"It shouldn't be that hard to be a nurse"

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Competition tough for nursing school

Earning a spot in nursing school can be tough, even in the midst of a nursing shortage.

Just ask Georgia State University student Rachel Edmundson, who has failed three times to win entry to GSU's program despite carrying a 3.29 GPA.

"I don't think it should be that hard" to become a nurse, the 21-year-old said over a chilled coffee drink near the GSU campus.

Interesting. I am sure that some of our pre-nursing and current nursing students may agree but after 16 years in this business, I am convinced that it should be that hard. Nursing is a tough field which requires smart, fast-thinking people. If there is a bright side to the nursing shortage, it's that nursing schools are forced to accept the highest quality students. And raising our standards isn't a bad thing IMO especially since people's lives rely on our skills.

Here's a little gem from her daddy:

We're not talking about medical school, we're talking about nursing school," her father, Chuck Edmundson, said

Yeah, it's only nurses and everyone knows you don't need to be that smart because after all our work isn't that critical, not like a doctor.

Holy cow. I'm a student myself. Had a high gpa as well. I am struggling through nursing school. And ummmm - heck YES IT SHOULD BE THAT HARD!!!! I am going to be taking care of people! DUH. Granted, I can't wait to be done with these hard classes, but geez! I want to know if what I'm doing could potentially hurt a patient and if it could, what I need to do to avoid that??? My gosh, I sure do wish people would understand that!!

Literally - by the time they get it, it's too late to apologize for their ignorance. They're either already terribly ill or to the point of no return, if you know what I mean. Sorry if that seems harsh, but that's what I think.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I agree. I don't think a 3.29 is a bad GPA. Many (most?) nursing programs require a B average anyway, don't they? A higher GPA doesn't guarantee a better graduate -- or nurse ....

Just my .02 worth. (Hey, didn't there used to be a cent sign on the keyboard? No, that's right ... you had to type a c and than backspace and type a slash. I am old enough to remember that ... :uhoh21: )

Nope, it's not a bad GPA. But it's a minimum, and minimums don't necessarily get you in any more.

And I too remember the "cents" on a typewriter. It was a big deal when the word processor (remember those? they were somewhere between a computer and a typewriter - they were an electric typewriter with memory and a little screen that flipped up on them) I got in college had a cents sign on one of the keys!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It's really would be interesting to see what turn will take nursing as a profession when all these bright young women will graduate and will join us in the field. They are for sure very smart, assertive, capable and outspoken. How will it go with the fact that nursing is still submissive profession, that you have to be able to please everyone from trash visitors to dumb ass management? I got myself in trouble last week by cutting off very sarcastic doctor, who immediately complained about me being rude. I can't even imagine anyone outside the hospital talking to me the way he was; and he came out right, and I was wrong in the eyes of the management, because we have to maintain "positive" relationship with doctors. It is naturally assumed in should be maintained at my expense, since he is a doctor, and I am nothing.

>

In my opinion, it will be the ABSN programs that will really help this to change. Most of us are older (meaning we're not twenty-one), we've had careers, and we simply won't take being yelled at. Submissive I am NOT, and there WILL be a limit to what I will take from anyone.

I know there will be those out there who will shake their heads and say, yeah, kiddo (!!!!), you wait - but trust me, if you knew me, you'd know better. There's a limit. People can think of me what they want, but I expect professionalism from others and demand it of myself. I won't put up with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

[ Most of us are older (meaning we're not twenty-one), we've had careers, and we simply won't take being yelled at. Submissive I am NOT, and there WILL be a limit to what I will take from anyone.

I know there will be those out there who will shake their heads and say, yeah, kiddo (!!!!), you wait - but trust me, if you knew me, you'd know better. There's a limit. People can think of me what they want, but I expect professionalism from others and demand it of myself. I won't put up with it.

Very well said.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can't believe so many people think that high GPA=great nurse. If that were the case then why does a school that accepts 120 students with GPA's no lower than 3.9 only graduate 80??? Why is it that 40 of those "prime candidates" can't even cut it through school? Aside from the sciences, the majority of the pre-reqs required have nothing to do with nursing so why does that determine how well one will do in nursing school?! Seriously how hard is it to make an A in art?! I just got rejected from a nursing program with a 3.4 GPA. But I can assure you I did not get a 3.4 because I'm lazy or stupid. I have never gotten lower than a B in my college career but I have also worked full time the entire time as well as taking a full time load. I work a demanding job in marketing where I have yet to work less than 50 hours a week. Most weeks I was working between 60-70 hours and taking no fewer than 12 credits. So yes there are times I was forced to take a B in history to get those A's in A & P and microbiology. My last semester I worked my full time job, a part time job, took 17 credit hours including two science courses and ended up with 4 A's and 1 B and on Dean's list. I most certainly would have a 4.0 GPA if all I did was go to school. But I don't. I work my bum off so I can put myself through college. But most schools don't see anything but a number beside your name. They don't realize until its too late that the 4.0 they picked took 2 classes at a time and didn't have any other responsibilities now can't handle the demands of a full time schedule and the work of the real world. *rant over* But its okay. I knew full and well going into college that statistically the odds are against me. I have drug addicts for parents, grew up dirt poor and statistically I should repeat the cycle and never get out of the socioeconomical status I was born into. It's okay. In the meantime I will get my degree in psychology (always wanted to double major). Who knows, maybe I will just scrap my nursing plans all together since I'm obviously not "smart enough" with my 3.4 GPA!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In my opinion, it will be the ABSN programs that will really help this to change. Most of us are older (meaning we're not twenty-one), we've had careers, and we simply won't take being yelled at.

I do wonder, though, how many graduates of ABSN programs will work at the bedside for any length of time. I'd imagine that most would want to avoid it completely or get the requisite 1-2 yr experience and get out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I spent many years working in critical care - now I'm 'phasing out' in LTC, and will be through with nursing soon.

The other night I was sitting with one of the CNA's who is taking her prereq's for nursing, and she had her chemistry book - I tried to explain to her how important a good foundation in chemistry, algebra, microbiobiology was for nursing, but she didn't seem to even understand the basic elements of it. I wonder if she'll ever make it through any nursing classes.:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Maybe not getting in should tell her to reconsider her choice of schools and/or her choice of professions. It could all be a blessing in disguise.:idea:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I can't believe so many people think that high GPA=great nurse. If that were the case then why does a school that accepts 120 students with GPA's no lower than 3.9 only graduate 80??? Why is it that 40 of those "prime candidates" can't even cut it through school? Aside from the sciences, the majority of the pre-reqs required have nothing to do with nursing so why does that determine how well one will do in nursing school?! Seriously how hard is it to make an A in art?! I just got rejected from a nursing program with a 3.4 GPA. But I can assure you I did not get a 3.4 because I'm lazy or stupid. I have never gotten lower than a B in my college career but I have also worked full time the entire time as well as taking a full time load. I work a demanding job in marketing where I have yet to work less than 50 hours a week. Most weeks I was working between 60-70 hours and taking no fewer than 12 credits. So yes there are times I was forced to take a B in history to get those A's in A & P and microbiology. My last semester I worked my full time job, a part time job, took 17 credit hours including two science courses and ended up with 4 A's and 1 B and on Dean's list. I most certainly would have a 4.0 GPA if all I did was go to school. But I don't. I work my bum off so I can put myself through college. But most schools don't see anything but a number beside your name. They don't realize until its too late that the 4.0 they picked took 2 classes at a time and didn't have any other responsibilities now can't handle the demands of a full time schedule and the work of the real world. *rant over* But its okay. I knew full and well going into college that statistically the odds are against me. I have drug addicts for parents, grew up dirt poor and statistically I should repeat the cycle and never get out of the socioeconomical status I was born into. It's okay. In the meantime I will get my degree in psychology (always wanted to double major). Who knows, maybe I will just scrap my nursing plans all together since I'm obviously not "smart enough" with my 3.4 GPA!

You'll make more money as a Psychologist. You'll be a doctor and be a boss, not a nurse, who will be viewed generally as her daddy views nurses. Thank your lucky stars for "failing".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Competition tough for nursing school

Nope, not liking Dad one bit...!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care.
P.S.-I just got my final grades tonight and am graduating from nursing school summa cum laude!!!!!!!!!

Excellent; congratulations!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

thanks for your post, Dixielee. i appreciated it. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment