Showing courage in practice

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Hi :)

I am a Pre reg Nursing student about to start my final 4 weeks of placement in emergency.

One of our criteria that we need to prove we can achieve is showing courage in nursing practice....

I have no idea what a courageous nurse Is, I see lots of things in my practice and other's practices that can be defined as courageous... like comforting the wife of a patient who's status had just become critical etc...

Also. Anyone have any ideas on how to be a memorable student?? Because as they say, your last couple of placements are kinda like job interviews.

Thanks! cant wait to hear from someone :D x

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I think courage takes a lot of forms...it can be helping a patient through a tough time (whether it be a new diagnosis or helping their families deal with what's ahead)...it can be jumping in and giving your all...it can be saying "I don't know but I'll find out!"...I personally think it's being the best you can be and learning from each experience to make the NEXT experience even better. Working hard and being a team player is always an eye-catcher in my book ;)

Good luck!! :D

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I forgot who said it, but essentially, courage is doing the right thing rather than the easy thing. I have a wonderful example - from a new graduate..... working nights on a busy med surg unit, she was uneasy about her patient's deep sleep because this was very different from the previous two nights. Rather than just accepting her colleagues assurance - "just enjoy it; much better than having to answer that call light all night long" - she did a thorough assessment & called the physician (in the wee hours of the morning) to report her findings. Physician ordered a stat CT scan. Turned out that the patient was in the very early stages of an impending stroke... chances are, it would have resulted in irreversible damage if she had just allowed the patient to sleep as her colleagues urged her to.

It took courage to take actions that were contrary to her colleagues' well-meaning advice. It took courage to call that doctor to report undramatic assessment findings & a feeling of unease.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

[h=2]"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."[/h]

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

It's snowing rather hard where I am right now, the temperature is right about freezing and the roads are icy. The radio traffic update details several serious accidents. I'm scheduled for work. I'm scared to drive on these roads. Courage is going to work anyway.

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Courage is standing up for a patient's safety based on your reasoned assessment in the face of ridicule, harassment, or the blustering chief of surgery.

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, BRAVE, clean, and reverent. There's a reason for that.

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

I think of being encouraged to act when I think of courage. Rather than second guessing myself....being confident and encouraged and acting on it.

Even if I'm unsure...I can act courageous and find the answers. Keep it moving in the right direction at all times hopefully.

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