RN-BSN Grading Scale

[whitemage, MSN, RN]

I am curious as to grading scales in RN-BSN programs as well as how they compare to traditional school and pre-licensure programs.​

Quick intro about me. I am about to start my last semester of my ADN program and I already hold a BA in psychology. I have submitted all documents to a state university for the RN-BSN program, and only need to submit the final transcript and completion of the NCLEX-RN results this summer to start said program.

My main question derives from Nursing School grading scales. For ADN and BSN programs alike, I already know that grades are measured differently than in "regular" college/university programs (i.e. psychology, art history, german, political science..any other major). In my program, anything below a 77% is considered failing. I feel like these grading scales are created not only because the healthcare profession and nursing discipline is something that all students must work extremely hard in, but was also created because the testing style reflects NCLEX practice and is not the typical memorization exam like in regular school. Thus, the nursing grading scale reflects the difference in education/testing style from the usual university major. Once enrolled in an RN-BSN completion program, is it normal for these programs to also have a similar different grading scale or does this program type in particular go back to the more universal grading scale since the students are already practicing RN's and no longer need to be conditioned for the NCLEX since they already passed it.

In regular classes that aren't nursing related I am usually almost a straight A student, and in Nursing School I am a B/C student which has been lowering my GPA. I am concerned because after I finish my BSN in the next year and a half I want to try to apply for MSN-NP programs. If the 30 hour RN-BSN program is graded like regular school then I feel my chances at making better letter grades would hopefully increase and thus increase my final GPA. Personally, I feel that anything 3.0 or higher with good experience, and letters of recommendation would allow for a competitive application. And, I have noticed for different local MSN programs (I'm most interested in FNP and PMHNP programs) that PMHNP seems to require higher GPA than FNP programs. I tend to get nervous because I think where I sit right now is that if I get a B this last semester (of my ADN) and straight A's for the RN-BSN (is this possible?) that I will finish my last 60 hours (of the BSN) with a 3.2 GPA. If I happen to make a C in this last semester and straight A's in the RN-BSN I will finish with a 3.02 GPA. I just want to hold onto whatever hope I can that becoming an NP is attainable and how likely it is to get straight A's in the RN-BSN program. Otherwise, I feel if I do not make those hypothetical grades it might not be possible (or at least I will feel disheartened).

Also, for those of you who have been through and completed RN-BSN programs, do you feel if you are a tenacious enough student that these classes are easier to progress through while also attaining higher grades than pre-licensure programs? I just think that the testing and assignment styles would be so different than it was during my ADN program since at that point I would no longer be studying for NCLEX facilitating that expectations, assignments, and testing would have to be different.

I am just trying to get a feel for what is to come and what expectations to have. Thank you so much for your feedback! And sorry if the wording is a bit redundant. I was not aware that topics/posts on this site had such a lengthy requirement..

[AliNajaCat]

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I'm not sure it makes any difference. Go, do as well as you can, pass, take NCLEX, pass, done.

("Scale" is different from "minimal passing grade," anyway.)

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Sorry, but the bar (that was raised when you entered your nursing program) remains at that level. Expectations do not regress or diminish with educational advancement. However -- and this is very important -- advanced classes may "feel" easier because: 1) they are more focused and less generalized; and 2) you are better prepared because of your prior knowledge of the subject

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

To be honest, the RN to BSN classes are different than pre-license classes which is different than the traditional nursing components. You already learned the harder stuff so it is more theory based. I think for ours we need 85% to pass but there weren't long tests in the pre-license classes. It seems like it would be harder but they eliminate the painful tests usually.

[whitemage, MSN, RN]

To be honest, the RN to BSN classes are different than pre-license classes which is different than the traditional nursing components. You already learned the harder stuff so it is more theory based. I think for ours we need 85% to pass but there weren't long tests in the pre-license classes. It seems like it would be harder but they eliminate the painful tests usually.

Can you clarify what you mean by "weren't long tests" as well as "eliminate the painful tests?" I am not sure what you mean.

[whitemage, MSN, RN]

Sorry, but the bar (that was raised when you entered your nursing program) remains at that level. Expectations do not regress or diminish with educational advancement. However -- and this is very important -- advanced classes may "feel" easier because: 1) they are more focused and less generalized; and 2) you are better prepared because of your prior knowledge of the subject

Yeah, I finally found the University's Nursing Dept. Handbook so I could see what their grading scale is compared to my current ADN program's. Luckily, a 'B' is 83% instead of 85% which I find to be a huge relief. I also think the BSN completion classes will be more my style since NCLEX exams will no longer be a thing and I will just be participating in online classes and writing papers. Let's hope I can make all A's and B's..

[Scottishtape]

I'm in an LPN-RN program. Anything less than a 77% is failing. An 85% is a B, and we must make a 92% or more on our dosage exams that are given at the beginning of every semester.

Personally, I believe the grading scale and difficulty of programs has nothing to do with what level of education you are getting, and everything to do with the specific school you go to. This is my belief after having gotten an AA, my LPN, working on this bridge program, and the bachelor's program I am in. It is vastly different from school to school. In fact, my bachelor's education has been much easier than the ASN program I'm in.

[whitemage, MSN, RN]

I'm in an LPN-RN program. Anything less than a 77% is failing. An 85% is a B, and we must make a 92% or more on our dosage exams that are given at the beginning of every semester.

Personally, I believe the grading scale and difficulty of programs has nothing to do with what level of education you are getting, and everything to do with the specific school you go to. This is my belief after having gotten an AA, my LPN, working on this bridge program, and the bachelor's program I am in. It is vastly different from school to school. In fact, my bachelor's education has been much easier than the ASN program I'm in.

Yeah I do also believe that grading scale and difficulty are institution specific, but do know that it is the normal for Nursing Programs to have a more difficult grading scale. I just wasn't sure if that same rule in grading applied in the RN-BSN component, but alas, it does. Just the specific values of what determines the letter grades are different from school to school. In my ADN program there are 3 dosage calculation exams throughout the program and we have to make 100% on each of them. We get three attempts before one is kicked out.

Like a previous poster said, Nursing in general has higher academic expectations, so like you said, it makes sense that any level of program will have a steeper grading scale. I'm just happy that the RN-BSN program I picked classifies letter grades a little lower than my current program, hopefully allowing me to salvage and re-calibrate my final GPA. I just pray to the heavens I can get into an FNP program when the time comes.