Author: Annika Bilog PhDc, RN, PCCN
Let’s get real. I graduated nursing school with a 3.3 GPA. I skimmed through my prerequisites thinking, “B’s get degrees.” Because, C’s? Yeah… those got you kicked out of nursing school, so I had to at least survive.
Honestly, I didn’t really have a passion for nursing during most of my undergrad. I barely passed classes in my first three years. I even failed two classes (physiology will forever be my enemy 😅).
And here’s a fun story: I showed up to my pharmacology midterm not even knowing it was midterms. I confidently sat at my usual seat, laptop out, ready to learn… and lo and behold, everyone else had their scantrons out. Needless to say, I miserably failed.
The class only had a midterm and a final, so I threw myself at the final like my life depended on it—and thankfully, I passed.
When Things Finally Clicked 💡
It wasn’t until senior year that I earned my first A. Suddenly, concepts started to make sense. By the time I hit my critical care rotation, patient assessments weren’t just box-checking skills—they became tools I could actually use to care for real people.
And that’s when it hit me:
Grades didn’t give me confidence. Experience did.
Asking the right questions did.
Applying knowledge in real time did.
The Real World Isn’t a Classroom 🏥
As a Nursing Professional Development Practitioner, I’ve seen this play out countless times.
Some new nurses walk in with 4.0 GPAs—straight-A machines. On paper, they’ve got it all together. Then they hit the floor. Patients need care now. Machines beep. Alarms sound. A thousand decisions stack up at once. And some freeze.
They struggle with time management, delegation, or simply keeping up. Their grades didn’t prepare them for the chaos.
Meanwhile, other nurses? Their GPAs were… meh. But they had adaptability, curiosity, and the courage to learn on the job. They asked questions, reflected, took notes, and—slowly but surely—became confident and capable.
Grades show what you know. Confidence shows what you can do.
What Actually Builds Workplace Confidence ✅
Even if you’re acing classes, the real world is different. Here’s what truly matters:
Ask questions 🤔
Don’t be afraid to look curious. Ask why, ask what if, ask anything that deepens understanding.Learn from experience 🔁
Every patient encounter, mistake, or curveball is a lesson. Reflect, debrief, and grow.Ask for feedback 🗣️
Don’t wait to be corrected. Ask your preceptor for real-time feedback so you can adjust in real time.Adapt and stay curious 🧠
Time management, delegation, and thinking on your feet aren’t taught in lectures—they’re built through practice.
Myth, Busted 🚫
The myth: Good grades = workplace confidence.
The reality: Curiosity + reflection + adaptability + experience = real confidence.
Grades may open doors. Your mindset and actions determine whether you thrive once you step through them.
Disclaimer: This article was assisted by AI-based language tools (ChatGPT, OpenAI) for drafting and organization. All content was reviewed by the author, and all claims are supported by peer-reviewed sources.
More about Annika Bilog PhDc, RN, PCCN
A critical care nurse and PhD candidate who’s passionate about mentorship, equity, and evolving healthcare culture.
