Are Clinical Nursing skills teachable?

[Weber]

My physician thinks I should study something relatively easy, not too challenging. I am a male in my mid twenties with Low T (Low Testosterone), and due to that I suffer, and take meds for, depression and anxiety. I plan on taking replacement therapy for the Low T.

However, I'm interested in becoming a nurse; after taking the Wechsler IQ test, i scored 110. I'm not stupid,nor smart, just of slightly above average IQ.

Long story short: I want to become a nurse, yet my doctor thinks I can pass the nursing classes but would have difficulty with the Clinical Nursing instruction (and skills) of the program.

Is it possible to be book smart and still have trouble learning the clinical aspects of nursing? Dedication, motivation and ambition are some of the words that describe my work ethic, and I am eager to learn.

Can I still become a nurse?

[chrisrn24]

There has to be something more than this. Maybe I'm stupid but why would that be a dealbreaker for nursing clinicals?

Unless he meant like clinical skills/ judgment - some people really struggle with that part.

It's easy to learn to pass meds - I could teach most anybody. But using your logic to decide on certain things and make judgment calls is not always easily learned.

I hate to ask but is it possible that you have some kind of mild social problems that would make it difficult for you to have good bedside manner? Some people just don't have it. Maybe the low-t is a way of your doc saying that you wouldn't be good in a nursing career?

Nursing is a lot of therapeutic communication. You're there for people during some bad parts of their life. You have to be compassionate and some people just don't have that compassionate bone. Doesn't mean they are awful but just that they don't have it.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

I don't see how any of those things affect nursing. Am I missing something? You have a normal IQ, you have a functional body, and you might have to take hormone replacement therapy just like a lot of other people. I guess I don't see why your doctor says to do something "relatively easy." Is there something else?

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

I'm curious how low testosterone levels would impair a nurse's ability to perform tasks? The majority of nurses are female, after all.

Has you depression/anxiety issues affected past jobs? Many, many nurses with depression do a good job every day.

I wonder what your doctor is basing his opinion on?

[ChipNurse]

Nursing skills are the easier part- anyone can give a pill, give a shot (diabetics give themselves shots all the time at home), start an IV, change a dressing etc etc. Don't get me wrong, you will need to practice it to have good technique, but it is the easy part of the job. The hard part is the critical thinking. First you need to learn the info, recall the info during tests, and apply it to situations in clinicals. Nursing is anticipating patient needs and patient complications. Nurses are the "eyes" for the MD and need to recognize when a patient is not doing so well or has an acute change in status. That is the hard part. As far as your situation, I can't see why you couldn't become a nurse. If nursing is your passion, go for it! Good luck! :)

[Retired APRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Like the others, I don't really see the connection between Low T and clinical nursing skills. Can the skills be taught? I think most of them can.

When I was a student I had terrible time with my observation skills. The sheer amount of information we were expected to notice and process overwhelmed me. I met with my clinical instructors several times and eventually hit on a method that worked for me (a combination of reducing my anxiety/fear of failure and systematically looking at things in a set pattern every time). I ended up graduating and succeeding in my career.

On the other hand, is there some other reason your doctor is making this suggestion? Could you ask? For example, do you have difficulties reading people's expressions and body language? Processing multi-step tasks? Memory problems?

If you possibly can, I suggest asking your doctor why he or she made that recommendation and if there is something you could do to overcome the perceived difficulty.

Good luck and success to you!

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

As others have noted, critical thinking and judgement are hugely important, and have to be learned. With hormone replacement, depression and anxiety meds, do they impair your thinking? Some do, some don't.

In this day and age, it is hard for many people to find jobs, and many jobs are stressful (for the most part) from a cashier to a brain surgeon. I would ask for clarification from your doctor. If it is a matter of coping skills, then perhaps your doctor can suggest a person to see to work on that.

There are many, many programs at local colleges that take into consideration special educational needs. Go speak with a guidance counselor at one of those colleges.

There are successful nurses who have overcome great obstacles. Best of luck to you in your endevours!!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I would think it depends on the medication you have to take in order to function. If any of those are prohibited by your state's BON then you might have trouble getting licensed.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

LOL - the vast majority of physicians HAVE NO IDEA what is involved in nursing education. So, the 'advice' to OP is questionable, at best. I have come across a few psych articles lately which indicate that there are definite advantages to 'bad moods/depression' - seriously. Take a look (7 Good Things About Feeling Bad | Psychology Today ) For instance, moderately depressed people actually make better decisions than the happy, chirpy people. They tend to be reflective and analytic rather than impulsive.... so there!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

^^^ THIS^^^

HouTx just took the words right out of my mouth. If you want an opinion on preparation for nursing, most physicians are not the ones to give it to you.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Really, I can't imagine any doctors I know saying something so discouraging.

Perhaps it was a miscommunication? Looking back at the OP, I don't see the doctor explicitly stating you shouldn't pursue nursing school. Maybe he simply meant that you would find the "book" side of school easier than the clinical skill side?

I found that the test taking and theory aspects of school came easier than the "skills". I think it's just because I lean more toward "booksmarts". I passed tests and wrote careplans with ease. But, I will admit, I had to do some of the skill lab check offs over. But even the skill side (inserting foleys, dressing changes, etc.) I nailed after some practice. The skills of nursing are mostly about repetition. Most adult humans with opposable thumbs can learn the clinical skills.

At any rate, the above posters are right in that physicians aren't the best source to go to on what nursing school entails. I've found that doctors tend to think of nurses as more "task oriented" than we actually are. Many doctors view nursing as a mostly vocational field, which isn't really the case.