Are you Smart enough to be a Nurse?

[ImKosher]

I wanted to share an experience with those interested.

I was working in clinicals passing out dinner trays, when a CNA pulled me to the side and asked me if I was going to school. I replied "Yes, I'm in the RN program". She looked and said "You need to be smart to go to RN school". I was bothered by what she had said. I could read on her face showing that she isn't smart enough for NS. So here's my opinion:

Smart in literal terms means that your are intelligently gifted...right? I don't believe that is right, people have made that word for those who have acheived something that they did not.

"Your smart, that's why you made it, I'm dumb".

There are no Dummies. There are no Smarties. There are those who were determined enough to become what they wanted to become. You and others are labeling people as smart, because they are getting things done for themselves. They're becoming Doctors, RN's, CRNA's, and NP's. Those are the smart ones? Just because your a CNA doesn't mean your dumb. If you want to become an RN what is stopping you?

Many argue that they can't study "smart" enough. If you can pick up a book and read, you can do it. You just need to find your "click". In time after trying many things you will learn what is your gifted way of learning. Some read, some watch, some draw,and some speak. Only trial and error will reveal to your gifts.

I want to change the definition of "smart". Are you Smart enough to be a Nurse? I'm going to write a couple of phrases replacing smart.

-Are you Passionate enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Patient enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Persistent enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Driven enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Disciplined enough to become a Nurse?

Many people have obstacles to become a Nurse. Finance, families, jobs, and many others. These obstacles tend to succeed in stopping us in our tracks. This is called "life". It's another topic for a forum.

If your reading this, I hope this inspires, strengthens, and renews your energy to continue pursuing your goals whatever stage in your career you are in. You don't need to be smart enough. You are Smart.

[ImKosher]

you live in a fairy-tale world where if you want something bad enough and work hard enough for it, you will get it. that is not the real world. it is idealism. that idealism can lead many people to success. others will be led to disappointment.

by your logic, anyone could have been einstein, hawking, jobs, or nightingale if they wanted enough.

drive, maturity and motivation allow people to make the most of resources and ability they possess. people have limits. people should "take it to the limit!"

many don't. many people are afraid of failure to the point where they won't test their limits. many people are convinced they are more limited than they are because they were written off by others.

selling someone short is a horrible crime. so is filling them with false hope.

in the sense of this cna i am speaking of, do you believe i'm feeding her false hope? do you think that i'm living in a fairy-tale world to belive that this cna was curoius about nursing school? do you think i am commiting a crime by giving her the information to my school?

so i'm living in a fairy tale?

i would rather want a nurse to care for me who has had a little trouble but worked hard to get their license rather then the one who believes that we're living in a fairy tale.

my

[ImKosher]

-Are you Passionate enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Patient enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Persistent enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Driven enough to become a Nurse?

-Are you Disciplined enough to become a Nurse?

I was all of the above AND smart enough.

I was just not smart enough to use my smarts where they would be appreciated.

Oh, lol. I'm sorry, I laughed.

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

I know you're trying to be positive, but frankly there are some people who cannot and should not be able to get into nursing. Being intelligent does have a lot of something to do with it. If it takes longer than 3 years to pass college algebra with a C or higher, I think it would be pretty difficult, if not impossible to pass every single Pharm calc test with a 90% or higher required to pass the course and therefore finish the nursing program.

It's not as though getting through nursing school is only about how much you care about a patient, but also about how quickly you can grasp material and if you can apply the material to your clinical rotations. Sure, some people get into nursing programs and succeed after having to retake classes, but I haven't met them. Nursing programs, for the most part, are competitive. It's so hard to be accepted to nursing school and it's even harder to stay in it. The schooling is hard is because the job is hard. It's fine to give people information and encouragement, but I don't go around telling every one of my fellow CNA's to try to get into nursing school.

[MorganB]

and perhaps that statement touched your heart so deeply because God wanted you to inspire those who doubt their own abilities. What a blessing! The fact that you could stretch yourself shows you are definitely ready to be a nurse !

[ImKosher]

I believe that many PP's have placed themselves on a pedestal stating "I am smart. Only I and of my intellect may attain the license you call Nursing. Don't even bother trying because our field has no need of you and those who cannot meet our standards on the first try. Thou shall not even thinketh of it. We do not recognize this thing you call perseverance."

This a double-edged sword. I know I'm going to start a fire, but here it goes.

So....how many of you wanted to become MD's or DO's but thought you weren't smart enough?

[kabfighter]

Rainbows and sunshine enemas for everyone!

Nursing needs to have standards if we want to be recognized as professionals. I consider myself an ambassador representing all nurses, and I expect every other nurse to do the same; we need to make each other look good. People failing classes repeatedly and taking the NCLEX ten times are not adequate representatives of my chosen profession. They may have chosen the wrong career, but I don't fault them for it.

I wanted to be an MD. I'm smart enough...life just didn't hasn't taken me in that direction yet.

I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just a realist by nature. I think it's great that you're an optimist, but I can't resist a good online argument

And don't even get me started on the people that think they have a divine calling to nursing...

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

So....how many of you wanted to become MD's or DO's but thought you weren't smart enough?

*raises hand*. And I've worked with doctors who have asked me why I chose nursing over medicine. Please don't ask me. But I don't plan to stay in nursing for too long. PA is a happy medium between nursing and physician.

The best advice I can give to pre-nursing students is take some time to shadow a nurse, a physician or a mid-level practitioner (PA or NP). Evaluate different criteria of each job, such as job satisfaction, pay, working conditions, perceived level of respect etc. Many of you here have a passion, and also the smarts. Think about what career you want to put your heart and soul into, so that you have no regrets.

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

I believe that many PP's have placed themselves on a pedestal stating "I am smart. Only I and of my intellect may attain the license you call Nursing. Don't even bother trying because our field has no need of you and those who cannot meet our standards on the first try. Thou shall not even thinketh of it. We do not recognize this thing you call perseverance."

This a double-edged sword. I know I'm going to start a fire, but here it goes.

So....how many of you wanted to become MD's or DO's but thought you weren't smart enough?

I got two C's in my pre-req's. I had panic attacks nearly every day until I figured out a back up plan if I didn't get into a nursing program. It's stressful! I don't think I'm the smartest, but you're kidding yourself if you think you don't need to have some sort of traditional intelligence and successfully get through nursing school. The prerequisites are difficult and the actual nursing courses are even more so. Nursing is the most difficult and most demanding undergrad major. Even if you actually do get into a program (which means you have to have had some sort of intellect in order to pass pre-req classes) there's a very high likelihood that you could fail out. All it takes is a 76% in one class and you're out of the ADN program.

Yes persistence and perseverance is vital to nursing school, but not just anybody could get into nursing. Out of about 500 applicants only 45 get in.

I think if you're smart enough to get into and complete a nursing program, I think you should be able to apply to all the MD and DO schools you want and get into a few of them (that is if you really couldn't stand nursing anymore)! Most people don't go into nursing wanting to be doctors and a lot of "pre-med" students who feel that they can't become doctors go the lawyer route (it's the trend I've seen with friends). They don't even consider PA or NP because they don't want anything to do with the medical field if they can't be the ones in charge.

If you want to tell people that they can't get into nursing programs that they didn't try hard enough, then go for it. I personally think it's pretty cruel to not tell the truth in this instance, but whatever floats your boat!

[ImKosher]

Rainbows and sunshine enemas for everyone!

Nursing needs to have standards if we want to be recognized as professionals. I consider myself an ambassador representing all nurses, and I expect every other nurse to do the same; we need to make each other look good. People failing classes repeatedly and taking the NCLEX ten times are not adequate representatives of my chosen profession. They may have chosen the wrong career, but I don't fault them for it.

I wanted to be an MD. I'm smart enough...life just didn't hasn't taken me in that direction yet.

I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just a realist by nature. I think it's great that you're an optimist, but I can't resist a good online argument

Loved the comic, I'm saving for another debate!

[LaceElaine]

I started to tear up reading this. It reminded me of a time in my life when I thought that college was for very intelligent people. I'm thankful that I realized this. School may come easier for some than it does for others, but it's determination that really counts. Thank you for posting this.

[Hoosier69]

I'd like to think of myself as a reasonably intelligent person. We all know it takes time, perseverance, etc. to make things happen. With that being said, I often wonder if I am "smart enough to be a nurse." Only time will tell. LOL

It's easy to find oneself in a bit of funk, so to speak, with all the challenges that colleges throw at us. I've been out of high school for over 20 years and wonder daily if I'm up to the challenge of these pre-requisite courses. I just keep plugging away. A lot of this stems from the idea that we have to have confidence in ourselves or nobody else will.

Just my 2 cents...

[Stephalump]

Whoops!