Reading alot of posts discussing "A" nursing students vs "C" nursing students

truern · May 24, 2009

that's right i don't know for sure if the teacher said d5 or d50. and if you're thinking that i should know which one would bring up a blood sugar, i don't. well, i'm a new nursing student and we havent got to that part of med surg yet. :)

In her defense (which she probably doesn't need) your profile states you have "20 years of experience in LTC, MED-SURG,ER,ICU" which is misleading. Anybody with 20 years of experience would know it was D50...heck, anybody far enough in nursing school would know. Just a thought :)

tbell2 · May 24, 2009

I would not let it come to that point, where I actually would have to accept a C as a final grade. I monitor and keep track of my progress very closely as I go along in a typical class. For example, in my A&P II class a couple of semesters ago, in my first exam, I only got an 84. A solid "B", and yes, I suppose many people would be satisfied and happy with that, but I wasn't. In fact I was pretty upset and disappointed with myself. It was sort of a "wake up call" for me that hey I'd better get my butt in gear and study more and harder. I actually tried to analyze how and why I'd only gotten an 84 even though I considered that I'd studied sufficiently for it. I concluded that I had probably let my guard down somewhat and maybe had become a wee bit complacent, since the semester before, with the same professor, I missed getting an A in A&P I by less than one percentage point and ended up with a final grade of 89% - a high B but not quite good enough for an A. For me, a score of 84 on anything is just a bit too close to "C country" for comfort. And lets face it, if you end up sliding by with only a C-, that means you are only mastering 70% of the material covered. I try to push myself to do better than that.
To directly answer your question, no I would not entirely withdraw from school (if that's what you're meaning), I'm not the "quitter" type, but if it were allowed, I would probably voluntarily try to take the class over again to get a grade better than a C just to prove to myself and to the rest of the world that I had properly mastered at least 80% of the course material. I guess I've never thought much about "what would I do if I actually got a C?" because if you start thinking a lot in that manner, it can end up being a self-fulfilling prophecy - you're unknowingly lowering your own personal standards (and confidence in yourself) by accepting in advance that you might fail - sort of defeatist thinking in my book. It's best not to think of it as acceptable or an option in the first place, and be honestly tough and hard on yourself enough to ensure that it doesn't actually happen.

This is exactly what I was asking! So if you got a C on any exam you would withdraw from the class that day and re-enter that class at the next possible opening. I don't know how things work at your school, but at mine, I have heard it can take up to 2 full semesters to re-enter any class. Personally, I would prefer to accept the passing grade, find out which areas on the test I did poorly on, and study up on those so I don't kill anyone. I wouldn't want to set myself back a year.

Also, which school are you at where 80% is a B and 70% is not failing?!?!?!

2BSure · May 24, 2009

On a semi-related note, I would be estatic if Allnurses could create a section for the topics that have been beaten into the ground, and all of these "A vs. C Students" threads would go into it. Along with "ADN vs. BSN", "Foreign-born vs. US nurses" and "Entering nursing as a divine calling vs entering nursing for a job/money" just to name a few, since it's the same arguments over and over and over and over in them. Maybe have a spot to give them a little break from posts since there's a new one every two weeks (if not more often). I know, my posting in them doesn't help control them any :)
But that's my opinion, so I'll get on the flame-retardant vest now.

They are only eaten to death if you have been posting here for a while. Just ignore us and let us get on with our babbling:D Maybe I will get over these things after another couple of weeks --but maybe it will continue to be like watching a train wreck...one just can't look away.

Could you imagine having these discussions face to face? I am sure their would be fur flying!

kjwarren · May 24, 2009

What bothers me is that a "C" used to mean average, not "bottom of the barrel." I don't imagine school work has gotten any easier, so why should I "C" now look like a "D" or an "F"?

Personally, I am never happy with a "C" though I have had my share of them. I have really bad anxiety though and tests often don't go as planned because I get too stressed out. Also, I had plenty of classes when I went to school for my first degree where the teachers barely did their jobs. Either there was favoritism (ie: no matter how hard I worked I knew I was going to get a "B" because I wasn't one of the chosen ones) or the teachers didn't feel like bothering with proper grading procedures. I took one class where we had to do project with the program Access (database program in Microsoft Office) and for one of the assignments I only did half of it (I didn't understand it and no one would help me, and I had a 100% in the class so I didn't care) and the other I didn't do any of it. The first project (half-done one) I got a 0%... fine with me, I did part of it, but it wasn't done, so whatever. The second one I got 100%. I didn't even do the second one! Does that make sense? No! I still finished the class with more than 100% (extra credit is my friend) so it all turned out ok, but it really showed me that grades are NOT always important.

What's important to me is that I come out of it learning something. Because honestly, I got A's in a lot of classes that I remember nothing from. I would hope this kind of thing wouldn't happen in NS, but I'm not there yet so I can't say.

In my experience, education in the United States focuses on passing the tests, not on learning. Think about it, if you had REALLY learned the information, would you need to cram for 6 hours before a test (and I know a lot of you didn't, and bravo to you!) but for a lot of people that is not the case. We are taught in a way that makes us learn something really well for about a week, and then it's gone. But who cares? We got A's, right? As long as we can flash that letter around it's all good.

While I agree that a nurse with all A's looks better than a nurse with C's, don't assume that the nurse with all A's necessarily worked any harder or is any smarter than the one with C's. It's just not always true. I got an A+ in my Introduction to Psychology class but I couldn't tell you a darn thing about it. I'm going to have to really cram when it comes time for placement testing.

dblpn · May 24, 2009

In her defense (which she probably doesn't need) your profile states you have "20 years of experience in LTC, MED-SURG,ER,ICU" which is misleading. Anybody with 20 years of experience would know it was D50...heck, anybody far enough in nursing school would know. Just a thought :)

my profile is not misleading maybe you should go back and reread it. i've been and still is a CNA,CMT,PCT and now a new nursing student! i've been in the field for about 20yrs. so no misleading there. as i've stated in a previous post that we havent gotten that deep into med surg yet. it's going by fast so we're getting there.

Good nite.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 24, 2009

that's right i don't know for sure if the teacher said d5 or d50. and if you're thinking that i should know which one would bring up a blood sugar, i don't. well, i'm a new nursing student and we havent got to that part of med surg yet. :)

For being a new nursing students, you seem to know an awful lot about what type of nurses C nurses are, yet you claim ignorance on this, I have no idea what D5 or D50 is, I have done all pre reqs, all Co Reqs and I start the RN Program in August. I have never worked in a hospital, I have only ever been a Patient many of times, (surgeries and in patient stuff so I have been taken care of by numerous nurses) and have a mom that is a Cert. medical assistant. That is the extent of my knowledge. Your information states that you have extensive exp. in a hospital setting, so yes I would expect you to know a thing or two.

You also seem to go off gossip about what so and so did. Is that strictly confined to A students?? (that was a rhetorical ??) In your story why did it even matter if it was a BSN student that made the mistake?? We are discussing A students and C students and you bring up a story about a nurse that should have known better and you don't say anything about her grade, just that she is a BSN Student. I dunno seems odd.

I am glad you are an A and B student, I don't discount that you work hard, good thing you don't go to my school though because on our grade scale, that might just instead make you a B and C (going off your schools grade scale you posted) student and given your opinion on C students, that wouldn't look to good :stone

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 24, 2009

What bothers me is that a "C" used to mean average, not "bottom of the barrel." I don't imagine school work has gotten any easier, so why should I "C" now look like a "D" or an "F"?
Personally, I am never happy with a "C" though I have had my share of them. I have really bad anxiety though and tests often don't go as planned because I get too stressed out. Also, I had plenty of classes when I went to school for my first degree where the teachers barely did their jobs. Either there was favoritism (ie: no matter how hard I worked I knew I was going to get a "B" because I wasn't one of the chosen ones) or the teachers didn't feel like bothering with proper grading procedures. I took one class where we had to do project with the program Access (database program in Microsoft Office) and for one of the assignments I only did half of it (I didn't understand it and no one would help me, and I had a 100% in the class so I didn't care) and the other I didn't do any of it. The first project (half-done one) I got a 0%... fine with me, I did part of it, but it wasn't done, so whatever. The second one I got 100%. I didn't even do the second one! Does that make sense? No! I still finished the class with more than 100% (extra credit is my friend) so it all turned out ok, but it really showed me that grades are NOT always important.
What's important to me is that I come out of it learning something. Because honestly, I got A's in a lot of classes that I remember nothing from. I would hope this kind of thing wouldn't happen in NS, but I'm not there yet so I can't say.
In my experience, education in the United States focuses on passing the tests, not on learning. Think about it, if you had REALLY learned the information, would you need to cram for 6 hours before a test (and I know a lot of you didn't, and bravo to you!) but for a lot of people that is not the case. We are taught in a way that makes us learn something really well for about a week, and then it's gone. But who cares? We got A's, right? As long as we can flash that letter around it's all good.
While I agree that a nurse with all A's looks better than a nurse with C's, don't assume that the nurse with all A's necessarily worked any harder or is any smarter than the one with C's. It's just not always true. I got an A+ in my Introduction to Psychology class but I couldn't tell you a darn thing about it. I'm going to have to really cram when it comes time for placement testing.

You know, I read on here all the time that NS is basically a rough foundation, that the REAL learning comes once you start working as an actual nurse. Although many students on this board feel they will come out of school smarter then nursing with 20 years exp. LOL, I don't think anyone truly knows what kind of nurse someone will be until they actual become one and get put in the REAL deal.

it's one of those things that people can train and train and train for, but come do or die moment, the good ones emerge! IMO

I think your be great, you have a great attitude.

truern · May 24, 2009

my profile is not misleading maybe you should go back and reread it. i've been and still is a CNA,CMT,PCT and now a new nursing student! i've been in the field for about 20yrs. so no misleading there. as i've stated in a previous post that we havent gotten that deep into med surg yet. it's going by fast so we're getting there.
Good nite.

So basically you have zero NURSING experience. The information given when you post (and no, I don't feel the need to go read your actual profile when what you have publicly posted should be accurate) says you have 20 years in a NURSING specialty. So if your experience is as a CNA, CMT or PCT (just another word for CNA around here) then yes, your information is misleading.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · May 24, 2009

What bothers me is that a "C" used to mean average, not "bottom of the barrel." I don't imagine school work has gotten any easier, so why should I "C" now look like a "D" or an "F"?

It could be an individual department standard, or a school standard. For my undergrad I was in the college of Arts and Sciences at my University, and we didnt have a specific average to maintain before we failed out of the college. As were As and Ds and Fs were just that. However, my friends in the School of Management or in the School of Communications, if their overall GPA was not a C, then they were failed from their respective programs.

Likewise, my current school I have to get at least a B- (2.67 GPA) in each class or else we dont get credit for said class. These are the graduate school standards (I am in an MSN program) and not exclusive to the Nursing department. However, in order to apply to the MSN program, they preferred a 3.0 GPA or higher to be considered for acceptance. The undergrads (BSNs) in the Nursing school have to maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA and get at least a C in all their nursing courses or else they are asked to leave the program.

As far as my opinion about the whole A nurse or C nurse? Yes, C students can and do become RNs. That is known. If they are happy with their GPA and the effort that they put in...then thats fine. Their prerogative. However, for me personally, that is not good enough. I work hard for my As, because I want those As. Anything less I see as room for personal improvement.

jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN · May 24, 2009

C- students are more likely to struggle through and fail out of nursing school.
C-students are more likely to be those last minute studyers and poor test takers. -actually a very good one (cept the HESI...weird)
C-students are more likely to cram for exams. - i actually study a little bit every day. and studies also show along with regular studying, small cram sessions are beneficial.
C-students are more likely to have excuses for why they don't get higher grades. - i dont offer excuses for my grades. i get what i get. ive only been complaining about the HESI because of technical errors with the exam.
C-students are less likely to retain information into their long term memory. - actually i can pull up random facts from previous years past, and i still remember most procedures from year one.
C-students are less likely to be able to connect the dots of how one thing in the body can influence another. - actually im very good at physiology and how you can discern why one system acts the way it does when someone has an illness.
C-students are more likely to argue with the instructor over test questions. - was never one of those students. it got annoying when a test review turned into a bi%$H fest.
C-students are less likely to want to understand the rationale behind the right answer on exams. hey, as long as you passed it right? - i always reviewed test answers on my own at home.
C-students are more likely to rely on other nurses knowledge and not know what to do if an emergency arises with their patients. response time to the patients needs will be delayed. - how do you know this? with your "20 years" of nursing experience, did you witness nurses who performed perfectly and then ask them their gpa in nursing school???
C-students don't have good critical thinking skills which is why they got c's in the first place. - sometimes words on a question trip you up.
C-students are more likely to repeat NCLEX. they will have doubts, doubts, and more doubts about their chances of passing the NCLEX exam. - again, did you talk to your fellow co-workers with your "20 years" of experience and find this out?

the bolded are all my input.

you know, you've said a lot of judgemental things. hopefully you'll become less judgemental and more understanding throughout nursing school.

just as there is room for improvement with grades with people, there is also equal time for improvement in attitude.

gigi30240 · May 24, 2009

I can't for the life of me see why someone else's C bothers anyone. I mean really. Find something else to be upset over. And as for the place that "assumes" the C student is lazy and unmotivated..well, I've had the pleasure of working with many "A" students that really shouldn't be licensed. One college's "A" is a "D" at another institution. As a non traditional student ( with a very high GPA I may add) I've come to learn that my family matters more to me than attempting to impress other students with my grades.

Oh and as for this

" Find work at places that aren't intelligent enough to weed you out of a more elite group of go-getters and we'll be seeing you posting your gripes about problems with other difficult, lazy and "C still equals RN" co-workers on the General Nursing Discussion Forum in the far off future."

I just have one word: classy. (that was sarcasm btw)

RNMom2010 · May 24, 2009

I am a straight B student, with very little effort and my classmates are mostly straight C students. They know the material JUST as well as I do, if not better and are JUST as competent and safe in practice. What kicks their grades down is the critical thinking exams. The only reason my grade is higher than theirs is that I test well, always have. Other than how we test, all of us know the material about the same. Grades don't really matter as long as you are 1)Passing the class, 2)Understanding the material 3)Not worried about GPA for higher education.