Tricky Essay...What characteristics will INHIBIT your endeavor to become an RN?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2008

the last thing i would want to do is focus on negative attributes that i possess. if you get called for an interview, this essay is what they will have to formulate questions for you from. i have been hiring nursing for some time. the last impression you want to leave with someone is a negative one. the kind of things that stand out in these kind of essays are a specific personal experience that made you decide that nursing was the career for you. nurses are problem solvers are good critical thinkers. they also need to be sensitive to others feelings and respectful of everyone. this is the list of characteristics we look for in employees, not just nurses:

initiative – autonomy
dynamism – energy
positive attitude
responsibility
orientation to the client and co-workers (ability to provide customer service)
learning capacity
productivity
high adaptability – flexibility
leadership
team work
tolerance to pressure
analytic ability
professional development

BarnBrat · Dec 20, 2008

Thanks for the suggestions Daytonite. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

~FutureNurse~ · Dec 20, 2008

I agree. I don't think you should do the second one. Why would you want to point out all the bad things about you? If I were you, I would pick the first or second question.

Good Luck

Atheos · Dec 20, 2008

Argh... So many people go for the EXPECTED questions.

The point of an essay is to stand out from the crowd. A good essay can practically wipe out other factors holding up your application.

I'd pick the question about what would inhibit you from being a nurse.

Lay it all out honestly. Be very candid about all of your shortcomings that you think are going to affect you and then lay out your plan for addressing or eliminating them.

I can tell you that at least a VERY large portion of applicants choose questions #1 and #3.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 20, 2008

I have been told that I am very good at making my weaknesses sound like strengths when I discuss them. The "trick" is to talk (or write) about them by focusing on how you succeed WITH those things rather then let them hurt your. For example, I tend to procrastinate ... so ... I break big projects down into smaller sections and give myself deadlines for meeting each step of the process. In a discussion of my procrastination weakness, I would focus on how I deal with it, give examples of successful projects in which I used that strategy, etc.

How YOU should start to work on question #2 (if that is still what you want to do) is to be honest with yourself and make a good list of those factors/characteristics that will pose challenges for you. In other words, start by honestly answering the question for yourself. Then, pick a couple of those characteristics that you can work with -- that you are confident that you can overcome and can discuss in a positive way.

Think in terms of ...

1. One of my biggest challenges will be ...

2. I am planning to work particularly hard on improving my .... and here is my plan for improving it.

3. I have learned through life experiences that I need to pay special attention to ...

Those types of sentences are much more positive than, "I am hopeless at ...." or "I never seem to do well at ...." "I can't ....."

Do you see what I mean?

Oh ... and please don't say "My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist." That makes the reader barf and that is not a good thing. That answer sounds fake ... or as if the writer has so little confidence in themselves that they can't be honest about being human and having flaws. It can also sound as if the writer has so little self-insight that they needed to write a fake answer.

pharmgirl · Dec 20, 2008

If you opt for #2, you can also make your weakness a positive. i.e. "one of my weaknesses is my desire for perfection........I consistently strive to yadda yadda yadda as seen by my gpa blah blah blah. I feel this trait has positive and negative aspects yippy yappy......" but make sure you END with the positive, As daytonite said, the last is what they will remember

Good Luck!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2008

I wouldn't do #2, even though it will likely be the one the fewest applicants write. There's a good reason for that. Even the "strengths as weaknesses" approach is an essay about your weaknesses. It's one thing to have to answer that question in an interview where you have the opportunity to focus on all of your positive traits as well, but as your one and only essay to the school, you don't have the same opportunity to balance it out. And the "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work TOO hard" weaknesses are really transparent anyway.

Since you are worried about balancing out your low GPA, I would pick #1 or #3 and find a way to make it new and interesting.