Reasonable Nursing School GPA?

Published

Hi all --

I'm a Level 2 (i.e., second-semester) nursing student right now at Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico. My GPA from Level 1 was a sold 3.0. This semester, I'm struggling with Adult Nursing/Med-Surg 1 exams. The material isn't difficult, just standard A&P and nursing assessments, but the tests are brutal. My GPA in the class at mid-term is below a 75, which is the passing mark for the course. More than half the class are failing and we were in the top 10% of the applicant pool grade-wise before we began the program. Damn.

My question to all of you is what kind of GPA should I be striving for in order to be competitive when I graduate from nursing college (2-year ADN/Associate's program culminating in an RN certification)? I would like to achieve a GPA that would help me remain competitive in applicant pools for jobs, and higher education like a bachelor's degree and eventually a master's. I know my current GPA right now is abysmal and I plan to work night and day to hike it up, but what is a decent, competitive GPA to have when finished a 2-year nursing program? (do not write 4.0 cause that ain't happening, although, due to the current **** economy, I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes the new standard).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.

I think I ended my ASN program with like a 3.2 which was one of the high ones. It's funny because I held a steady 4.0 in my RN-BSN and the same goes for my graduate education thus far. Morale of the story, core nursing is f'n rough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Amen to that, sister.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I saw one facility that required a 2.8 to even apply as a new grad. For others, I haven't seen that requirement, but I guess you could consider a 2.8 as a good ballpark, if the people you interview with even care about your GPA, that is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg.

I never ran into this when I was job hunting. Most employers, being nurses themselves, know exactly how tough school is and also know that a 4.0 student does not a great floor nurse make! Our instructors had a comforting word or two about it as well: "C=RN" and "Your GPA is NOT printed on your license!"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.
Amen to that, sister.

Brother :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

No one asked me about my RN grades or the BSN afterwards. The BON in multiple states asked about my RN exam score, but it's just pass/fail now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I graduated a little over a year ago with a 3.5. Most of the hospitals didn't really specify as long as you passed a program and the state boards. Of course once you get into a hospital they give you entrance tests etc that you must pass to continue on in your internship.

When we were close to graduation we had a local hospital come to visit with a recruiter. About half way through her presentation she said, "We will NOT consider you for employment if you have made a C during the nursing program". She didn't mean over all she meant just one C on any nurses course during the actual nursing program.

We all looked at each other and asked her when we would be getting our free sandwiches...LOL. That was the only hospital I have heard of like that in our area, and they are a bit too big for their britches in my opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated a year ago from a BSN with a 3.2. I got a job no problem. Even interviewed at some of the best hospitals in the country. The girl who graduated top of our class with a 4.0 still has yet to find a job. GPA isn't everything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you want to pursue further education, especially research, it may be beneficial to keep the GPA high, usually whatever graduating with honors is at the nursing school.

For a nursing job, it might not matter currently for all workplaces. However, many new grad residencies require a certain GPA to apply and this may become the norm.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A couple of hospitals here in the Piedmont Triad (NC) are requiring a minimum gpa of 2.75 to be considered. One of those require a 3.0 for speciality fields such as ED, OR, ICU, etc.

There was also a local hospital that asked anyone who had a C to explain why. Thankfully, we were the last school in the area to be on the 7 point grading scale and once that was explained they weren't frowned upon as much as we probably had above 80% but the letter grade didn't reflect that.

I've also seen one out of state (PA) hospital that requires a 3.0 to be considered.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I loved Santa Fe, I worked a travel contract there few years ago in the ER and worked some registry stuff down in ABQ while there, really liked the ER crew there. Anyway, never asked about my GPA while there and was offered a contact in Taos the next winter and still no GPA questions. (had to decline the Taos job, had taken one in NV the day before)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion