What would you suggest I do, in all honesty please and don't tell me im stupid and should just give up...
I had a rough patch in my life for about a year and i did not do well in school. i took micro in spring, dropped because i didn't want a C, retook it in the summer and got a C :'( (i missed a B by 0.1% and ended the class with a 79.9%) and then i took physio and got a C in it as well(i had financial issues and other life things going on)...so i dont know what to do...should i try and retake those classes(idk if you can with a C :/ ) or what? ive been stressing out so much about this lately...i dont know what i should do...
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May 17th, 2011 at 9:16 am
I am an ASN RN with a B.S. in Biochemistry. In answer to your question, I don’t think that you have enough information with regard to what course of action you should take. Therefore, continuing taking your prerequisites would appear to be the appropriate course of action to take. You should NOT stress yourself out while at the same time not allocating sufficient time for your course work. Allocate to yourself sufficient time for school, recreation, rest, and work ( if necessary). In the game of chess, it is best not to make a chess move until all of the factors are clear in your mind such that you clearly KNOW that you are making the correct move. Given the aforementioned, I would not retake the courses in question but continue in your course plan until it becomes CLEARLY apparent to you that the same, given your circumstances, is inappropriate for you.
May 17th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Don’t even think of giving up…and get used to getting C’s!! Very common in nursing school. Haven’t you ever heard that semi-joke phrase: C=RN ????
Of course one should always strive for the best grade possible, and you are probably learning more than you think, even with a C…not everyone is a good test taker, so that could be the issue for you. The only concerns I would have at this point for you would be getting into a nursing program. In my area, competition is fierce, as there are alot of students, and only so many spaces available in the nursing schools – so, the better your grades, the better your chances. Doing well on the nursing school entrance exam helps too, so I would get the book for whatever exam your chosen school requires (Hessi or Net are the ones I had to take)and start preparing for that.
The other concern is that once you get into a nursing school, you will find out pretty fast that the tests are different – they are not as much about knowledge, you won’t see many questions like “Where are the kidneys located?” or “What position should the patient be in for a kidney biopsy?” No, no, noooo….the questions will be more like “If Mary had kidney failure and took 4 Tylenol on Friday, what did the doctor have for dessert last Thursday night?” Now of course I am being funny, but the questions are about critical thinking, problem solving, not about facts you can memorize. To be honest, the tests are HARD. Hardest I have ever had to take. Now, school will prepare you for this type of testing, so I don’t want to discourage you – just want to let you know that it is different than other testing experiences!
Anyway, hang in there! Do your best, try your hardest…if you really want to be a nurse, don’t let a few c’s stop you. I got plenty of C’s in nursing school, and even a few test scores below that. Remember, some people are just better test takers, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be a good nurse. Most of the experience and knowledge comes after you start working anyway, the main purpose of nursing school is to teach you the basics and teach you to be safe, how to NOT kill someone.
Good Luck!!
May 17th, 2011 at 9:25 am
Don’t feel stupid and don’t give up. C’s are not the end of the world, particularly in undergrad. I too made C’s in both of the classes you took (and actually took them both at the same time which probably didn’t help).
A C in micro biology and anatomy physiology might only be detrimental to your future career if you’re thinking of pursuing a Biology degree or even trying to become an MD one day. But in Nursing, those are basic pre-requisites every student must take to have the most minimal knowledge possible on the subject. It doesn’t make you are better nurse to make all A’s and B’s in those. If you want to strive for that, try for that in your Nursing courses, but even then it’s not the end of the world.
Take me for instance, I just told you I made C’s in both of those, now you can look at the initials after my name. What matters is your dedication and willingness to be a nurse and that you strive to do the very best you can. Some people just aren’t good test takers, perhaps you’re one of them? I was.
So shake this off, this too shall pass, and you have passed so I would not recommend retaking the courses. If your school has not said something to you about this (and I don’t see that in the post) then it is acceptable to them as well. That’s the opinion that matters most, what does the school have to say about it?
But from the perspective of discontinuing, don’t worry about that. Just move on and try to do better on the next go around.
May 17th, 2011 at 9:28 am
Hello:
Sciences are the backbone of nursing; many schools of nursing now have increasing standards for admission and progression within the program. If you want to continue in nursing, you may want to seek advice from your academic advisor as to their thoughts on progression into the program.
May 17th, 2011 at 9:41 am
Sometimes those nurses you meet that claim they aced everything arent great nurses they are just smart people. An instructer told me that once, because I too was passing w high c low b avg. If you love nirsing and you know its what you want to do, if you have a kind heart, and your willing to continue to learn in the field I think you will make a great nurse c avg. and all!
May 17th, 2011 at 10:36 am
Don’t give up!! My original grades were not that great either but I had (and 37 years later)still have a passion for nursing. I even had one clinical instuctor my first year who said I didn’t have what it took to be a nurse!! I am so glad I didn’t let one person discourage me from a lifetime of work that I love.
Nursing is much more than making straight A’s, it’s an attitude and desire to make a difference in the lives of people who are entrusted in your care. If you want to be a nurse, stick with it. Talk to the nursing admission people and see what they have to say. You may be surprised by what they tell you. Hang in there!
May 17th, 2011 at 10:37 am
As a nurse educator, I wonder if strong grades in these prereqs are going to dictate your admission to a program. If you know that Cs aren’t going to get you an acceptance letter, my suggestion would be to investigate what other programs are available for the short term that would get you experience and a job (if you need it)while pushing for the better grade. Example: plebotomy or med tech? I also would love to know your study habits. Successful students turn off the cell, the TV, and take 2 hours to study every night. Getting a study buddy is always good. Even if you put the kids to bed and work together over the phone! Life happens to us all and the balance is so hard to achieve. If God has put it in your heart to be a nurse seek help and keep working toward your goal. God never makes mistakes and you are not a failure, just struggling right now. I hope this helps you. Know many have walked in your shoes and are walking the halls of hospitals right now!
May 17th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
If you really want to finish, don’t let setbacks discourage you. It’s important for you to not let personal matters distract you, also. When you’re in class or studying, think only about what is in front of you; other matters can be taken care of later. Find a stress relief; exercise, etc. An NP once told me that when he was in nursing school, he was always exhausted until he started exercising, and he reiterated to me the importance of exercise for nursing students. I followed his directions and it worked. So…grab a study buddy (a cute one helps, if that’s possible…it helped me ;)) and get cracking!
May 17th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Quite frankly I’d rather be bad at school than bad at nursing. The two are not the same, at all. Neither, does getting a not-so-great grade in a prereq, compare well with getting not-so-great grades in a nursing course.
You do need to retain as much information as you can to get your value out of the class and feel confident in the next series of courses. But you may not need to spend $ and take the entire course again if you have a few problem areas. If you have a semester break or summer vacation etc., you can study focussed in your problem areas. You can find study materials that include self-tests or talk to your prof and see if he/she has old exams or practice exams that might help.
May 17th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I was once in this kind of situation. I had failed chemistry not once but twice. My life was chaotic. I had excuses for everything. One day I looked in the mirror and decided nothing was going to be more important than my education and my future. I became a serious student. I turned down invitations from my friends to go out and party. I got into a study group of A students and copied the things they did. It worked.
May 17th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Are you getting upset over pre-reqs? I thought you have to take a test as well, hand inrecommendations, and an interview to get into many nursing schools, is this true?
May 18th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Finished my first semester in an ADN program just last week. I passed with a B+ average in the Fundamentals/Clinicals portion, and an A in MedCalc, but it was much, much harder than I had imagined. I am one of those “smart” people and had assumed I would be able to absorb and integrate all of the information thrown at me as easily as I had in previous classes- after the second exam I saw how wrong I was and really had to start busting my butt in the books and on-line. Our clinical instructor thought nothing of dressing us down on-site when we didn’t understand how lab values relate to and influence each other or couldn’t list every spec about every med administered- all from memory! The embarrassment influenced me to stop thinking like a “smart person” and (hopefully!) more like a nurse. My school requires a minimum B grade in all science/math pre-reqs for an applicant to be considered for the ADN program. The pre-reqs, especially A+P and Micro I found absolutely essential to grasping course material. I’ve been told that much of first semester is a weeding-out process, separating those who really want to put in the work from those who don’t. The concepts of free-time, family and friends pretty much cease to exist, especially if you have to remain employed. I don’t mean to discourage you, but just know that things will get harder before they get any easier. Good luck!
May 18th, 2011 at 10:42 am
Give up? NO! Buck up! Use this an opportunity for growth. I went through much the same thing many years ago. I had a trusted friend who dragged me to the school counseling service. I went a dozen times or so (and it was free!) and learned wonderful coping and life skills which have served me well throughout a long and successful career. Maybe you need to learn how to manage stressors and time. And start now. When you get into the ‘real world’ of patient care, you will have to learn to focus on the patient no matter what is going on in your life. There are no opportunities to earn a ‘C’ because of life issues when you care for patients. So learn now how to be focused, organized, proactive, and use every (AND I mean EVERY) life opportunity as an experience to learn both personally and professionally.
And BTW, one of the least academically gifted people in my program ended up being one of the finest nurses with a national reputation in her field, a MS from a prestigious school, and retired as an officer in the military. She was focused, organized, mature, and willing to pursue her dreams in a determined and mindful way. SO don’t give up.
May 18th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
If you have a passion for nursing, keep at it!
Grades are not the ‘be all/end all’.
A real love of people and a passion for caring is what makes a good nurse. Best wishes for an amazing future.
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:41 am
Maybe you really need to rethink. Why do you want to be in the nursing field? It’s hard and it’s heart….I’m a new nurse and I struggled to pass med surg.. I never failed any semesters…but some test yes like low c’s….you need to have critical thinking skills and sense of prioritization…being a nurse is tough work and lots of management…plus book sense. All things are possible to those who believe! sometimes not being negative…but i wonder is this for me…but there’s different niches in nursing and you’ll find your place if you stick with it….school is going to be tough but believe you can do it and remember why you want to do it….keep the dream alive and hope you do well with your exams to come and career too!!! Be blessed and thankful
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:54 am
Similar to how I did it. It depends on the program you’re applying for. I retook both a/p’s..later I thought what a waste….b/c the school i took the course in wasn’t the RN program I entered….whatever though if it’s for you it’ll be waiting…be encouraged no matter what’s going on…you’re learning and in time it’ll all come together…be patient with yourself and have faith…only the size of a mustard seed….read Phillipians 4:13 KJV
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:55 am
Excuse the comment on 15…this was for another reply to someone else’s question.
May 23rd, 2011 at 7:27 am
Joseph Campbell once said, “Follow your bliss”. If you truly want to become a nurse, do not let the inability to obtain an A+ deter you. In nursing school, I aced my first semester with high grades in everything and I had a 7 course caseload. The second semester, they introduced critical thinking testing and I got my first C on my first test.I knew that material through and through so it was the testing style that got me! OUCH! So I did a self-directed study of critical thinking test styles. Sure enough, I aced every test thereafter. It took the mystery and confusion out of the picture. Don’t give up. Remember, Einstein did lousy in school and look what he contributed! Hope this helped!
May 24th, 2011 at 9:09 am
My pre-req grades were B’s and C’s. Took them back in the 70’s at the #1 party school in the nation. Dropped out and worked as an orderly for 8 years. Went back to school and aced all my nursing classes. Went on to BSN and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a full time nursing job, director of Cardiovascular Surgery Specialty and with a family. Could have been an MD, but blew that. Could have been a CRNA, but too old and too much debt. What’s the point? You’ve got to get your life together and show you can handle life before you can even think about handling a patient in today’s specialized medicine. Nursing schools in my area are turning out crap students. No critical thinking skills at all. Maybe try an LPN to ADN program and if you can excel as an LPN, then get your RN. If you can’t “master” this level, get a job in admitting or administration where no clinical knowledge is required. You might even make more money. RN pay is pathetic compared to what we are responsible for. Think life is hard now, try life plus being a nurse. This field is not for the meek.