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?

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

What a hasty generalization. I can only imagine what the response would be towards me if I posted that ALL experienced nurses are mean, wicked, nasty and eat their young.

Well, someone DID! Imagination fulfilled!

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

I blame Johnson & Johnson for the "Touchy-Feely, if you care about an abandoned puppy in a city alley then, "You have what it takes to care!!!!!!" Cue dramatic music.

Be a nurse! . . . .Dare to Care! (Don't worry about your IQ of 70, or your 3 DUIs, or your warrants, . . .your compassionate!)

and 3, 2, 1, Fade out to logo!

(vomited in mouth)*

*If J&J is an Allnurses.com sponsor, I would like to add that I am a consumer of Johnson & Johnson products, and they work real good!

** If they aren't, . . Those cheap (*^&%#@@(*(($()!!!!!!!!

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

With how hard it is to even get into nursing school, much less finish it, I'm surprised at the cockiness that some of you say that nursing students have. How can one be blase about being a nurse when it's become so difficult to be one?!

I'm so afraid that I will hurt a patient or upset somebody or make their lives more difficult in some way that I think it will be a great feat if I ever become a "good nurse"

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

i'm so afraid that i will hurt a patient or upset somebody or make their lives more difficult in some way that i think it will be a great feat if i ever become a "good nurse"

needless to say, everyone is different and deals with life challenges in a different manner. therefore, don't be influence by someone elses experiences. having said that, you can either follow your fears or be led by your passions...as i wish you the very best always...aloha~

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

When I was younger, I was in 4H. I had to raise a small pig. I done the least amount of work on that pig I had to. Oh yeah, it got fed good, and it had a nice pen in the barn. When the County Fair Came, people shined up their pigs (I had never heard of that, my Hog was mud covered from Oink to Squiggly tail. He stunk, he was mean, and he was too lazy to even march through the judges galley- they had to come look at the huge fatty while he laid asleep in the pen.

I was awarded a "5th Place" Ribbon. Even at age 12 I thought, "Wow, I hope no one ever sees this "Award." I mean, they gave out an award for up to 8th Place, and you should have seen the face of the Guy who got 8th! I started to trade mine with him, and also the devil wanted me tell him there were only "8" hogs entered into the competition. Thank God I did enter that competion (really boring summers in MS)!!! At the Stock Yard he sold for $18 over what I bought him for. It taught me I was not placed here to be a Hog Farmer! I knew this "wasn't" for me.

Judging by the boy with the "8th Place" Ribbon, jumping up and down, celebrating with his parents- some just don't get the clues that life sends our way! Some just aren't meant for the kind of work we do.

But try to convence that boy that he didn't "WIN" a ribbon! Lol, I have wasted your and my time again!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I dont post in those threads because they will get me banned from this site.

"You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake."

[tewdles, RN]

Any of us who want to be reminded of the way that people lie to themselves and to those near and dear to them...just watch some of the early auditions for American Idol.

Now translate that into a nursing student or new grad. The student is still auditioning and may have NO CLUE that they are actually not in a correct career path. Holy Gosh...some of them are in no way suited to nursing and they must discover that somehow! The new grad is working with the "vocal coaches and producers" who will help them to grow. Some of us "coaches" do have 30 or more years of experience and I hope that most see that as an advantage for them.

[Palliative Care, DNP]

True there are those that scraped by in nursing school and maybe repeated classes. There are also those that took the NCLEX 5 time in order to be called RN. Some are good some are not. I have also worked with several that had straight As all through school and passed the NCLEX in 75 questions who know all there is to know and do not ask questions. These particular individuals scare me far worse!

[An_Apple_a_DayLVN]

True there are those that scraped by in nursing school and maybe repeated classes. There are also those that took the NCLEX 5 time in order to be called RN. Some are good some are not. I have also worked with several that had straight As all through school and passed the NCLEX in 75 questions who know all there is to know and do not ask questions. These particular individuals scare me far worse!

Why does that "Scare" you? Have you seen this? Maybe their asking questions, just not you. When I was a new grad, I only asked strong nurses for answers, and ones that were approachable. Something to ponder.

[CloudySue]

Overconfident know-it-alls are often wrong and never in doubt.

Self-doubt is good, it means you care about being sure you are correct.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

Of course, be careful when asking questions. Even that can be used against you by certain individuals, even if they are certified preceptors. It almost seems prudent to err on the side of arrogant know-it-all, or the wolves will eat you.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Of course be careful when asking questions. Even that can be used against you by certain individuals, even if they are certified preceptors. It almost seems prudent to err on the side of arrogant know-it-all, or the wolves will eat you.[/quote']

I complimented one of our new nurses to our manager a few weeks back. Said something like she asks "appropriate" questions. She doesn't ask before every little thing. She tries to figure things out on her own first, doesn't have to be given step by step instructions for walking into a room. But if she doesn't know, she doesn't fake it and pretend that she does.

Ask if you don't know. But think for a bit before you decide that you don't know. A lot of the time, you can actually work through it on your own. And the more you do that, the more you'll be able to do it in the future when things come up that there's nobody to ask. I have shifts where I'm the resource for the floor. And goodness knows, I don't know the answer to everything. That's the skill that nurses take with them to EVERYTHING they do. An ability to think through and figure out what they need to do, and even if they don't know exactly how to do it, they can figure it out.

It's not asking questions that will get you eaten. It's not even trying to answer them on your own before asking.