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.
How is this insulting? Look how many people benefited alone from this. Now I think this would be different if I started advertising on Facebook "Come fun, Come all" but this is on AN. There's is no shame to share an idea or thought.
I'm sorry you don't agree, but I'll inlude you on the pedestal.
Here's your line "Thou not any idiot with any dream can be worthy of thy title nurse. Thou shall not pass!"
I'll get some que cards ready for you!
This was the problem I had with your post as well. You are saying that you don't have to be "smart" to be a nurse. I feel that you have to be very smart to be a nurse! Nursing is one of the few college majors where you actually use what you learn in school on the job.
And no, not any idiot should try to become a nurse! I don't want just any idiot giving me controlled substances and shoving needles into me! I've seen enough unprofessional new nurses I don't think that any more of them are needed.
Nursing school is hard to get into and hard to complete because the job is difficult. There is a reason why so many people are weeded out of the process.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I believe that individuals need to be encouraged that through hard work and diligence that you can be successful. But I also know that some people really do not have the "intellect" or "IQ" to be successful...... or, they just are not suited for the profession they "chose" and there is no shame in that.
I also know that it is perfectly acceptable to disagree but one doesn't have to be disagreeable.........and just to clarify things slightly, guides, can not shut down threads.
This was the problem I had with your post as well. You are saying that you don't have to be "smart" to be a nurse. I feel that you have to be very smart to be a nurse! Nursing is one of the few college majors where you actually use what you learn in school on the job.
And no, not any idiot should try to become a nurse! I don't want just any idiot giving me controlled substances and shoving needles into me! I've seen enough unprofessional new nurses I don't think that any more of them are needed.
You are trying to state that nursing is a vocational degree which seems to be partially true but partially not. Historically, vocational degrees were meant to teach you just what you needed to learn and nothing else.
The purpose of a college degree is to mostly teach you not what to learn but how to learn. I have a previous BS and it allowed me a lot of flexibility in my job choice because I had the basics down and could adapt for the most part. On my first job, I was given a book and told to learn it, and was given assignments based on the fact that I should be able to figure out solutions to issues without being told every detail. I would say, for the most part, if you get a college degree, you aren't an idiot.
Now nursing is a little different as you do need some specifics but you also need to be taught some of the basics so you can adapt. It crosses the line of vocational but I think that is a necessity of the future job.
As for smarts, I'd generally define that as someone who can grasp certain subjects and extrapolate on them with little effort. I know this because I believe I am smart. It is the reason that I studied maybe 2-3 hours/week for AP1 and similarly for Micro. I think though that doesn't mean I'd be the best nurse and in fact I have to remember not take it for granted. So someone may have to put a lot more determination and effort into learning, as long as they can and do, then I think they would be a great nurse.
I liked the original post it's just a shame it's message of positivity got squandered with the rest of the posts.
I compete in a sport known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and I also teach it. It is not a sport for everyone BUT anyone can do it. Most drop out of training before they even receive their first belt because it takes about 12 years, on average, to be awarded a black belt. It's difficult on the body and the mind and its nickname is human chess. There is blood, sweat, and lots of human contact yet we exclude no one who wants to come into our dangerous world of choke holds and joint locks because we know that the ones who are meant for it will stay and survive.
It is the same with nursing. How bad do you want to be nurse? If you want it bad enough, you will overcome any obstacle to obtain it. Bottom line. Same with being a doctor, an astronaut, or anything else your heart sets out to be. If you want, take it. As Buddha said, we are makers of our own destiny. There are real reasons some rise from the slums to success but that doesn't change the fact that anyone can do it. As for the ones who don't, they also have real reasons they don't succeed and labels like "not being smart enough" are just excuses. It is true that not living up to your potential weighs on your shoulders for a lifetime so reasons for why you didn't do this or that make that fact easier to hide.
Success is success and there are certain traits required, no matter what the profession, to excel and anyone can do it if they apply them and I think that is what the OP is getting at. In no way did I take the original post as it saying "Stupid people can do nursing if they have x,y, and z in their hearts".
For everyone who needs that affirmation: yes nursing is hard and requires various levels of social and mental intelligence. It takes more than a dream but anyone who wants real success should already know that.
OP, I have a sneaky feeling you are basing your assessment of nursing on A&P I and II, Micro, statistics, algebra, etc. They don't compare to the hurdles or critical thinking that the core nursing classes require.
I understand that you are trying to motivate students and that is to be applauded, but you should also contemplate why there appears to be a broad schism between experienced nurses and your opinion. I'm passionate and opinionated, but I've revisited posts and thoughts of my own for the same reason.
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
My opinion.... Not everyone has the drive, passion or the intelligence to be a Nurse, doctor, astronaut, etc., But to the ones who DO... GO FOR IT!!!
To the ones who don't.... there are many professions to chose from, may opportunities to learn, grow and use your intelligence, drive and passion. You just have to decide what it is you are going to do. Chose wisely, look at all angles and know that Plan B may be what you should chose.
I have drive, and passion to sing, unfortunatley, I can't carry a tune in a bucket. can I learn to sing better, yes, of course, can I learn to sing professionally.... um... NO... gotta have some talent for that.
Nursing takes talent, knowldege, compassion and a zillion other skills. Can they be learned? Sometimes yes, sometimes, no. If a person wants to try to become a nurse and starts the course work and decides that it really isn;t for them, is that wrong, NO, are they not "smart" enough... NO. Actually they are smart enough to know what is NOT right for them.
And I agree with some PP... while I agree that not passing the NCLEX once, or even twice could be from nerves, test anxiety... but MULTIPLE times leads me to wonder about the test takers BASIC level of knowledge. You might be great at hands on, but you gotta know the book-learning, too!!!
AND... what is wrong with being the gosh-darndest, greated CNA the world has ever known?????!!!!! NOT everyone wants to, or should become a nurse!
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Curious to know how it is that a number of people with actual experience to base their opinion on is considered to be squandering of the thread in which someone made pronouncements based on no experience, especially when the experienced people tend to state the same things. Sign of the times I guess.
I think it's the constant raising of the bar for admission to nursing programmes that is the issue. In my area we are seeing the brightest academically not the best suited for the physical work of nursing being admitted. We have no waitlists, you must apply each semester (nice money maker for the universities).
This year the marks for the BScN were 90% in high school maths and sciences. A young man that is a friend of my son has been applying for three years and upgrading his hs marks since graduation. He missed this year by 2%. He's now in a PN programme. This young is bright enough and ambitious enough to succeed but the powers that control university admissions are holding him back not his belief in himself. Is he meant to spend five years trying to get into university, racking up student debt while being employed in the service industry?
We are seeing pupils who don't make it into medical school going into nursing school. Totally different mindset but hey, the money is OK seems to be their mantra.
When I attended College for my PN education, roughly 15% of the class had degrees in something other than nursing (no post degree programmes existed then and their marks in sciences didn't meet the acceptance point). 25% didn't missed the cut off for the degree programme by less than 5%.
So I resent the implication that PN education is a fall back for those not "bright" enough for the degree programme.
I also think that this constant raising of the marks IS hurting the profession. At the end of the day, I know my stuff, I do the physical labour that is nursing and recent being thought of as not intelligent for the degree programme. I have a degree in another area.
We are seeing students who are repulsed at touching a fellow human being, who will do anything to avoid feces and vomit. Face it they are RNs and their has to be someone else to do the part of the job that is beneath them. All because they have been told they are the brightest and the best.
I have drive, and passion to sing, unfortunatley, I can't carry a tune in a bucket. can I learn to sing better, yes, of course, can I learn to sing professionally.... um... NO... gotta have some talent for that.
What about Rebecca Black? (Friday song) and the girl who sang "Call Me Maybe". I don't think they have the talent but hey, they're singing professionally. lol
gcriado
19 Posts
That's awesome...I'm more excited now!!!