So I'm having a little bit of difficulty understanding this. Why is everybody competitive in nursing?
We're all getting the same degree, and you don't need high marks to get a Masters and/or NP. I've found that many people like to brag and frequently get upset at other people's accomplishments in nursing (for example, grades).
I've noticed this more among my peer group when I started my business plan. They doubted me at first, called it stupid, and interrogated me frequently. Now that my business is up and running, they expect me to hire them into my home care agency and I feel like they're waiting for me to fail. Don't get me wrong, I don't brag. I only talk about it in school when I'm asked about the subject or asked what I want to do after graduation. I know it's this stupid competitive vibe that's going around, and I'd really like to understand how to avoid this negativity.
I'm not talking about all of the students, but it's really becoming a trend.
...We're all getting the same degree, and you don't need high marks to get a Masters and/or NP.
I have to respectfully disagree with this. While in nursing school you are all working on the same degree at that time, continuing education, at least in my area is very competitive. In order to get accepted to grad school, you have to have the high marks and references to go along with them. When I graduated from nursing school, my first manager commented about my GPA during our interview and it was part of why I got the job. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to impress her. Sure, that's not the case for everyone and your situation in Canada may be different, but in my area, those things make a difference.
That being said, unless you are trying to make friends for life with your nursing classmates, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
I have to respectfully disagree with this. While in nursing school you are all working on the same degree at that time, continuing education, at least in my area is very competitive. In order to get accepted to grad school, you have to have the high marks and references to go along with them. When I graduated from nursing school, my first manager commented about my GPA during our interview and it was part of why I got the job. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to impress her. Sure, that's not the case for everyone and your situation in Canada may be different, but in my area, those things make a difference.
That being said, unless you are trying to make friends for life with your nursing classmates, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
I agree with you, it might definitely matter in your area. Especially if you're from the U.S.
However, in the grad schools here, you only need a 70 avg to be considered. If you have 80, you're golden. Even the most competitive grad school, which is the nurse anesthesiologist program, has a minimum grade of 75 with 2 years experience.
Literally anybody could get into grad school, it's just a matter of passing it, hahaha
A great exercise is to take a step back and challenge our automatic thoughts, since our thought lead to feelings. For example, I I am at work and my co-worker frowns at me as I pass by, for me, my initial though would be "Why does this person no like me? What have I done wrong?" For the rest of the day I am going to feel bad BECAUSE of this automatic thought. However, when i make the choice to look at things a bit more "matter of fact" I can say to myself, "What are the facts?" Well, I know that my coworker frowned at me. That is true. But could there be another reason for it? Yes! Maybe she having a bad bad, maybe she is not aware of her face, maybe she got told some bad news. And BECAUSE I choose to think of these alternative possibilities, my feelings follow.
With all the negative people out there it is easy to let them bring you down. When our internal dialogue can be "This says way more about them," it gives us the freedom to keep our own emotional response in check.
Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
I agree with you, it might definitely matter in your area. Especially if you're from the U.S.
However, in the grad schools here, you only need a 70 avg to be considered. If you have 80, you're golden. Even the most competitive grad school, which is the nurse anesthesiologist program, has a minimum grade of 75 with 2 years experience.
Literally anybody could get into grad school, it's just a matter of passing it, hahaha
Thank you for your insight! I appreciate it!
Wow. I don't know any MSN program in the US that would would accept someone with a 70 average. Anything less than 80, in most MSN programs in the US, is considered failing. I guess it differs from country to country.
Wow. I don't know any MSN program in the US that would would accept someone with a 70 average. Anything less than 80, in most MSN programs in the US, is considered failing. I guess it differs from country to country.
Yes, it really is different..
At the university I'm at, it's only a 70 to get in. They don't seem to let you in unless you have some prior experience. Many of them require 1 to 2 years experience out in the field.
Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
Yes, it really is different..
At the university I'm at, it's only a 70 to get in. They don't seem to let you in unless you have some prior experience. Many of them require 1 to 2 years experience out in the field.
You're 20 aren't you? I thought you were in an undergrad program. Several of the grad programs I've seen in Canada do require at least a B or B+ to apply and at least an 80 to stay in the program.
Then again, I also just read a few articles talking about problems lying within the fact that Canada doesn't have nationwide parameters in place for nursing school admission requirments and cirriculum. So that could certainly explain why some grad schools would take someone with a 70 average and others require an average of 83.
You're 20 aren't you? I thought you were in an undergrad program. Several of the grad programs I've seen in Canada do require at least a B or B+ to apply and at least an 80 to stay in the program.
Then again, I also just read a few articles talking about problems lying within the fact that Canada doesn't have nationwide parameters in place for nursing school admission requirments and cirriculum. So that could certainly explain why some grad schools would take someone with a 70 average and others require an average of 83.
Yes, I'm 20. I'm still in undergrad. I've done a lot of research on grad schools in first year and decided this year to pursue an MBA instead. Even the MBAs here only require you to have a minimum of 70%. Anyone who can pull off a 70% can get into grad school.
I don't know whether to be concerned or not, since I haven't done any research on how grades correlate on how good a nurse you're going to be. What do you think?
Yes, you're absolutely correct. Some only accept averages higher than 83, but that's the highest I've seen it go.
Something that I have learned is that I will not be friends with everyone, and that's perfectly fine. I don't feel the need to have in-depth conversations with all of the 35 2nd semester students. I'm friendly, I'll ask them how they're doing. But many of them don't even know that I have a cat, much less what my game plan is after graduation. I've got a few solid buddies and I've managed to avoid ALL of the drama (and I'm very proud of that!). I'm a happy camper.
I also never ever discuss my grades with people unless they ask, and even then, I'm vague. When people ask me how I did on a test, I'll simply say, "I did well" or "could've done better." Grades cause so​ much unnecessary drama.
I've made many great friendships in nursing and was voted as representative. I do not think I talk inappropriately at all on this site, and simply voice my opinion. You can choose to ignore my posts or perhaps get off the internet if you're offended, because there are worse people than me.
elkpark is dead on.
For the record, I think it's wonderful that you're pushing yourself. You seem driven. You're working hard to do what you want. All good things, and worthy of a *little* bragging. But. (There's always a but. And this is a big but. I can't lie about that.) You mention your business on almost every post! You find some way to incorporate you, yourself, your business, your accomplishments into everything. If you do this to your classmates, then yeah...they will get annoyed. There's only so many times you can toot your own horn before someone tries to throw your horn into the sharps container.
And if someone, like elkpark, isn't your biggest fan, you tell them to go away, like they have no right to be on this free internet forum.
At the university I'm at, it's only a 70 to get in. They don't seem to let you in unless you have some prior experience. Many of them require 1 to 2 years experience out in the field.
What makes the program competitive is NOT the minimum GPA needed to enter. It's all the boatloads of students who have that GPA, or a better GPA, who are competing for just a few seats. Meeting the lowest requirements moves you from step super-zero to step zero.
A great exercise is to take a step back and challenge our automatic thoughts, since our thought lead to feelings. For example, I I am at work and my co-worker frowns at me as I pass by, for me, my initial though would be "Why does this person no like me? What have I done wrong?" For the rest of the day I am going to feel bad BECAUSE of this automatic thought. However, when i make the choice to look at things a bit more "matter of fact" I can say to myself, "What are the facts?" Well, I know that my coworker frowned at me. That is true. But could there be another reason for it? Yes! Maybe she having a bad bad, maybe she is not aware of her face, maybe she got told some bad news. And BECAUSE I choose to think of these alternative possibilities, my feelings follow.
With all the negative people out there it is easy to let them bring you down. When our internal dialogue can be "This says way more about them," it gives us the freedom to keep our own emotional response in check.
Exactly. I always try to see the best in people, to attribute good reasons to whatever they are doing.
seaofclouds21, BSN, RN
153 Posts
I have to respectfully disagree with this. While in nursing school you are all working on the same degree at that time, continuing education, at least in my area is very competitive. In order to get accepted to grad school, you have to have the high marks and references to go along with them. When I graduated from nursing school, my first manager commented about my GPA during our interview and it was part of why I got the job. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to impress her. Sure, that's not the case for everyone and your situation in Canada may be different, but in my area, those things make a difference.
That being said, unless you are trying to make friends for life with your nursing classmates, I wouldn't worry about it too much.