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

in response to what maggiofliore posted....I never implied or said that if your "book smart" that automatically meant you were not common sense smart and never did I use common sense in my post. I was merely stating that some people have to work harder than others and still only make C's, but that doesn't mean they aren't smart and their tests scores may not reflect their ability to apply their knowledge. I don't understand why things like this always get turned around and are replied to with nasty postings. People could have learning disabilities like dyslexia that causes them to have a harder time taking written tests, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to be as good of a nurse as someone who has no trouble taking tests.

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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)

I wish I could thank you 10,000 times for this! The valedictorians of the classes before and after me - any workplace would be better off with no pharmacist than with these losers. And the salutatorian of one of those classes was a really bad alcoholic. To my knowledge, she has never been able to obtain full-time work.

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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.

C-students are more likely to cram for exams.

C-students are more likely to have excuses for why they don't get higher grades.

C-students are less likely to retain information into their long term memory.

C-students are less likely to be able to connect the dots of how one thing in the body can influence another.

C-students are more likely to argue with the instructor over test questions.

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?

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.

C-students don't have good critical thinking skills which is why they got c's in the first place.

C-students are more likely to repeat NCLEX. they will have doubts, doubts, and more doubts about their chances of passing the NCLEX exam.

Really?? that is quite an assumption..care to back it up with any real references on this alleged info..???

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interesting post..it saddens me that some people can be so nasty and opinionated. I was a C student in nursing school( Deans list before that)..I had to balance 4 kids, a job..blah blah..you know, we all have our crosses to bear. A few weeks ago, before graduation, we had to take the ATI exam,a NCLEX predictor exam..interestingly enough, I have an 86% chance of passing NCLEX first time and my friend, an A student got only a 70%..I also know A students who scored very well and C student score rather low...my grade does NOT reflect my knowledge..it means that I sucked at taking exams containing questions that instructors made up..the instructors that actually used NCLEX questions are areas I did well in..

everyone has an opinion, but its the NCLEX that determines us to be nurses. I think that those who say C=RN or any of those other sayings are not defending poor grades, they are pointing out that an A student is more of an RN than a C student..or that one tried harder than the other..we are all nurses, some better than others, but in my 20 years of healthcare experience, GPA isint worn on my ID badge and neither is yours!!!!

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I honestly think that it doesn't really matter. Sure, a nurse that has mostly A's on his/her transcript might look better than someone who has mostly C's but I don't that necessarily means anything. I know some straight A nursing students who do really well on the tests and "written" material, but when it comes to clinical they are terrible and don't know what to do. On the other hand, I know some students who barely get by in lecture but I have seen them in clinical and they are fantastic. :twocents:

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Whether straight A or C who cares? Just do your best and leave the rest to God.

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Really?? that is quite an assumption..care to back it up with any real references on this alleged info..???

All the A students stereotype...

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it saddens me as well to read some of these negative posts...A vs C hmmmmm. a lot of assumptions being tossed around. I have experienced the disappointment of a C and the elation of receiving an A. i think we should all be more supportive a less judgmental... kudos to all of us who are trying their best and best of luck next semester:redbeathe

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"Success is the attainment of a predetermined goal"

My goal is a 3.8 GPA.

3.5-3.8 I'll be disappointed

I plan on pursuing CRNA eventually and need a high GPA to be competitive.

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Specializes in ER.

I just wanted to comment that I have a cousin who made all C's throughout school. She always said she tested horribly but people just assumed she didn't study or care about her grades. Then she went to college. She got into a program that did all all essays and no regular exams. She graduated with honors and then started a masters program at another school. She's about to graduate. Some people may truly study their butt off and KNOW the material but not test well.

I can tell you from my experience I know a lot of people who make the same grades or better than me on tests but if you ask them to explain the material they can't. I know the material backwards and forwards but they make the same grade. How? They test well. It goes both ways. Just b/c someone makes good grades doesn't mean they know the material or if they make bad grades doesn't mean they don't. Should we all strive for A's? Yes. Can we all make A's- probably not everyone all of the time. Some people have more outside responsibilities than others as well. For me, I have a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old and a spouse. It's busy! Not to mention the 1 1/2 hour commute (one way). Anyway, I also wanted to mention if the school deems a C as passing that means the instructors and administrators believe that if someone makes a C in that class they have adequate understanding of the topic. These are people committed to the excellence and reputation of the school. If they didn't think C was adequate they would raise the passing grade to a B. So for me I am fine with have a nursing that made a C in her class because people who know better than me say she knows that material. Just my 2 cents :)

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Some people have more outside responsibilities than others as well. For me, I have a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old and a spouse. It's busy! Not to mention the 1 1/2 hour commute (one way). Anyway, I also wanted to mention if the school deems a C as passing that means the instructors and administrators believe that if someone makes a C in that class they have adequate understanding of the topic. These are people committed to the excellence and reputation of the school. If they didn't think C was adequate they would raise the passing grade to a B. So for me I am fine with have a nursing that made a C in her class because people who know better than me say she knows that material. Just my 2 cents :)

Hear, hear!! It is not just some number that was thrown out to be the goal for lazy people. Although, the use of the word "adequate" will be ripped to shreds. Prepare yourself ;)

On the note of outside responsibilities, this will also probably be ripped to shreds. I agree 100%, I'm just saying there are some people who refuse to believe that other people have less time to study than them. I have a four-year-old, 1 year old twins (who weren't yet sleeping through the night when I started), a husband, a house to maintain, and a job. It is frustrating to hear those without kids say they have responsibilities that take up as much time. It is the difference between a patient who is totally dependent and one who can fulfill all their own ADLs-- which take more time?

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All the A students stereotype...

Were you trying to be ironic here?

You just stereotyped all of the A students by saying that all of them stereotype in a blanket statement. That's pretty ridiculous.

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