Is arrogance normal??

Diary/Dairy, RN · Jul 14, 2007

Nope, I don't think that this is all that abnormal sadly, although I experience it not only in school but also with the newer graduates...It's sad that we have to look down on others while we are doing our job. I think nurses ought to try to lift each other up and all we seem to do is tear each other down!!

Sorry guys, I posted here on this thread because I read the content under new posts. Sorry, did not mean to interfere in the Man Zone without express permission!!

labman · Jul 16, 2007

thanks for posting. I agree we should all have arrogence to the point of we are compitent care providers but not to the point where we compare who is the best nurse or to put others down.

Psqrd · Jul 17, 2007

Nope, I don't think that this is all that abnormal sadly, although I experience it not only in school but also with the newer graduates...It's sad that we have to look down on others while we are doing our job. I think nurses ought to try to lift each other up and all we seem to do is tear each other down!!
Sorry guys, I posted here on this thread because I read the content under new posts. Sorry, did not mean to interfere in the Man Zone without express permission!!

Ladies are always welcome to post...sometimes a different perspective is exactly what is needed. P2

Jedi of Zen · Jul 17, 2007

I think for some people, being arrogant is the only way they know how to be confident at what they do. It's really sad, if not downright freaking annoying as hell...Actually, I am a prenursing student, but I have dated an RN student and have worked with nurses a lot at my job, and honestly I am convinced that nurses can be some of the b****iest and yes, snottiest, individuals on the planet - and obviously, I say that despite the fact that I myself am of course choosing (and gladly so) to go into this field. I've heard that many patients actually prefer male RNs over females for that very reason - ie, that the guys tend to be less fussy and more pragmatic. I have no idea how much that actually bears out in reality. Of course when you do get to work with a nurse - male or female - who actually seems to take an interest in making the job and communication easier instead of harder, as a tech I totally try to stay tight with those RNs.

StocktonNurse, BSN, LVN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 17, 2007

Thanks for the feedback. Ahh...just sometimes ya gotta get stuff of your chest. Things have been alright since then and it seems that folks that seem to be real arrogant or X have calm down since we decide to not talk to them. Instead they approach us now. I think it might have to do with myself telling one of them that they are really X annoying and I believe she relayed that to the reset of the clan. I'll see how things go in the future, but I am not worried about them, we'll all see where we end up at in the future.

Yeah...as I have been in the hospital, I have noticed the arrogance of certain RN's. That stuff doesn't bother me at all, I have learned how to not be intimidated or be cautious of that X. To me...if the nurse wants to be Katty or X, that is her choice, and she obviously wants everyone to recognize that. I guess that makes her day....while I will just remember that they are no better then me just because they are full fledge nurses. I know I will soon become the same individual they are. So...for another human to make themselves act better then me shows no respect and shows how closed minded they are. I dunno...I am just glad that I lost the whole intimidation factor a month ago. I was really intimidated once I got into the hospital for my rotation. But I met some really cool nurses, and some really mean or arrogant nurses. I guess after awhile and being a guy I just started to laugh at it. the girls in my class have a much harder time since the female RN's really mess with them or tell them things. If the ladies tell me something, I keep my composure, but later tell the guys how much of a X my primary nurse is. Ahh....venting...school is almost done.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Aug 14, 2007

In the first year of my ASN program, I was mildly in awe of many of the 2nd year students, who seemed so much sharper and together than my class. When I started my second year, it was a bit scary to find first year students looking at me as though I had some idea what was going on, but I tried to live up to the image.

Nursing practice has been sort of similar. In my first year, I felt like a total ignoramous. Then the new hires came on, and some of them were so utterly lost at sea that they were even asking me what to do!

Personally, nothing about the experience made me feel arrogant, but it wasn't hard to sympathize with those who were going through what I had just been through. Now we have a new crop of newbies, and--amazingly--sometimes I actually know the answers to their questions. It's also mildly amusing to watch last year's newbie's looking at this year's newbies with a mixture of sympathy and bemusement, just like I looked at them.

But to answer the original question: arrogance is bad. Confidence is good, and a lack of confidence can be overcome, but a cocky nurse is a dangerous nurse, no matter how long they've been at it. There are two possible approaches to the issues we deal with: humble or stupid.

You can't let the work intimidate you if you want to be effective, but if you aren't humbled by it, you will hurt people.

diane227, LPN, RN · Nov 30, 2008

I am so sorry but this is kind of funny. We had the same kind of attitudes when I was in nursing school 30 years ago. Some people who act like this are just excited about what they know others simply just know enough to get them into trouble later on. It would be interesting to see how they turn out after graduation. Diane