What separates great nurses from decent nurses?

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 29, 2018

Factual knowledge about disease processes and treatments is usually not what really separates a good nurse from a great one. It's the more difficult, less tangible wisdom and behaviors that make that distinction.

However, if it is the most cherished factual information that you are looking for ..... it varies. It depends on what type of ICU it is. It's usually the factual information about the most challenging patients the unit cares for. For example, if it is a Surgical ICU, then the knowledge related to the care of the most complex surgery patients. If it's a cardiac ICU, it will be cardiac related, etc. So look at the ICU that is of concern to you. Who are the most challenging patients?

offlabel · Oct 29, 2018

Reading.

viprn21, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2018

Knowledge and wisdom are two totally different things. I've met nurses who know volumes upon volumes of facts but still are terrible nurses. In my opinion, it's experience and wisdom that make a great nurse.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Oct 31, 2018

What separates the great nurses from the decent nurses? The great nurses are the male nurses. :cheeky: :yes:

{Heading to my Fallout Shelter and await the attack}

LovingLife123 · Oct 31, 2018

The ability to see what's going to happen before it happens. And yes, that comes with experience.

Anyone can rattle off a bunch of info about medications. Anyone. But those that are great in the ICU, can pick up on those subtle changes in their patient, and take action before the bad event happens.

brownbook · Nov 1, 2018

All answers are correct, especially NICU Guy :yes: . It certainly isn't one or two things. It's like choosing which super hero's powers are the best to have.

Everybody has different abilities. You want a co-worker with good work ethics more than a text book smart nurse who calls in sick a lot or somehow gets all the holiday's off or always says they're busy when asked to help with a difficult patient.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Nov 2, 2018

Great ICU nurses are the nurses that:

Everyone goes to when they need a second opinion about a patient

Helps you with a treatment/procedure that is rarely done (without being judged)

Very supportive of new nurses

Makes time to answer any questions that their patient and families have.

Makes you laugh when you are having a rough day

Lends you a hand when you are way behind and drowning without being asked.

offlabel · Nov 2, 2018

Knowledge and wisdom are two totally different things. I've met nurses who know volumes upon volumes of facts but still are terrible nurses. In my opinion, it's experience and wisdom that make a great nurse.

Knowledge and wisdom are two different things but that doesn't mean they aren't integral to one another. They are. And experience without knowledge is just one mistake after another. Whatever wisdom that comes of that would lead one to seek knowledge, I'd hope.

NurseB94, BSN · Dec 20, 2018

Great ICU nurses are the nurses that:
Everyone goes to when they need a second opinion about a patient
Helps you with a treatment/procedure that is rarely done (without being judged)
Very supportive of new nurses
Makes time to answer any questions that their patient and families have.
Makes you laugh when you are having a rough day
Lends you a hand when you are way behind and drowning without being asked.

I agree fully with this!

chudo161 · Jan 24, 2019

Knowledge and wisdom of course are biographical factors! But attitude is a big one as well, not only towards patients, but towards fellow nurses, CNAs, environmental worker and doctors. I don’t think that a person who hates the facility where she/he is spending 12hr a day will make a great nurse ??‍♀️

KeepinitrealCCRN · Jan 28, 2019

Number one would be critical thinking skills and a close second would be just caring about the patients. So many RNs lack these 2 even the senior RNs.