Do you have to be "smart" to make it through Nursing school?

Agnus · Jan 13, 2008

My friend says you have to be extemely intelligent.I think you should know what you're doing..be able to study well..I dont think you need to be smart to be a Nurse.I know many people who got into Nursing school with a 2.5...

Since you don't think people need to be smart I can only wonder what your definition of smart is.

I like to think of my self as smart. It requires someone of average intelligence. (That in my book is smart) It requires someone with drive and tenacity with a willingness to do the intense work required.

There are many so called "exteemly intelligent" people who do not have the willingness to do the work. Do not have the drive or tenacity.

Intelligence (average) is needed but not extreeme. If that were the case Nurses would be rare.

People often mistake a willingness to work with intelligence. They mistake a GPA with intelligence. Sadly I have seen more than one documented genius who flunked out of College.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 13, 2008

If the school you intend to apply for is competitive, you do need to have a high GPA to be accepted into their nursing program. But, to me, a high GPA, passing clinicals, tests and NCLEX has never assured the public that a competent, caring nurse has entered the profession. I think that it shows that you have the ability to tell them what they want to hear. I think it is a shame that a high GPA is one of the only ways to enter into nursing programs in my area, because many times, common sense and street smarts is what will make your career successful. You do have to comprehend the human body, disease processes, medications and nursing interventions in order to get to the point to sit for NCLEX, and you will still need these for patient teaching. Does a nurse have to be a rocket scientist though...nope.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2008

I was not smart with science, but I was defenitley interested in it while attending high school. i went into nursing at at 51% average during high school and graduated as a licensed nurse at 4.0, with honors.

I think it's about applying yourself to what you believe in, for your life, career,your future.

Study hard in nursing school cuz it's serious business, but if you want to be a nurse in your career or future I am sure you will apply yourself.

Best of luck.

ASSEDO · Jan 14, 2008

yes, you have to be smart to be a nurse. i have never met a nurse that wasn't smart. i have worked with nurses that didn't apply themselves, or had another agenda, but they were all smart. a person that makes it through nursing school, and passes boards definitely fits the "smart" category.

however, smart will only get you so far in nursing. it takes guts to be a nurse. it takes endurance. it takes strength. it takes a strong will. if you don't have those abilities you will fail - smart is only part of the equation to be a nurse.

angel337, MSN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

i feel insulted reading the original post. why are nurses intelligence down played so much??? you don't have to be a genius either to become a doctor, but most people would agree you should be "smart". but to answer your question, yes, a nurse should be smart. we are responsible for lives everyday. i would not want anything less than a "smart" person taking care of me.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

i feel insulted reading the original post. why are nurses intelligence down played so much??? you don't have to be a genius either to become a doctor, but most people would agree you should be "smart". but to answer your question, yes, a nurse should be smart. we are responsible for lives everyday. i would not want anything less than a "smart" person taking care of me.

Why no, "smart" people go to medical school.... that's why I'm "just" the nurse..

Seriously, my knee jerk reaction was to be offended by the original post, but I can't equate ignorance with a lack of intelligence. So, OP, lets educate you...

It's not so much how much potential a person is born with that matters, it is how a person applies their potential which matters in the real world. So it depends on your definition of smart. In nursing, it is judgements made from a core knowledge and experience which will make all the difference.

Blee (just another "smart" nurse) :specs:

danh3190 · Jan 14, 2008

what is "smart" anyway? being able to recite information, or pass a test with an above average grade?
i think it's more about being able to think critically, after all, when you're done with school, all the knowledge in the world can only go so far, unless you're able to think and apply accordingly

i agree with the above.

however, in my program at least, you do have to have a certain amount of test taking ability.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

My friend says you have to be extemely intelligent.I think you should know what you're doing..be able to study well..I dont think you need to be smart to be a Nurse.I know many people who got into Nursing school with a 2.5...

Oh brother.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jan 14, 2008

You don't think you need to be smart to be a nurse???

You can just be stupid then?

HELL YES you need to be smart to be a nurse, are you serious? You need to be BOTH book smart and smart in the clinical setting. I really could care less how skilled someone is if they don't know what the heck is going on with the patient (two very different things).

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

You can be of average intelligence and become a nurse, but you must be "smart" to be a good nurse.

The original post in this thread does not reflect well on the poster.

scattycarrot, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

I am assuming from the tone of the OP's comments and the language used that the OP is fairly young. I really don't think offence was meant and that they were calling nurses stupid. Unfortantly, youth can equal ignorance! And, perhaps the OP should develop some tact and think about what they are trying to say before posting, if the intention is not to offend. All good lessons to learn as a nurse! Nursing is all encompassing..one needs intelliegence, common sense, tact, diplomacy, ability to be a quick thinker, confidence, assertiveness, a caring attitude, a problem solver, a multi-tasker..the list goes on and on. A good GPA is only part of it.