"Students with good grades = not good clinical nurses"

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I am SICK of this stereotype. Never in any of my college career, not even my previous degree program, have I ever felt so ostrasized and punished for having good grades. Where on earth did people get the notion that just because you are book smart, means you can't be good with people skills? I have a 4.0 and my clinical instructors describe me as energetic, motivated, empathetic, patient, caring, gentle, and a leader. Yet teachers treat students who do well in school like me are absolute monsters to patients.

And this is coming from a school with the lowest NCLEX pass rates in the state! You'd think they'd want to encourage good study habits!

It's like I have to not do well in order to be considered for anything :mad: I came from a family background of violence, emotional abuse, and substance abuse. I was told repeatedly as a child I would never amount to anything. I worked my butt off to get where I am and to do well. And this makes me a much better nurse for it as I have empathy for patients and am nonjudgemental and caring because I've been there. In addition, I also KNOW my stuff. What is wrong with understanding pathophysiology and the processes of the body? :mad:

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What are people doing to make you feel this way? I have heard this stereotype on this site, but not (yet) irl. However, I am starting my program in a few weeks. So we'll see.

I cannot imagine any instructors in my program giving us this impression - as your grades have to be excellent to even get in.

And as for me... I am an excellent student. I have to learn how to do nursing school, but as an older student who has gotten the rythm of learning how to be a student, I feel up for the challenge. If I do as well in NS as I did in my other coursework throughout my life, then I will be a good student. That said, I am also a rehab aide and love working with my pts. And let me tell you, what I do ain't glamorous :) Be it toileting to ambulating to trying to get a cranky man who is paranoid to focus on his exercises (while he is stopping every 2 seconds to ask if someone is looking for him ;) - I jump right into working with my pts and am not afraid nor do I feel above any part of pt care.

So I sure hope no one puts that stereotype on me - I'll have to smack it down :)

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Specializes in CNA.
And this is coming from a school with the lowest NCLEX pass rates in the state!

I think you may have identified a reason for that.

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That is disheartening. I would hope that schools would be happy have students excel inside and outside of the classroom. I have read other posts which have stated some of the same issues. It seems you have to sacrifice one for the other. I read a quote "other people's opinion of you is none of your business." It sounds as though you are doing the right things for the right reasons. Keep your head up and stay focused. :yeah: If I can do well in theory and clinicals, treat my patients with compassion and provide excellent care, then I can go home at the end of the day knowing I did the best that I could--that is all anyone could ask or expect.

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I have not come across that line of thinking in my program. Sounds silly.

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I completely understand! My instructors have been great but I heard that "book smart = terrible nurse" from my mother-in-law!! I was pleased about my good grades and she told me "employers don't want to smart students because they can't think outside the box." :uhoh3:

So after that I decided that there will ALWAYS be someone that can't handle it when good things happen for other people. I refuse to let someone else's bad vibes keep me from my goals. Nursing school is temporary. Don't let those miserable people get to you. CONGRATS on your good grades!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Sour grapes.

Some can apply it, some can't.

Students are highly individual. The ones that excel in their books here, tend also to be the ones doing extra lab time to perfect their skills.

From your description, I would be proud to have you in my class.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Its a common stereotype. Ive seen it go both ways.

People that do well in clinical get lower grades

People that do well in lecture do worse in clinical

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I'm glad you are doing so well! That's great! If you've got a 4.0 in nursing school you ARE working your butt off! I'm sorry people, especially instructors!

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Its a common stereotype. Ive seen it go both ways.

People that do well in clinical get lower grades

People that do well in lecture do worse in clinical

And then there are people that get good grades and do very well in clinicals. Me, I'm somewhere in the middle. My grades aren't always the best, but at the same time, I am not doing so terribly in clinicals.

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Well I have all As and I suck with patients. I almost passed out changing an amputees dressings. The good news is that the older ladies love me. :smokin:

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I was one of those who didn't have great grades but, for the most part did well in clinical. I had several classmates though, who excelled in both.

I think it's one of those situations where someone sees it happen once and the legend takes on a life of it's own.

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