Experience is the best teacher

A lot of people are hired because of their credentials. There are a few letters after their names such as, PhD, MD, MSN, RN, and the like. To some people, it does not really mean anything, especially for the mediocre. However, experience says a lot about you.
Experience is still the best credential there is. I do not want to see a doctor without any experience, you will be his guinea pig. Most of them go to the extent of trial and error stage before finally finding the right treatment for you. When they succeed they take the credit, when they fail, they blame somebody or something, they will even blame you. It is not uncommon that doctors blame patients when they die. They kick the dead horse over and over again. It is like reinjuring the victim over and over again. Why, because of lack of experience. An experienced person will take responsibility for his/her action. "I failed," "I am sorry", that would be the right answer. Do not expect an inexperienced doctor to say that though.

We learn something in our everyday life. It is, but appropriate to learn from our past, from our mistakes, so we will not repeat the same mistakes over and over again. A true wise person learns from his/her past, thereby, developing wisdom. A dullard cannot learn from past mistakes, he will do it over and over again. Unfortunately, some people are in that category.
It is not true either that the older you get, the wiser you become. Some old folks just do not learn anything. They are considered borderline or “not bright”. Have you seen some people who are in this category? I have. Maybe you can categorically put them as either stubborn, stupid or both.

Nursing, is the same way. The more experience a nurse has, the better she/he becomes. In fact, an experienced nurse is better than a new doctor.
I used to work in the emergency room in one of the level one trauma centers in the Bronx, USA during my heydays. I was very proud of my accomplishment then. The new doctors would ask me, "why are you still an RN? You should be a doctor with your experience." That kind of comments always make my shift. Well, yes, I almost became a doctor, I call myself narsdoktor.

The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”
Tom Bodett
The only source of knowledge is experience”
Albert Einstein

Marissa Torres Langseth
RN, MSN, Adult Nurse Practitioner, BC