Are you Smart enough to be a Nurse?

willowita, ADN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

Love this post and totally agree! My brother is a medical assistant and I know he would be a great nurse. But he also believes he's not "smart" enough. So he's too afraid to try.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jul 2, 2012

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.

But what did you tell the CNA? So sad to be so lacking in confidence that you don't try something you want.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

trying to be thoughtful here, but coming up against a lot of hard truths.

you know what they say: if caring (and passion and drive and all the rest of that list) were enough, anyone could be a nurse. we know, as nurses, that not everyone can be an rn. i sometimes encourage some of those folks to pursue an lpn/lvn perhaps, or get their urge to help people fulfilled in one of the many other helping professions that do not require such a solid, working knowledge of math, science, critical thinking skills, and good english writing skills for safe practice. nurses must have those to practice the art and science of nursing.

do not take this as blanket discouragement inappropriate to a forum designed to encourage pre-nursing students. i'd like to think that as a profession we want to have some degree of selectivity for entry into practice, nu? perhaps a pre-nursing forum could include information that would, in fact, guide someone to a more fruitful area of study or a more satisfying career, and not be an indiscriminate cheerleading section for all comers. that would not be fair, would it? not everybody gets a trophy. not everyone who wants something, gets it. not harsh; reality.

therefore, take this as encouragement to the ones who really can make it as nurses-- who have the passion and the drive and the capabilities in more specific essential skills. better that than to have hopes dashed when the wall is reached mid-year.

ImKosher · Jul 2, 2012

But what did you tell the CNA? So sad to be so lacking in confidence that you don't try something you want.

I told the CNA that "It's not about being smart, it's about having a drive. A desire to become a nurse." It was short and brief.

I'm also bothered by the lack of confidence. I'm going to talk to her more tomorrow. I plan on giving our school recruiters number, and asking her to go check out the school.

Stephalump · Jul 2, 2012

In response to some posts:
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.

I don't find this to be true. At most, you have about 16 weeks to master A&P 1. 16 weeks to master microbiology. And the list goes on. I have 5 weeks to learn pharalmacology. If, I fail, I have one more shot at another 5 weeks. If I fail again...it's over. I have 16 weeks to master the theory and clinical skills required by my NS each semester. If I don't...it's over. Maybe I can be readmitted once, but that's it. The fact is, you have to be able to master nursing skills QUICKLY, or you'll be left behind.

Like I said in my last post, I don't discourage anyone from trying their hand at nursing if it's what they want to do. Doubting yourself before you even try won't get you far. But I'm not into this "Everyone can be a nurse if you just believe'" mumbo jumbo I see around here so often. People

with passion and drive struggle and fail every day, because those are just building blocks. Extremely important, but not the whole shebang.

The career demands certain character traits and proficiencies that not everyone has, and keeping a standard to the profession can only serve us better in the future.

grownuprosie · Jul 2, 2012

My only reservation about this post is that determinition does not always equal nurse material. I worked with a medical assistant who took college algebra 6 times and could not pass. They barely passed Chemistry despite hours of tutoring workshops and studying. At this rate they will never make it to Anatomy let alone nursing school. But you believe they are not "Determined enough"? I see where you are going with this. However, there is NOTHING wrong with recognizing that you are not cut out for a specific carreer. Sometimes it is just easier to say to someone, "I'm not smart enough to do that" because they do not want to say, "I tried and failed at that." I respect that you dislike the terminology "not smart." But the idea behind it is a legitimate one. There are plenty of jobs that I am not "smart enough" for.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

You have to be SMART ENOUGH. Do you have to be smart to be an engineer? A doctor? A scientist? An economist? A businessman? Yes to all, but in different ways. And so too for nursing, another profession. There are many types of intelligence. Good candidates have enough of the right kinds of intelligence as well as other personality traits like determination and work ethic.

"Being smart" will help nurses professionally. It is just another performance factor like work ethic, mechanical skills, organizational skills, maturity, etc. We are not all equal. You don't have to be the smartest, or the most organized, or the best skills learner. There are MINIMUMS. You need at least a certain amount of each of those (and other) things to be successful in a career field. Being better at one can help make up for just having enough in another category.

I grasp science and math as easily as breathing. I am considered classically intelligent and always score extremely highly on tests meant to gauge such things (TEAS, SAT, ACT, IQ, ATI, etc). That helped me and hurt me in nursing school. I had to study a fraction of what my classmates did. However, I would get questions wrong from "over-thinking the problem." I am not saying that I wasn't horrendously busy in nursing school. I will say that I did many many things in nursing school that others didn't have time to do. You see many people in nursing school like that: working full time, being a single mom with three kids, or me working 3 part time jobs, 3 volunteer commitments, traveling, and still having to time for outdoor pursuits.

willowita, ADN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

just want to say that i didn't take this post as a pat on the back for people who don't work or try in school. i think too many people don't believe that they have the ability to do well in math or science. they are already defeated because they believe whatever society has led them to accept about their abilities either because of their gender, their race, or their station in life. just look at the daily posts on this forum from women who are afraid of taking chem and math. afraid to take a class? it's crazy and sad.

what i took from this post is that natural abilities are not the only trait necessary for success. you have to put in the work, the effort, the sweat, and the long hours to do well in the things that you are afraid of. if someone isn't naturally inclined towards math, it doesn't mean that the proper skills can't be learned. i honestly don't know anyone who failed a math class because they studied, did their homework, got tutoring, and put in many hours trying to understand the material.

of course not everyone is going to make it. life gets in the way. some people don't have the drive, motivation, or the proper resources to make it happen. i accept that people, by their own choices, will not make it into nursing. what i don't accept is that you have to already be "talented" and "smart" to get an education and learn something. other people accept those assumptions and they never even try. others, like my father, who came to america with very little schooling and resources, busted his butt against so many odds and the opinions of people who wrote him off as "dumb". he learned to write and speak english, got his degree in computer science, and later got his bsn to become a nurse. it can be done without being "smart", but you need the drive and the resilience.

there will be sad cases of people trying and not making it. unfortunately, there could be other variables at play there that we just don't know about. a lot of stars need to align for people to do well but i think more often than not, people give up before trying. or they set themselves up for a grade below what they can actually do.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

afraid to take a class? it's crazy and sad.

fear of failure is human nature. that is not crazy. it is what you do with the fear that is "sad" or "awesome."

i honestly don't know anyone who failed a math class because they studied, did their homework, got tutoring, and put in many hours trying to understand the material.

i know people who have, at lower and higher levels. it is not a rarity. some people's minds cannot handle algebra. some people cannot handle fourier transforms.

i accept that people, by their own choices, will not make it into nursing. what i don't accept is that you have to already be "talented" and "smart" to get an education and learn something.

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.

RN2BKS · Jul 2, 2012

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.

Thank you thank you thank you for posting this!!!! I have been feeling down about school and gow its taking so long!! And being a CNA forever! Lol and this made me feel so much better!!!

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

-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.

willowita, ADN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

SummitAP:

I admit that there are many other things that need to be in place for a person to succeed. I said as much when I stated that the stars have to align. Drive without resources, without support, without the ability to navigate through a school bureaucracy, will not lead to attaining one's goals. There are many other factors involved. Therefore, I don't agree that anyone could be Einstein or Steve Jobs. Their experiences and opportunities were not the same as the scientists and entrepreneurs we never heard of. Theirs is as much a story of drive and abilities as it is resources and timing.

But we're talking about nursing school here. Thousands of people get into a nursing program and graduate. The odds and the path towards becoming a nurse are more accessible than starting the next Apple. I don't think it's false hope to encourage people to cast off the labels that hold them back and do better than expected. Whether it's an ADN, BSN, or EL-MSN, there is a path to become an RN for different individuals. What I agree with this post about is that you don't need to be a gifted student to pass a class like Micro or A&P. If the goal is to become an RN, there are ways to do it and drive and motivation should be right there with innate ability. That's not false hope.