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

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I still want to voice my opinion. Lately, I've been reading alot of post discussing "A" nursing students verses "C" nursing students. It breaks my heart that there are students that are so hung up on grades that they rather want an "A" nurse taking care of them over a "C" nurse. Come on now ! When was the last time a patient asked you what your GPA was ? When was the last time as a patient yourself you asked your nurse what her GPA was ? Nursing school is stressful enough and while I strive everyday to make A's on exams I don't. I started out with A's and now I'm hanging around with high C's. Don't me wrong, I take NS and my grades very seriously... the only difference is that I don't let my grades whether A's or C's determine what kind of nurse I'll be. I graduate in a few weeks and I'm not sure if I'll still have my above 3.0 average, but I tell you one thing I'm still going to hold my head up high and take care of patients to the best of my ability . I'll still be a nurse and no less of a nurse then my classmates that got A's through nursing school. These are nursing exams, the real test starts when you start working and providing competent care to patients. So I'm saying enough is enough ! To you students who are A students I want to give you a big :clphnds: I know you deserve your A and worked hard for it. For you students who are " C " students I want to give you a big :clphnds: as well and you also worked hard for you grade as well. No one goes into nursing school wanting to make C's all the time, however it happens. I haven't met one student that said" I'm studying my butt off for that C. Students now days are so caught up in grades instead of the true meaning of nursing. :crying2:When my pt. comes in with cardiac arrest and is in alot of pain he won't care what grades I got, he cares about my compassionate and me providing good quality care. Come on A and C students can't we all get back to what nursing really is about.A nurse is a nurse . Once you pass that nclex you are a nurse:nurse:

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I'm done you all can yell at me now. :sofahider

Isn't it funny that we put so much into Clinicals, but they are PASS/FAIL.

--My neutral 2 cents

Mine aren't. They count for half my grade, so I'm in Acute Care II and it's 6 credits. 50% of my grade is from my theory class and 50% of my grade is from clinicals & lab...mostly clinicals. All my nursing classes are like that....each term our clincals are built into one of the classes.

So, our grades really do account for both academic and practical skill....if you're great in one area and not in the other...you won't have stellar grades.

Peace,

CuriousMe

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Mine aren't. They count for half my grade, so I'm in Acute Care II and it's 6 credits. 50% of my grade is from my theory class and 50% of my grade is from clinicals & lab...mostly clinicals. All my nursing classes are like that....each term our clincals are built into one of the classes.

So, our grades really do account for both academic and practical skill....if you're great in one area and not in the other...you won't have stellar grades.

Peace,

CuriousMe

Really??? Wow. I shouldn't have assumed that. I thought it was universal. You are really lucky then. I hate that I put so much into clinical and have nothing to show for it in--terms of grades. I will say though that our care plans and some of the other activites like running group in psych count for our lecture grade but...we have to achieve a C- or higher on the cumulative exams and quizzes FIRST. The rest of your work like your care plans and papers aren't calculated until you have a 70 in the theory.

For example, if I have a 65 average on the exams/quizzes, I fail even if my care plans and paper(s) would boost my grade to a 75 for instance.

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Really??? Wow. I shouldn't have assumed that. I thought it was universal. You are really lucky then. I hate that I put so much into clinical and have nothing to show for it in--terms of grades. I will say though that our care plans and some of the other activites like running group in psych count for our lecture grade but...we have to achieve a C- or higher on the cumulative exams and quizzes FIRST. The rest of your work like your care plans and papers aren't calculated until you have a 70 in the theory.

For example, if I have a 65 average on the exams/quizzes, I fail even if my care plans and paper(s) would boost my grade to a 75 for instance.

I should mention as well that we need to pass both clinical and theory to pass the class...you can't use a good grade in one, to pass in the other.....so that's similar to what you're talking about.

And yes I do like that my grade comes from both....cause, nursing really requires mastery of both areas.

Peace,

CuriousMe

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Specializes in LTC.

I did not start this thread to make excuses for "c" students or to say "A" students are only book smart. I started this thread with the intentions that individuals could share their experiences and hopefully by doing this there will be at least one student here who will open his or her mind and come to the conclusion that A or C students can still have the potential to be good, competent, and caring nurses. I've scored grades from A's-C's in nursing school. Actually I just finished Med surg 2 and my final grade was a 79.7 ( talk about close). This is the first nursing course that I've got a C average in. While I'm proud of myself for passing, I couldn't help but think about some of the threads discussing A students to C students. For once I was that "C" student. I make no excuses for my grades... none. Even after the exam I came to allnurses to figure out why I got some of my test questions wrong because I was concerned about the information I was tested on and got wrong on the exam. C ALWAYS = RN, however RN does not always = caring and competent nurses, if that was the case there wouldn't be so many RN's on trial and sued... just ask the BON. I wish we could get out of the c=RN because it takes more then grades to become a great nurse.

Some of these posts were encouraging and uplifting and some were not. I don't want anyone to feel upset or hurt by anothers words and as I can see its already starting to happen. I guess the mods will decide when or if to close this thread but if others are getting angry or upset over some of the posts its best to close it now and end this thread on a good note.

I want to thank everyone for their posts and hopefully there was one student that opened their minds and changed their negative view of A students or C students.

I want to wish everyone luck in their studying as well. Hang in there guys !

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

not angry. just annoyed :)

I digg your idea for discussion because it does seem a controversial one.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.
Mine aren't. They count for half my grade, so I'm in Acute Care II and it's 6 credits. 50% of my grade is from my theory class and 50% of my grade is from clinicals & lab...mostly clinicals. All my nursing classes are like that....each term our clincals are built into one of the classes.

So, our grades really do account for both academic and practical skill....if you're great in one area and not in the other...you won't have stellar grades.

Same here. This is exactly how our clinicals works. Its half our grade for its respective class.

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Specializes in ICU.
it annoys me that people decide so frequently that if you have A's you must only be book smart. I think that is malicious to say. I have a 4.00 and I am successful in clinicals. I know people who are just getting by scholastically who are very successful in clinicals...and those who arent. It goes both ways. I just dont get why people feel the need to be so hostile to people who do well in lecture.

It's like the thought process is "if they're so darn good at lecture, they must be dumb as rocks with common sense. I'll say anything to make myself feel better"

I agree...this is a ridiculous argument, as though there are only two options (good at lecture and horrible at clinical, or vice versa). I got a 4.0 this semester (and my school gives A-, so an A is anything above 93 or 94...don't really know as I wouldn't let myself get that close to the edge), and my clinical instructor gave me glowing reviews, as did the nurses I worked with on the floor and even one of my patients who insited on writing my CI a note.

I agree that as long as you are trying your best then you will succeed, be it as an A student or a B or C student. But doing the bare minimum when lives are at stake is absolutely shameful, in my opinion.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Where I teach, C=F :crying2:.

Of the students who failed the course I just finished teaching in, I would say most of them tried very hard, some of them (admittedly) only tried hard after midterm, and a couple of them gave very minimal effort throughout the semester. Yes, there are nursing students who do not try hard, it's very obvious (listening to what their weekend plans are, and hearing how they 'haven't picked up a book').

And regarding the A students: I guess I was lucky this past semester. The A students in my class were top notch. Not just 'book smart'. Had commone sense, thought critically, were great with the patients, helpful to other students, even had a sense of humor. I was extremely proud of them, they worked hard, and it paid off.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

our school does clinicals pass fail as well. It isn't part of your grade as far as your classes, but if you fail clinicals you are dismissed from the program. But you have your classes and grades in them, A B or C and then the pass/fail "grade" for clinicals that is separate.

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I had to struggle to make C's in pharmacy school (and even slipped below a 2.0 two semesters :eek: ) but you know what? I still got my license, and in fact when I took the NABPLEX got the second highest score I have ever heard of anyone having. So, my knowledge was the type that really matters.

Lots of my classmates were the same way, which was quite a shock for people who had received very few or no grades below an A in their lives.

I didnt study to much in nursing school yet I pass the Hesi the first time with no problem.I know people who were studing much more than me and fail the Hesi exam twice. The smartest girl in our class didnt study too much yet she excelled in clinicals.

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our school does clinicals pass fail as well. It isn't part of your grade as far as your classes, but if you fail clinicals you are dismissed from the program. But you have your classes and grades in them, A B or C and then the pass/fail "grade" for clinicals that is separate.

This is exactly how my school is. No letter grade or percentage for clinical, 3 "U"s (unsatisfactory) and you are out. Or if you miss more than 2 days of clinical.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
I agree...this is a ridiculous argument, as though there are only two options (good at lecture and horrible at clinical, or vice versa).

I know most of you do not want to hear this, but more often than not (in the opinion of the professors), the theory grade correlates with clinical. In the schools where clinical is just a pass/fail, the weaker students are getting the same P grade as the strong students. Thus the 'I did well in clinical" may actually mean "I just passed clinical".

It is extremely rare that people who fail theory are excellent in clinical. They may be 'okay' (I see it all the time), but not stellar. The reason being is that the one aspect of a clinical evaluation that many students overlook is the students ability to apply theory to practice (I like the term "connecting the dots":). Yes, there are exceptions (personal circumstances preventing them from making studying their priority), but chances are if you are an A student to begin with, you can get by without studying a ton for exams, and one grade of an 75-85 will not kill you.

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