Detail freaks?

[jphume]

I have to admit that small details are not my strong point. I'm really good at the "big picture" but sometimes overlook details. I really would like to pursue nursing as a career. Should this be a warning sign? I think I would be very nervous about messing up a dosage or not reading every detail correctly. I recognize that there are a lot of extra safeguards put in place to prevent mistakes but I guess I just am being very cautious. My perception (however wrong it may be) is that all nurses are detail freaks. Is this true?

My question is: Are there any nurses out there that don't have a propensity for details that have overcome that obstacle?

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

You're right that attention to detail is quite important in clinical areas of nursing, but it could just as easily have been me writing your post. Like you, I'm not detail-oriented by nature, but I've had to force myself to think more along those lines.

I have a schedule that I write out for each of my patients that includes medications, vitals, etc. I find that by making a pretty exhaustive list and checking each thing off one by one, I can overcome what you're describing.

[stpauligirl]

I have to admit that small details are not my strong point. I'm really good at the "big picture" but sometimes overlook details. I really would like to pursue nursing as a career. Should this be a warning sign? I think I would be very nervous about messing up a dosage or not reading every detail correctly. I recognize that there are a lot of extra safeguards put in place to prevent mistakes but I guess I just am being very cautious. My perception (however wrong it may be) is that all nurses are detail freaks. Is this true?

My question is: Are there any nurses out there that don't have a propensity for details that have overcome that obstacle?

Have you taken the nursing science prerequisite classes? Taking those you will teach you attention to detail, trust me It's like a breaking in phase!