So I have heard time and time again from nursing professors and clinical adjuncts that "4.0 students often have a hard time transitioning to the floor, B or C students make better nurses". While I totally get that there are some people out there that are so cerebral that they don't do well on the floor, I think this blanket statement is a bunch of bunk.
I bring this up because I am a 4.0 student. I am also involved in clubs and student groups, volunteer outside of school, and often get complimented in clinicals. However, even with that I still hear the comment over and over that A students don't make as good of nurses as B and C nurses.
What do you nurses who are actually out there on the floor think?
Did you not have to provide a transcript when you applied for your first job? They would know your GPA and school from that.
Transcript?? Seriously?
I walked into HR, filled out an application, was invited then and there to interview with the head nurse of the just about to be opened Pediatric unit, we talked for about 45 minutes, and I walked out with a job.
Oh, and I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt because I just stopped at that hospital in between running errands and really had no thoughts of interviewing that day.
Like I said, it was almost 40 years ago. There weren't 200 nurses competing for 20 positions like there is now. Back then, you had an interview and you were either offered a position or you weren't.
Back then there were three ways to become an RN: Hospital based programs (which were rapidly being phased out), two year ADN programs at the local Junior College (Community College now) and four year BSN programs at a University. Employers pretty much knew what they were getting back then.
I graduated from a well known University with a respected BSN program, which the prospective employer saw when she looked at my application.
Now, with for profit diploma mill schools on every other block, it's more of a crap shoot. Especially since so many have been fooled into believing that there's a Nursing shortage. Employers have to have something to weed out the overflow of applicants, so they're using GPAs to do it.
Why in the world does it bother anyone? I'm one of those 4.GPA people. Nursing school was fun for me. I didn't break a sweat, and had the time of my life.
I got out of school and I started working for a 4 star restaurant I had worked at prior to nursing school. A year later, I realized I was having way too much fun, and went for the boards.
Didn't study because I relied on my school's good name and teachings. Really didn't even think about buying all those books and study guides everyone does...hey; we went to school! Why is everyone buying all this stuff to take the boards??
You put if you graduated with honors on your resume (no reason to put GPA), but I've never been asked my GPA at an interview. They always ask if I passed the boards the first time.
Anyway; passed the first time, and have been working ever since. It takes all kinds to make the world go round, and just because there are nerds in the world shouldn't be a big deal.
It was never asked during my interview, because it's on my resume, but in almost every interview I've ever had they mention where I went to school. It's totally regional. It's likely that no one outside of Washington and Oregon even realizes my school has a nursing program. Maybe this area is more pretentious than your area.
"4.0 students often have a hard time transitioning to the floor, B or C students make better nurses"
Well, I was technically a 3.97 nursing student but I didn't find the transition to practice to be particularly challenging.
And I was a direct-entry MSN grad no less.
I suppose that some super successful students may struggle when they realize that so much of what they learned in classes is either (a) useless or (b) idealistic and they perhaps struggle to adapt to the real-life realities of the nursing trade because they can't let go of the academic ideal.
I've come across a number of nurses who aren't the sharpest kids on the bus and not ones that I'd want caring for me in a critical situation and I think they were more likely to be C students than A students.
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Lol, I was very tempted to do just this the last time a professor brought it up in class. Some of the students didn't do well on an exam and I think she was trying to make them feel better. I decided against asking as I thought it would make the B and C students think that I thought I was better than them or something.
Please don't
It comes across as very know it all and not a good way to build good professional relationships with your colleagues
I bet nursing school would go a lot more smoothly if students stopped comparing their grades and skills with one another. Do what you're supposed to do. Be safe. Ask questions if you don't know something. Research what you don't know. The last thing that will help you is comparing yourself to other non-nurses.
This needs to be on a poster in every single nursing classroom! Purple_roses, you nailed this one!!!
I walked into HR, filled out an application, was invited then and there to interview with the head nurse of the just about to be opened Pediatric unit, we talked for about 45 minutes, and I walked out with a job.
Oh, and I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt because I just stopped at that hospital in between running errands and really had no thoughts of interviewing that day.
Like I said, it was almost 40 years ago. There weren't 200 nurses competing for 20 positions like there is now. Back then, you had an interview and you were either offered a position or you weren't.
Back then there were three ways to become an RN: Hospital based programs (which were rapidly being phased out), two year ADN programs at the local Junior College (Community College now) and four year BSN programs at a University. Employers pretty much knew what they were getting back then.
I graduated from a well known University with a respected BSN program, which the prospective employer saw when she looked at my application.
Now, with for profit diploma mill schools on every other block, it's more of a crap shoot. Especially since so many have been fooled into believing that there's a Nursing shortage. Employers have to have something to weed out the overflow of applicants, so they're using GPAs to do it.
No kidding!!!!!!!!!!
If you were willing to work weekends, nights and holidays, they took you!!! It all depended, back in 1983, in my area, where you wanted to work. There was a medical school university hospital, the local Catholic hospitals (at least 3 within a 30 mile radius) as well as other smaller hospitals.
Most are now all owned by two HUGE hospital corporations, and there are very few new grad positions.
Glad I am on the down side of my career and not killing myself physically!
Honestly, in my experience, it may be more of a learning style than anything else. I used to be an A student, since I've been in nursing, I have been a B/C student. On the other hand, my clinical grades have increased as I have progressed, because I learn by hands on. I think perhaps it is more an application of knowledge that determines grades.
For someone who excels in book larnin', they may excel more than in clinicals; doesn't mean they are a bad floor nurse, just means that their best form of applying their knowledge comes out in a different way. You cannot generalise, our class as A students exceptional in class and clinical, and for me, I was bad in both until I got used to it!
Jensmom7, BSN, RN
1,907 Posts
Transcript?? Seriously?
I walked into HR, filled out an application, was invited then and there to interview with the head nurse of the just about to be opened Pediatric unit, we talked for about 45 minutes, and I walked out with a job.
Oh, and I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt because I just stopped at that hospital in between running errands and really had no thoughts of interviewing that day.
Like I said, it was almost 40 years ago. There weren't 200 nurses competing for 20 positions like there is now. Back then, you had an interview and you were either offered a position or you weren't.
Back then there were three ways to become an RN: Hospital based programs (which were rapidly being phased out), two year ADN programs at the local Junior College (Community College now) and four year BSN programs at a University. Employers pretty much knew what they were getting back then.
I graduated from a well known University with a respected BSN program, which the prospective employer saw when she looked at my application.
Now, with for profit diploma mill schools on every other block, it's more of a crap shoot. Especially since so many have been fooled into believing that there's a Nursing shortage. Employers have to have something to weed out the overflow of applicants, so they're using GPAs to do it.