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

[Ruby Vee]

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?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

A major problem is that society prefers niceness over bluntness virtually every single time. Someone will post here that they've gone through six jobs in two years and still declare, "I'm a great nurse!" However, they do not want any insight into what is really occurring because the truth sometimes hurts.

When many people are faced with a genuine person who is honest (but blunt and rough) and a phony person who offers false reassurances (but is nice), they'll gravitate toward the nice person who tells them what they want to hear. People claim they want the truth, but many cannot handle the truth. They prefer to surround themselves with 'yes'-people, cheerleaders, optimistic Pollyanna personalities, and false reassurances that everything will turn out alright.

Deep down, some people are really on the lookout for a cheerleader to tell them everything that they want to hear.

Any chance I can vote this "Post of the Day"?

SO true.

[CompleteUnknown]

An exponential increase in undesirable traits? What sort of things are you talking about VICEDRN?

I REALLY hope my undesirable trait rating isn't off the charts..... :uhoh21:

Anyway, what I find strange is when I read a post about something good someone has done and the replies are along the lines of 'wow, that's fantastic, you are a GREAT nurse'. Often this leaves me scratching my head thinking but isn't that something we all should be doing anyway?? Doing well should be recognised, and I like reading posts about things people have done for patients, but sometimes the tone of the replies makes me think that striving to do one's job the way it should be done is something out of the ordinary instead of something that should be expected.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

a major problem is that society prefers niceness over bluntness virtually every single time. someone will post here that they've gone through six jobs in two years and still declare, "i'm a great nurse!" however, they do not want any insight into what is really occurring because the truth sometimes hurts.

when many people are faced with a genuine person who is honest (but blunt and rough) and a phony person who offers false reassurances (but is nice), they'll gravitate toward the nice person who tells them what they want to hear. people claim they want the truth, but many cannot handle the truth. they prefer to surround themselves with 'yes'-people, cheerleaders, optimistic pollyanna personalities, and false reassurances that everything will turn out alright.

deep down, some people are really on the lookout for a cheerleader to tell them everything that they want to hear.

(answering in ruby red because i can): the major problem i have with this post -- and it's a major one -- is that i can only "like" it once. it's so true and stated very well.

i think more than "some" people prefer "nice" over honest, though. i think it's the majority opinion, and that is unfortunate. because not everything does turn out all right, and there are things we can do about it if we face it early on . . . .

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Edited to add: though I have yet to see a tremendous difference between an RN of 4-5 years experience, 10-15 years experience, and one of 30-40 years experience, except as mentioned, an exponential increase in undesirable traits.

That is really, really unfortunate. It's actually shocking to me - and not much shocks me.

Wishing you the open mind to take in many years of growth, VICEDRN.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

a major problem is that society prefers niceness over bluntness virtually every single time. someone will post here that they've gone through six jobs in two years and still declare, "i'm a great nurse!" however, they do not want any insight into what is really occurring because the truth sometimes hurts.

when many people are faced with a genuine person who is honest (but blunt and rough) and a phony person who offers false reassurances (but is nice), they'll gravitate toward the nice person who tells them what they want to hear. people claim they want the truth, but many cannot handle the truth. they prefer to surround themselves with 'yes'-people, cheerleaders, optimistic pollyanna personalities, and false reassurances that everything will turn out alright.

deep down, some people are really on the lookout for a cheerleader to tell them everything that they want to hear.

i see that on, and from an, often.

some people want to be helpful, but they are blunt.

some people want all posts be helpful, but that's unreasonable if by helpful they mean "nothing remotely critical" (especially when the perennially-aggrieved get in there complaining).

and i don't expect this remark to earn me any brownie points, either.

[Vespertinas]

I'm bickering with lab because they decided to draw a aPTT 1.5 hr early while another nurse is texting at the desk having already titrated her heparin drip based on a aPTT just as improperly drawn.

I always wondered why it couldn't be titrated faster like insulin. I mean, the peak time is something like 5-10 minutes.

[nursel56]

. . . .Can you imagine working with someone so negative like that or letting people such as patients or doctors hear you? It would affect your credibility and you'd be looking stupid for putting yourself down. Or even thinking that you're not a good nurse would affect you in many ways, both good and bad, it just brings negative energy in the room. However, I don't see anything wrong with this, peoples personal opinons about themselves shouldn't bother anyone else. If you don't like to hear about it then that's fine, it should in no way affect you whatsoever. If people say or tend to believe that they are a "good nurse" why not? Let them aknowledge the fact that they are even if they're not. .

There's a lot to think about in this comment. I agree that it is essential for a person just starting out to curtail negative thinking and thoughts of failure such as "I'm so dumb I'll never get these drug calculations", etc. Somestimes on this site we jump on people whos say things like "I'm a horrible nurse" over a relatively minor issue. I think my favorite version of that was someone who said, "suck it up, cupcake", but that's probably just me. :)

It's true that everyone makes mistakes. But as opposed to people who's self-criticism is hampering their progress and bringing negative energy to the group, there are people who make multiple mistakes -- yet in every case dissociate themselves from those actions and seem to lack the ability for serious self-reflection. They describe a litany of things that could harm or kill another human being and tag it with "but I'm a good nurse". If it's the same mistake over and over and you ask what their plan is to avoid another they basically say "huh?". I'm a good nurse!

It often sounds like that's where the analysis stops, and that is where what sounds like a positive affirmation initially is a potentially harmful self-assessment that absolutely should bother everyone else. For all the talk about eating our young you read here the truth is if we work with someone who can't use their mistakes as a learning experience to alter their behavior going forward the entire team loses, which is insignificant compared to what the patient stands to lose. I'm pretty sure this is the type of person Ruby was talking about.

It has nothing to do with age, either. You have a lot of insight and I'm sure will do very well. Best wishes in nursing school!

[PetsToPeople]

Any chance I can vote this "Post of the Day"?

SO true.

I second that!

[FarminRN]

I am now in school and did not read ALL of the post but I am sure glad I stumbled along this post. I think I will learn to differentiate bn trusting in your training and being "exceptional" from experience. I have ALOT to learn. In the mean time back to this assessment reading :) Cheers and happy nursing!

[DookieMeisterRN]

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?[/]fomites schmomitesyou have just asked the million dollar question and one i've asked myself many times. how can all these nurses be so perfect and all the lazy bad nurses never post here on an?of course we read the posts of nurses being written up/fired over things beyond their control: administering the wrong meds d/t nurse/patient ratios, too many distractions, senior nurses giving novice nurses bad advice, unaware that documenting a tx and not following through is wrong, "they didn't teach us that in ns but i passed the nclex in 75 questions". all the things/blatant errors that could possibly make one a "bad" nurse should be overlooked and the perpetrator will automatically be a "good" nurse since he/she admitted guilt to the error. not. in my book. not everyone has what it takes. one may have graduated top of their class with a 4.0 and still be a crummy bedside nurse.there are some scary nurses out there and we all know who they are but unfortunately on an online forum there are some less than honest posters that are only giving a one-sided view of the story.am i a great nurse? well of course i am! i had a calling from florence n. herself in a dream when i was 2 yrs old and ever since than i knew i'd be the best nurse!

[juzme]

LOL my self esteem must be low, I have never called myself a great nurse! But I try to be a good nurse;-) a safe nurse, an advocate for my patient and when I don't understand something I look it up. I ask questions....I apologize when I am wrong or when I make a mistake. I am just nervous enough to worry about mistakes to keep my guard up but not too nervous not to perform. I always say nursing is one of those careers where what makes it exciting; never knowing everything and always learning something, is also what makes it overwhelming at times.

Funnything about some people's self esteem; my homecare client had 2 nurses in a row these past 6 months that have told him how hot they are(no joking!)and how great they are as nurses. My client works in a professional environment and his colleagues have told me also about them...I just say,"hmmm, I wish I had self esteem like that"...haha hey whatever they want to think..it doesnt matter to me:-) but geez I always wonder when people verbalize this, what kind of parents they had? My parents were from the depression and I was the last of 6 kids...they were in their 40s when they had me..a child of the 70s but anyway we were raised to believe others were important and do not even think we were all that...

haha One day my mother and I were in a department store and I was looking at earrings when a sales lady from another area came over and told my mom how beautiful i was and that I could probably model, with my high cheekbones and all and mom without skipping a beat, said to the lady, yeah shes alright!LOL nope, my mother would have never let a compliment go to my head and thank god she didnt!

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

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?

this inflated self assessment isn't limited to nursing.