How brilliant does a nurse have to be???

elkpark · Apr 8, 2008

You do not need to be brilliant. While the academic work may be a little easier for the naturally "brighter" students, IMHO, determination and self-discipline are much more valuable and necessary attributes for succeeding in nursing school and transitioning into practice.

nurz2be · Apr 8, 2008

You can be the sharpest tool in the shed, but if you don't have drive, compassion, common sense, and a true heart to help others, all that "smart" in the long run, isn't going to amount to a hill of beans, IMHO>!

I'm certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed...but I have an iron will and believe I can do pretty much anything I put my mind to.
Do I stand a chance or do I still need to be brilliant???
p.s. and I'm naturally caring and loving too!

allnurses Guide · Apr 8, 2008

Nurterer, I am not and have never been an academic. I have tried but every pass I got in nursing school was because I spent months preparing for the exams. It does not come naturally and I have to work at it. I am however a practical person and the practial aspects of nursing do come naturally so the hard slog of study pays off.

I left school with no qualifications and went back to college to study and get something. When I passed and qualified I said that it was the hardest thing I had ever done and swore that was it for me. 3 years later I start a teaching certificate and pass. I swore that was it and I;d never do it again.

5 years later I find myself studing again for a BSc, it was the hardest thing I did, the hours I put in to pass were astronomical. Guess what I swore that was it never again.

Now I am writing a dissertation for my masters degree. It is the hardest thing I have ever done, the hours that I have to put in are huge. Guess what -

ahhh there's no point, I already have the application for a doctorate

Work hard and it will pay off. Nursing is a practical subject, you need the academic stuff but hands on care is what makes you a good nurse

Justlearning · Apr 9, 2008

I want to say although I have to study very hard to pass the exams, they come much easier to me than the clinical. I am soooooooooo struggling with that. I love the patients and want to help them all, they are all so wonderful but I am scared to death that someone will really need my intervention and I will not know what to do. I can assess all day long but then I am stuck. What do I do with this info. It does not come together. So if you have it in clinical I think you are a good nurse.:wink2: