONS REQUIRE CRITICAL THINKING NOT MEMORIZING

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion