"Smart" students make bad nurses?

[joseyjo]

So I have heard time and time again from nursing professors and clinical adjuncts that "4.0 students often have a hard time transitioning to the floor, B or C students make better nurses". While I totally get that there are some people out there that are so cerebral that they don't do well on the floor, I think this blanket statement is a bunch of bunk.

I bring this up because I am a 4.0 student. I am also involved in clubs and student groups, volunteer outside of school, and often get complimented in clinicals. However, even with that I still hear the comment over and over that A students don't make as good of nurses as B and C nurses.

What do you nurses who are actually out there on the floor think?

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I think that's a gross generalization.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

I don't think that's strictly true. I think the issue they are seeing without even knowing it is that often students who do well in school haven't met and overcome much adversity.

The first year of nursing practice is grueling and every new nurse has a lot of trouble finding the swing of things. In my experience many great students get frustrated and end up being the "nursing isn't for me" or "the old nurses are eating me" or my favorite "do I really need any experience before I get a desk/ management job". Many straight A students can't accept that there is no 100% score in floor nursing.

while B and C nurses may be more comfortable not being awesome at first but working to be ok.

as always it's really about personality, but I can see where someone could make that generalization and be more right than wrong

[Farawyn]

I think that's a gross generalization.

Me too, but I do have to add that I was a B student in Nursing School (My prior degree I graduated with a 4.0) and I was spectacular on the floors.

[wanderlustnurse88, RN]

I've noticed it to be a pattern but that doesn't mean some people can't be a 4.0 student and be great in clinical as well

[Hollybobs]

I think (intelligent, hard working, motivated) A-grade students are likely to make excellent nurses.

No need to drop your grade!

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I've always thought of that as something B and C students tell themselves (or are told by others) so they feel better ...just like people say ASN nurses are better on the floor than BSN nurses. It's "everybody gets a trophy" type of thinking.

[Farawyn]

Naaaah, I don't need any trophies. Or a BSN. :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

Like others, I agree that it's a gross generalization. There are A students who are awesome on the floor, and poor on the floor. Same with B and C students.

I think the best indicator of how well a nurse does on the floor is common sense and confidence.

[luvsltcrn]

I had straight A's in school and am much better at management than I was on the floor. I also enjoy the management/business side better which may be why I am better at it.

[joseyjo]

I don't think that's strictly true. I think the issue they are seeing without even knowing it is that often students who do well in school haven't met and overcome much adversity.

The first year of nursing practice is grueling and every new nurse has a lot of trouble finding the swing of things. In my experience many great students get frustrated and end up being the "nursing isn't for me" or "the old nurses are eating me" or my favorite "do I really need any experience before I get a desk/ management job". Many straight A students can't accept that there is no 100% score in floor nursing.

while B and C nurses may be more comfortable not being awesome at first but working to be ok.

as always it's really about personality, but I can see where someone could make that generalization and be more right than wrong

This really resonates with me. It's not that I haven't had to overcome, but I have always been able to push hard enough to get what I wanted most of the time.

Any ideas on how I can better my chances of transitioning from good student to good floor nurses?

[Farawyn]

This really resonates with me. It's not that I haven't had to overcome, but I have always been able to push hard enough to get what I wanted most of the time.

Any ideas on how I can better my chances of transitioning from good student to good floor nurses?

The fact that, as an A student, you are even asking this is great.

Yes. Put yourself in a challenging situation. Something out of your comfort zone, that you may not be awesome in, and do it. Do it as best you can. It doesn't have to be nursing related. And you can suck at it. But you must see it through.

That will teach you resilience.