No such thing as a dumb question

[Brian]

As Nursing Students, we ask a lot of questions. And, it is important to do so as it shows we are interested, inquisitive, and eager to learn. Some students may think that asking too many questions will annoy the instructor, but not asking can be the difference between life and death. Nursing instructors have also been in the shoes of his/her students and understand the need for questions. So, ask that question and remember, the only dumb question is the one not asked.

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[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

..... Unless the same person asks it repeatedly, or so late that you now realize s/he has missed the point of all subsequent discussion, thus guaranteeing more questions that others will think are stupid.

[QuietRiot]

I'm sorry, I hate that assertion. When you have to sit in class behind the guy who DOES ask all the stupid questions, you'll feel differently.

Lmao.

[TeeKay12]

You don't magically stop asking questions when you get your degree and then your license. I've asked more questions in the 3 years I've been a nurse than I did the 4 years I was in school. I've also answered a lot of questions from other nurses, techs, doctors, managers, etc.

A good nurse is one who asks when she's not sure, who cultivates the opinions of others, and who learns from her mistakes (but tries to avoid them completely).

[Purple_roses]

Unless the question being asked is, "During the oil spills, why didn't we just dump dawn dish soap in the ocean instead of cleaning the animals individually?"

People, I am not lying--that was a real question from a pre-nursing student who asked questions about every ten minutes. And all of them were about as relevant as that.

[blackribbon]

I asked many questions in class. I know my classmates rolled their eyes .... not because the question was stupid but it meant they weren't getting out of class 5 minutes early. To ask a question meant the instructor noticed you (and dangerously learned your name) and often either ridiculed you or at the very least rolled her eyes at you, so it wasn't done carelessly. I know I was stopped AFTER class by people who thanked me for being brave enough to ask something because they didn't understand it either but weren't going to risk looking stupid by asking. I didn't ask stupid questions. I did pay attention and it was often because of that I caught inconsistencies. I am an adult learner and I am not going to leave class with a question about the day's topic if I have the "expert"whom I paid to teach me standing there and clarify in 5 minutes what would take me at least 30 minutes to look up at home.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

If you are working with a preceptor, or otherwise one on one with someone, there is no such thing as a dumb question. Better to be honest about what you don't know.

But probably half the questions I hear in lecture are dumb. If it isn't helping at least some of the other students, if it's off topic, rudimentary, or comes as a result of you not having paid attention, It's a dumb question.