Realist vs Optimist

Nurses General Nursing

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We have peer reviews for our evals along with manager. The peer comments are anonymous. I received my eval the other day and there is a comment that puzzles me. It sort of echo's some of the comments that I see here about nurses being direct in their advice.

The comment said I was a realist more than an optimist. What is your interpretation of this?

This is my work personality as follows: If the floor is following apart, I acknowledge that today will be a hairy one, but I'm there to help and we can get through the day.

If my day is falling apart (Charge, being overwhlemed with admits/discharges, fires)I let people know I can't run down the hall every 5 minutes to co-sign for them. They need to find another nurse.

If a piece of equipment fails to work, I will call it a piece of crap:lol2: (under my breath and never in a room), but go get another pump, pca, etc..for the nurse and call it good.

I try to be optimistic at work, but there are some days it just isn't possible to be Pollyanna.

I'm not insulted, just wonder what that comment really meant and I can't ask them of course.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Thanks everyone. I have no clue on what that meant, either did my manager. He knows who wrote it though, but I don't.

I don't find it good or bad, just sort of..different.

I'm not a Pollyanna, nor am I negative. I guess I'm just inbetween.

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I would take it as a compliment! A straight shooter more often hits the bullseye!

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To the OP, there's a good chance that your peer evaluators are just trying to fill up space with inane management-speak, or are trying to find a management friendly way of saying that you call BS when you see it?

Bingo! When I think of a realist, that's what I think of. Someone who shoots straight and calls it like it is. There is nothing wrong with that :smokin:

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Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.

I used to say that I consider myself a realist. Meaning, that I see life for what it is. You know that old cliched saying about seeing the glass half full, half empty? Well, I think a realistic is some where in between that. The glass is neither. it's just is what is. The glass is half. And that's that. There is other way to look at it. It doesn't mean that you are a bad person. It's just who you are. Be proud of that.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I used to say that I consider myself a realist. Meaning, that I see life for what it is. You know that old cliched saying about seeing the glass half full, half empty? Well, I think a realistic is some where in between that. The glass is neither. it's just is what is. The glass is half. And that's that. There is other way to look at it. It doesn't mean that you are a bad person. It's just who you are. Be proud of that.

I say that a lot.."It is what it is". :smokin:

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tok, you don't see rainbows and butterflies everywhere, like me? I thought that's why we meshed so much. :lol2:

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I don't see the 2 words going hand in hand. You can be an optimist and be a realist. In the scenario given earlier I don't think the optimist would just stand there hoping things get better.

I think if the floor was falling apart the optimist would realize that and tell themselves they can get back on track with things and handle it. I consider myself an optomist, I don't mope around with a doom and gloom attitude and I try to make a good situation out of most things. I chose not to be a pessimist and think the worst of everything. I try to change the situation if it is bad.

I am also a realist. I can accept the situation for what it is. With the life I have had I have had to. I just try to find a silver lining in crummy situations.

So personally I don't see how the 2 words go against each other. Pessimist and optimist, sure.

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I don't see the 2 words going hand in hand. You can be an optimist and be a realist. In the scenario given earlier I don't think the optimist would just stand there hoping things get better.

I think if the floor was falling apart the optimist would realize that and tell themselves they can get back on track with things and handle it. I consider myself an optomist, I don't mope around with a doom and gloom attitude and I try to make a good situation out of most things. I chose not to be a pessimist and think the worst of everything. I try to change the situation if it is bad.

I am also a realist. I can accept the situation for what it is. With the life I have had I have had to. I just try to find a silver lining in crummy situations.

So personally I don't see how the 2 words go against each other. Pessimist and optimist, sure.

Mi Vida, you are my hero. The only thing that kept me sane in Mi Vida Loca was a jaded sense of mockery and detachment. What are the options when you have to hide a loaded weapon from your own mother? I would have gotten better life lessons from a bowl of Cocoa Puffs.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Mi Vida, you are my hero. The only thing that kept me sane in Mi Vida Loca was a jaded sense of mockery and detachment. What are the options when you have to hide a loaded weapon from your own mother? She has the same amount of sanity as a bowl of Cocoa Puffs.

Believe me, I get it! LOL We don't have guns in my home for a reason. (well there are hunting guns out in the garage locked up but that would just be to much of a hassle. :p

Honestly though I just don't get where pessimism gets you. I have found that a lot of the pessimistic people I have met have had a pretty good life. (by their own admission). So I just don't get it. If I can have a severely crappy life and have a good outlook, so can you! :rolleyes:

Kudos to you for "getting" my Name, a lot of people think it means crazy in the head. Well wait :|

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Believe me, I get it! LOL We don't have guns in my home for a reason. (well there are hunting guns out in the garage locked up but that would just be to much of a hassle. :p

Honestly though I just don't get where pessimism gets you. I have found that a lot of the pessimistic people I have met have had a pretty good life. (by their own admission). So I just don't get it. If I can have a severely crappy life and have a good outlook, so can you! :rolleyes:

Kudos to you for "getting" my Name, a lot of people think it means crazy in the head. Well wait :|

From one vida loca to another, I get it. :bugeyes: I am not a religious person, so it's a bit harder seeing the bright side of wrongdoings, or people for that matter, when you believe in the end that person gets a free ride of acting like a piece of garbage. Ugh. I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining. I swear I'm not.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
From one vida loca to another, I get it. :bugeyes: I am not a religious person, so it's a bit harder seeing the bright side of wrongdoings, or people for that matter, when you believe in the end that person gets a free ride of acting like a piece of garbage. Ugh. I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining. I swear I'm not.

Pessimist :lol2::lol2:

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Pessimist :lol2::lol2:

Definitely not the first time someone has called me that. :lol2: I had a friend who had Papa Roach's Last Resort as my ringtone. :D Um, couldn't it have been I'm Walking on Sunshine?

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