Why Is It That Everyone Thinks They're A Good Nurse?

Nurses Relations

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i don't get it. people write about the horrible mistakes they've made that got them fired from work or suspended, and then they'll go on to say that they know they're a good nurse anyway because they try so hard. maybe the evidence shows that they're not a good nurse yet . . . but if they keep trying hard they will be some day?

or the nurse who writes that she's on her fourth job since graduation 16 months ago, and she hasn't found her "nitch" yet . . . and someone tells her to hold her head up because they know she's a great nurse. really? how could you possibly know that -- especially with the evidence provided that the poster has been through three jobs and is failing her fourth?

then there are the special nurses who know they're great nurses despite their many problems at work because they have a calling. or because they're compassionate. sorry -- that's not all it takes to be a great -- or even an adequate nurse.

what ever happened to striving to be a good nurse but knowing you're not there yet? knowing you need a bit more experience to be a great nurse but you're trying hard? how come everyone these days is a good nurse the moment they graduate?

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I think a "good nurse" can refer to personal qualities and it can refer to skills you've learned and specialties you've mastered over the years. Usually if you have the former you'll have the latter - because imo one of those personal qualities is to remain teachable and keen to learn things from every environment you are in no matter how long you've been in the field. I can't imagine being brand new and telling everyone how they can fix their deficiencies as a profession. I started to feel like maybe I do have some of this down when people approached me as a resource person.

My tendency to OCD has actually helped me be a better nurse, too. People who have the mentality that everyone is a winner just for participating please stay far, far away . .

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My theory is that those nurses who have to convince people that they are "indeed great nurses", know deep down that they are not. However there are a certain few folks on these threads that pounce at any little comment. Maybe they are trying to lesson the inevitable pouncing!

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Specializes in Gerontology.
On some days I'm a good nurse just because I showed up.

**** - this is soooo true. There are days when I am 100% into the job, and then there are days when I could not care less.

I work in Rehab - sometime I really want to say :you don't want to get out of bed and do your exerciese? FINE - you know what - I am going to go and spend my energy with the pt that DOES want to get better. You can stay in bed all day and wither away.

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I'm a good nurse. But, I am not a perfect one. I try to improve on my weaknesses and utilize my strong points. I think as nurses we have to always be willing to self assess, adapt and learn.

Agree so much with this. I'm a decent to great nurse, depending on the day. :) Where I used to work, it didn't take long to become a big fish in a small pond. Once I dove in and became a little fish in a big pond, I became a much better nurse, as I had AMAZING ones around me every single day to try a live up to and to learn from.

I just try and avoid complacency. Which is hard right now. I've kind of "checked out." Feeling a bit of burn out. And depending on my assignment, definitely burnt out. Need to get some nursing mojo back so I can crawl back up a bit from "decent."

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I am just a nursing student at this point, but I thought I would share my humbling experience. BTW, everybody that I tell that I am in nursing school says I will make a good nurse. Why? Who knows. I think they are just trying to say something positive. Thankfully they don't ask my husband. I think he whines too much when he is sick. Seriously, do you have to moan when you aren't feeling well? Anyhoo, I digress...When I was doing my Nurse Aid II clinicals we had to check blood glucose levels on patients. Well, I thought this was an area that I would rule supreme since I have a Type 1 diabetic son and I check him every night at midnight (he does all the other checks). As it so happened, I forgot to tell the patient that I was going to stick them at the count of three, and then I forgot to wipe off the first drop of blood! My brain left my body! My teacher told me that she would not sign me off on that skill that night! I didn't whine, I took my chastisement and kicked it's butt the next time. My point is that it humbled me in a good way. I can't assume that I know everything and that I will do everything right. I need to be teachable and when I get reprimanded I need to learn from it.

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I am just a nursing student at this point, but I thought I would share my humbling experience. BTW, everybody that I tell that I am in nursing school says I will make a good nurse. Why? Who knows. I think they are just trying to say something positive. Thankfully they don't ask my husband. I think he whines too much when he is sick. Seriously, do you have to moan when you aren't feeling well? Anyhoo, I digress...When I was doing my Nurse Aid II clinicals we had to check blood glucose levels on patients. Well, I thought this was an area that I would rule supreme since I have a Type 1 diabetic son and I check him every night at midnight (he does all the other checks). As it so happened, I forgot to tell the patient that I was going to stick them at the count of three, and then I forgot to wipe off the first drop of blood! My brain left my body! My teacher told me that she would not sign me off on that skill that night! I didn't whine, I took my chastisement and kicked it's butt the next time. My point is that it humbled me in a good way. I can't assume that I know everything and that I will do everything right. I need to be teachable and when I get reprimanded I need to learn from it.

I have no idea whether you'll be a good nurse, but you're the kind of student I've always liked to see :) Best of luck to you!

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But students can't worry about evidence based practice. Students need to worry about what the person testing them wants. :)

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

Wipe the first drop? Never heard that one in my entire nursing program and never saw anyone do that at work. Was only taught to wipe the area w an alcohol swab and let it dry before testing.

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Wipe the first drop? Never heard that one in my entire nursing program and never saw anyone do that at work. Was only taught to wipe the area w an alcohol swab and let it dry before testing.
I never heard that either. No one is perfect and even older nurses aren't always great. All I can say as a new nurse I try my best and hope to get better and better and maybe one day be "great".
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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

I have made many mistakes in my nursing career. I don't consider myself a great nurse, but I know I'm a work in progress. I do think I do my best with what I have. I'm grateful for that.

I don't want to be a great nurse. I just want to be safe. Great nurses fail too....

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Specializes in NICU, Educ, IC, CM, EOC.

I am blessed to work with a bunch of great nurses. Hardly any of them would say that about themselves, oddly enough. The best nurses I know seem genuinely surprised when others tell them how great they are, I think it comes from the best ones always seeking to be better not just some false humility thing.

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