Hi there. Kind of a brutal question... I'm looking into nursing, but not sure if it's for me. I've read about the good qualities to have, what about the not-so-good ones?
chevyv, BSN, RN 1,679 Posts Specializes in Acute Mental Health. Has 15 years experience. Feb 28, 2009 Hmmm, not so good qualities might be lack of empathy, poor communicator, people hater, someone who may not be good under pressure........ This will be an interesting thread.
MrazFan 73 Posts Feb 28, 2009 Somebody who doesn't care about other people, someone with little or no patience, lack of analytical abilities, somebody that doesn't like problem solving or working independently. Somebody with poor time management skills, someone who can't work with all types of people (meaning race, religion, social, educational and economic status, health status, etc.)Also, and I know I will probably be treading on thin ice with this comment, but, if you're ONLY in it for the money... yes, we all want a paycheck and we all want it to be a nice amount, but if you are only there because it pays fairly well but you HATE the work, then you're probably not going to be a very good nurse. You have to care at least a little bit about what you're doing, but that's just my opinion.
kcochrane 1,465 Posts Feb 28, 2009 I'm with the lack of empathy crowd. In addition lack of commone sense is another one. You don't have to be a rocket scientist, but you did need to have good commone sense.
Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN 4 Articles; 7,907 Posts Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions. Feb 28, 2009 You WILL have to deal with poop and vomit and sputum and all sorts of disgusting things, and you're not always going to be able to fob the "dirty" work off on a CNA or someone else. If you aren't willing to deal with that...well, you might not end up being a bad nurse, but you probably won't be a very good nurse.
That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B 3,421 Posts Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab. Has 6 years experience. Feb 28, 2009 Know it all attitude is my least favorite i see.
NStiger88 67 Posts Mar 1, 2009 i think the top thing that makes a bad nurse is not being able to handle stressful situations or working under pressure. when my step sister mentioned that she was thinking about nursing i laughed bc she freaks out over the smallest things
flightnurse2b, LPN 2 Articles; 1,496 Posts Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry. Mar 1, 2009 my biggest issue would probably be people who are unwilling to work as a team.be it the "it's not my job" nurses, "i didn't go to nursing school to clean poop" nurses, the sit at the desk and watch others work nurses, the nurses who purposely leave things for other shifts bc they don't think they do as much on days/nights, the nurses who look at other nurses/aides/techs/etc with less education as them as below them....... willing to work on a team. total necessity of being a good nurse is being a team player.
AOx1 3 Articles; 961 Posts Specializes in ER, ICU, Education. Has 15 years experience. Mar 1, 2009 Arrogance- annoying in any profession, dangerous/deadly in this one. If you don't know, ask. It's not possible to know everything in this field, you are always learning.Laziness/lack of motivation- if you don't want to learn, and prefer to expend as little energy as possible, this is not for you. Not the kind of job you can do well if your idea of vigorous activity is rolling your chair a few feet in either direction, lol.
cursedandblessed 522 Posts Mar 1, 2009 I have to agree, know-it-all attitude, laziness, the slacker mentality (I have a few of those in my clinical group), "it's not my job" person, lack of caring, inability to put your morals aside for the good of the patient. (I know I have certain strong views on things, but I don't even think about that while I'm in clinical.) I was fearful, I'd puke all over my patients when it came to poop, blood, infected wounds and that I'd be totally embarassed with all the nakedness, but I can pull a foley, assist with a birth (nasty looking thing placenta-the first time I thought I was really going to-but it turns out it was the antiseptic fumes in the biohazard closet! LOL) change peri-pads, and look at a fully naked person without embarassment or throwing up.
shantipaudel 20 Posts Mar 1, 2009 i think the top thing that makes a bad nurse is unwilling to work as a team,working under pressure,attitude,lack of motivation & lack of commone sense.who can improve top thing they can be a good nurse.