Are you Smart enough to be a Nurse?

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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.

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Well said.

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Thank you, I needed that..HUGS!!

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I agree. People with average ability can do great things if they try.

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IMKOSHER. *high five*!!! You are the product of your own thoughts, so never give up!!!

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You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Especially today. Thank you:):)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Wonderful sentiments! Hard work and motivation will be the deciding factor for most who are "on the bubble" with nursing school success. However, some brains are just not wired to master the breadth of basic science information that is required for nursing. For these folks, it can be a heartbreaking and exhausting, but essentially futile pursuit -- one that is far more damaging to their self esteem than simply making a decision to move in a different direction.

My very artistic youngest offspring has cognitive processing abnormalities that made it near impossible to master any abstract math... she made it through college algebra on her 3rd try with intensive tutoring. She was awarded full scholarship for her MFA and is very successful in her career today. Just imagine how different her story would have been if she thought that nursing was the only career she wanted. . .

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid" - Albert Einstein

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Specializes in Emergency, Med-Surg, Progressive Care.

I'm of the thought that there are different types of intelligences. I'm pretty terrible with hands-on things, which is odd because I was an aircraft mechanic for four years. However, I aced every science class I took in college with a bare minimum of studying. I certainly believe that there are people who lack the right type of intelligence to be a nurse, but that doesn't mean that they're unintelligent. I suck at solving puzzles, but I can do math rather well. If you're measuring intelligence from one unwaivering standpoint, then people will seem stupid to you. However, every person you meet can probably do at least one thing better than you can, if not many.

Just my two cents.

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Very nice!

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I agree with the last few PPs. We all have different skill sets that make us better candidates for one career or another. I don't think "smart" has anything to do with it, but I'm wary of painting everyone with the same ability brush. If I was passionate about becoming an engineer, I'm sure I could do it. If I had 12 years to devote to surviving a 4 year degree. And even then, I highly doubt I'd be very successful on the job; my brain doesn't work that way all that well. No sense beating myself up over it.

The problem with nursing school is that, yes, I'm sure most people can grasp the concepts necessary. But you must be able up grasp the concepts QUICKLY. You don't have 20 years to complete a program - you have 2 to 4, and the material moves quickly. If you struggle you can seek extra help, but you only have so much time.

I'm not trying to be negative, and I agree with your sentiment - if you have all those things, by all means GO for it! But for those who have gone for it and not succeeded, it doesn't necessarily mean the passion and motivation were lacking - some people just struggle too much to cut it and are "forced" to look their talents in the eye and realize they lie elsewhere. And I don't think there's any shame in that - I think we've all been through it in one way or another.

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In response to some posts:

HouTx: That's fantastic that your youngest was able to find her gifts and become very successful in a career. I agree, that some may find themselves "not fitting" in this field, and may be best to chose another career. Right here though, in the "Pre-Nursing" forum, we have students working towards becoming a nurse. So this is for myself, them, and any others finding difficulty in Nursing School and our self-esteem.

kabfighter: Everyone has their own unique abilities and talents. Reread the post. I'm not stating that some are not smart, rather then we have mislabeled "Smart". My thought is that we need to change "Smart" to "Determination".

Stephalump: If you want to become a Nurse, no matter how fast, or how much you need to learn, you can make it happen as long as you learn yourself and have a plan to make it happen.

JS - "Five P's: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance"

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

ImKosher, well said. I think the two key points are drive and especially discipline. Some people just aren't disciplined enough to go to NS. It's hard, but I'm not a rocket scientist. Yes, I might grasp math and science better than another, but psychology is like a foreign language. I still pushed through it because I wasn't going to let that stop me.

I had a young lady in my composition class and my anatomy physiology class. She got a B in comp and flunked out of A & P. She kept asking me what I got on papers and tests and would then say "You're just so smart!" Nope, I'm not so smart, I'm just putting everything I have into it. The night before a test, I studied for 12 hours. She went out drinking. There's a formula for success.

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