Why Is It That Everyone Thinks They're A Good Nurse?

[Ruby Vee]

i don't get it. people write about the horrible mistakes they've made that got them fired from work or suspended, and then they'll go on to say that they know they're a good nurse anyway because they try so hard. maybe the evidence shows that they're not a good nurse yet . . . but if they keep trying hard they will be some day?

or the nurse who writes that she's on her fourth job since graduation 16 months ago, and she hasn't found her "nitch" yet . . . and someone tells her to hold her head up because they know she's a great nurse. really? how could you possibly know that -- especially with the evidence provided that the poster has been through three jobs and is failing her fourth?

then there are the special nurses who know they're great nurses despite their many problems at work because they have a calling. or because they're compassionate. sorry -- that's not all it takes to be a great -- or even an adequate nurse.

what ever happened to striving to be a good nurse but knowing you're not there yet? knowing you need a bit more experience to be a great nurse but you're trying hard? how come everyone these days is a good nurse the moment they graduate?

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I think it's just because I've never heard anyone in any profession say, "I'm bad at my job." Also, everyone has their own definition of a "good nurse" which they apply to themselves and to others.

I also think its silly that someone can say to another, "You are a good nurse!" without ever directly observing. One night, I was upset about a mistake I had made and was talking about it with my husband. He tried to make me feel better by saying, "You're a good nurse, honey," and I unfairly snapped back at him, "How the hell do you know?" because I was not in the mood at that moment for an empty compliment. On this forum, we can minimally assess someone's knowledge and approach to learning and criticism, but beyond that, we can never truly know.

[suanna]

I make sure everyone knows I'm only a mediocre nurse with short periods of below average. I find my potential for sucess greatly depends on lowering other peoples expectations of me.