Do you have to be "super smart" to be a nurse?

delirium · Jan 31, 2003

You know its true, Deb. In fact there is one particular nurse in the ER that I credit with getting me through nursing school.

So many nights I said to myself, "Dood, if dumb ol' Bonnie can do it, I *know* I can'.

mario_ragucci · Jan 31, 2003

I think I know where you are coming from with your querry about "super smart." The answer is YES, you do have to be super smart. But smarts ain't all sitting still in a chair and playing with the mid-terms and finals like they were crossword puzzles. You have to be smart on your feet. Your ability to move freely and easily though space is a key. Being super-smart and retaining/learning information is one thing; Being able to turn that informaion from potential energy into kinetic energy is a different quality, and is undefined. Welcome.

melissa24 · Jan 31, 2003

Originally posted by mkue
Super-smart? No. Good in math and science helps. Some other qualities that would contribute to being a good nurse: Empathy, Caring, Compassion, and a professional attitude. Critical thinking skills very helpful.

Ditto. Welcome.

itsme · Jan 31, 2003

Yes, we are all Super-smart, especially me!! :):)

karenG · Jan 31, 2003

super smart?? that lets me out!!!

Karen

itsme · Jan 31, 2003

super-duper smart!!! smart azzed!!!! Happy day everyone, I gotta go to work!!

OrthoNutter · Jan 31, 2003

Originally posted by Just_wondering
I not a dummy ( I don't think hee hee) but I know I'm not "brilliant" either. I scored a 24 on my ACT. I have an IQ of about 123, so I'm no Einstein, but do I have to be to be a nurse? I love math and science but I don't like stuff like calculus. What do you have to be REALLY good at to make it through nursing school? I'm just taking prerequ's right now, but I want opinions about this because I don't want to jump into something that I can't complete. If anyone else had these thoughts please do tell!

My kitty

Considering some of the people I work with, I don't think it requires much intelligence at all. In fact, I'm beginning to doubt that you even need common sense either. :roll

Forgive me folks, a large number of my colleagues are excellent to work with and could probably beat me in the brains department any day but sometimes I have to wonder where management finds them!

Seriously though, I don't think you need to be an Einstein. Common sense will take you a lot further than Einstein intelligence any day in my book.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2003

Common sense is most important IMO

In my experience, if you can make it through say chemistry and definately anatomy and physiology, then you can make it through the bookstuff it takes to be a nurse.

But as other people as have already sead, there's more to nursing than is in the books.

jaxnRN · Jan 31, 2003

If we were SO smart, we wouldn't BE nurses in the first place!!! HA HA HA!!! Just a joke.

Seriously though, you need to be smart enough to remember WHY you do what you do , the scientific principles behind them. I know some genuine genius-type people who wouldn't make it one day as a nurse.

~Jackie

kewlnurse · Jan 31, 2003

judging by some of the morons i work with you can be dumb as a brick and still be a nurse, completly brain dead if you want to be in management

Rootbear76 · Jan 31, 2003

Originally posted by OrthoNutter
Considering some of the people I work with, I don't think it requires much intelligence at all. In fact, I'm beginning to doubt that you even need common sense either. :roll

Forgive me folks, a large number of my colleagues are excellent to work with and could probably beat me in the brains department any day but sometimes I have to wonder where management finds them!

Seriously though, I don't think you need to be an Einstein. Common sense will take you a lot further than Einstein intelligence any day in my book.

My grandfather always stressed the importance of common sense. He'd always tell his grandchildren, you don't see a rabbit carrying a backpack, but he knows how to survive! :roll

I know that you have to be caring, have empathy, and compassion, I've got that part down. I just wanted to be sure I have what it takes to make it through nursing school! I'm going to do my best, study hard, and put the rest of my life on the back burner when I start nursing school. :specs:

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 31, 2003

A certain amount of intellectual talent is necessary to pass the tests, etc. However, emotional inteligence is also necessary. The ability to get along with people, to care about others, to make good choices about work habits, not compromising saftey, etc. are critical to being a good nurse.

A lot of people are either intellectually intelligent OR emotionally intelligent. The best nurses have both.

llg