Nursing school is a wild ride, full of learning, late nights, and endless amounts of coffee. To spice things up and get those future healthcare heroes thinking, we've put together some fun and thought-provoking Would You Rather Questions For Nursing Students. These aren't just silly hypotheticals; they're designed to spark conversation, test your critical thinking, and maybe even give you a chuckle.
What Are These Questions and Why Are They a Thing?
So, what exactly are Would You Rather Questions For Nursing Students? Think of them as little brain teasers. You're presented with two equally challenging, sometimes weird, and often funny choices. You have to pick one, and there's rarely a perfect answer. They’re popular because they break up the routine of studying textbooks and memorizing facts. Instead, they put you in scenarios that feel a bit like the real thing, forcing you to consider different sides of a situation. They're a fantastic way to:
- Encourage critical thinking
- Promote discussion and debate
- Lighten the mood during stressful times
- Explore ethical dilemmas in a low-stakes environment
These questions are used in a variety of ways. Sometimes, nursing instructors might use them as icebreakers at the start of a lecture to get students engaged. Other times, students themselves will whip them out during study breaks or on clinical rotations. The importance of these questions lies in their ability to simulate real-world nursing challenges in a digestible, often humorous, way, helping students to develop decision-making skills and a deeper understanding of patient care. Here's a little more about how they work:
- Presenting Dilemmas: They often throw you into situations where both options have significant pros and cons, just like in nursing.
- Encouraging Empathy: Many questions involve patient scenarios, prompting you to think about how a patient might feel or react.
- Testing Knowledge (Subtly): Some questions might touch on medical concepts, making you recall what you've learned without feeling like a test.
Ethical and Moral Mazes
Would you rather have to decide between administering a medication with a known, mild side effect that your patient is allergic to, or delaying the medication and risking a serious complication?
Would you rather have a patient who refuses a life-saving treatment because of their religious beliefs, or a patient who is mentally incapable of understanding the consequences of their refusal?
Would you rather witness a colleague make a minor charting error that could be corrected later, or report a colleague for a minor infraction that could have serious repercussions for their career?
Would you rather have to explain a difficult diagnosis to a family member who is in denial, or have to explain the same diagnosis to a patient who is about to undergo a major surgery?
Would you rather be the only nurse on duty during a mass casualty event, or be the only nurse able to provide comfort to a single dying patient?
Would you rather have a patient who is constantly demanding and manipulative, or a patient who is withdrawn and uncommunicative?
Would you rather have to choose between taking away a patient's autonomy for their own safety, or allowing them to make a choice that could harm them?
Would you rather have a patient who is experiencing severe pain but refuses all pain medication, or a patient who is experiencing mild discomfort but is addicted to pain medication?
Would you rather have to break bad news to a patient's loved ones, or have to deliver good news that you know will be met with disbelief?
Would you rather have a patient who is rude and disrespectful to you, or a patient who is overly familiar and crosses personal boundaries?
Would you rather have to prioritize your own mental health and step away from a stressful situation, or push through and risk burnout?
Would you rather have to advocate for a patient who has no family support, or advocate for a patient whose family is actively hindering their care?
Would you rather have to deal with a constantly complaining patient, or a patient who never expresses their needs and you have to guess?
Would you rather have to break patient confidentiality for a justifiable reason, or maintain confidentiality and potentially put someone at risk?
Would you rather have a patient who expects you to be their friend, or a patient who treats you as if you are beneath them?
Would you rather have to make a difficult ethical decision in isolation, or have to present your dilemma to a committee that might not understand?
Would you rather have to take care of a patient with a highly contagious disease, or a patient with a chronic condition that requires constant emotional support?
Would you rather have to tell a patient that their prognosis is poor, or have to tell them that their treatment has failed?
Would you rather have to manage a difficult family dynamic, or manage a difficult patient behavior?
Would you rather have to make a life-altering decision for a patient who is unable to communicate, or have to convince a patient to make a decision they are hesitant about?
Clinical Skills Showdowns
Would you rather have to start an IV on a patient with notoriously difficult veins, or have to administer a complex medication that requires precise timing?
Would you rather have to perform CPR on an unresponsive patient, or have to intubate a patient in respiratory distress?
Would you rather have to clean up a significant bodily fluid spill, or have to change a soiled dressing on a heavily infected wound?
Would you rather have to administer a chemotherapy drug, or have to administer a blood transfusion?
Would you rather have to insert a Foley catheter, or have to insert an NG tube?
Would you rather have to manage a patient who is experiencing a seizure, or manage a patient who is experiencing anaphylactic shock?
Would you rather have to administer a pain injection to a patient who is crying in pain, or administer a dose of insulin to a patient with extremely high blood sugar?
Would you rather have to perform a wound debridement, or have to assist with a lumbar puncture?
Would you rather have to manage a patient on a ventilator, or manage a patient with a central line?
Would you rather have to administer a medication via an unfamiliar route, or have to administer a medication with a potentially dangerous drug interaction?
Would you rather have to calculate and administer a critical drip rate, or have to titrate a medication based on patient response?
Would you rather have to perform a sterile dressing change on a surgical site, or have to assist with a bedside tracheostomy care?
Would you rather have to monitor a patient post-stroke, or monitor a patient post-MI?
Would you rather have to administer a medication that is known to cause nausea, or administer a medication that has a high risk of allergic reaction?
Would you rather have to set up and manage a complex IV pump, or have to troubleshoot a malfunctioning medical device?
Would you rather have to perform a tracheostomy suctioning, or have to administer a nebulizer treatment?
Would you rather have to manage a patient with delirium tremens, or manage a patient with severe hypoglycemia?
Would you rather have to administer a medication that requires strict rebound precautions, or administer a medication that requires reverse isolation?
Would you rather have to perform a sterile insertion of a peripheral IV, or have to manage a patient receiving continuous chest tube drainage?
Would you rather have to administer a medication that can cause significant drowsiness, or administer a medication that can cause tremors?
Patient Personalities and Peculiarities
Would you rather have a patient who constantly asks for the same thing over and over, or a patient who is always trying to trick you into giving them extra meds?
Would you rather have a patient who insists on telling you their entire life story, or a patient who communicates only through grunts and gestures?
Would you rather have a patient who is obsessed with germs and cleans everything constantly, or a patient who is completely oblivious to their surroundings?
Would you rather have a patient who is a hypochondriac and thinks they have every disease imaginable, or a patient who downplays every symptom?
Would you rather have a patient who believes they are a celebrity and demands special treatment, or a patient who believes they are an alien and needs to go home?
Would you rather have a patient who is constantly complaining about the food, or a patient who is constantly complaining about the noise?
Would you rather have a patient who tries to bribe you for favors, or a patient who tries to manipulate you with guilt?
Would you rather have a patient who is a total prankster and tries to scare you, or a patient who is overly dramatic about everything?
Would you rather have a patient who is always asking for your personal opinions, or a patient who is constantly questioning your every move?
Would you rather have a patient who is extremely messy and leaves their room in disarray, or a patient who is obsessively neat and rearranges everything?
Would you rather have a patient who talks non-stop about their pets, or a patient who only talks about their conspiracy theories?
Would you rather have a patient who is overly affectionate and tries to hug you all the time, or a patient who is extremely distant and avoids eye contact?
Would you rather have a patient who blames everyone else for their problems, or a patient who takes responsibility for everything but never asks for help?
Would you rather have a patient who is constantly fidgeting and can't sit still, or a patient who is completely motionless and barely moves?
Would you rather have a patient who insists on wearing outlandish outfits, or a patient who wears the same thing every single day?
Would you rather have a patient who is constantly asking about other patients, or a patient who is completely uninterested in anything happening around them?
Would you rather have a patient who tries to teach you their native language, or a patient who tries to teach you their unique hobby?
Would you rather have a patient who believes they are a healer and tries to heal you, or a patient who believes they are being haunted and needs you to fight ghosts?
Would you rather have a patient who is overly dramatic about minor discomforts, or a patient who stoically endures extreme pain?
Would you rather have a patient who constantly asks you to check on their family members, or a patient who only talks about their past achievements?
Teamwork and Collaboration Quandaries
Would you rather have a doctor who micromanages your every action, or a doctor who is never available when you need them?
Would you rather have a fellow nursing student who is always late to clinicals, or a fellow nursing student who is always trying to take over your tasks?
Would you rather have a CNA who is incredibly helpful but always gossips, or a CNA who is quiet and keeps to themselves but is a bit slow?
Would you rather have a charge nurse who is overly strict and by-the-book, or a charge nurse who is too laid-back and doesn't enforce rules?
Would you rather have a patient care assistant who is highly efficient but lacks bedside manner, or one who is very kind but struggles with organization?
Would you rather have a team that communicates well but is a bit disorganized, or a team that is highly organized but struggles with open communication?
Would you rather have a physical therapist who is overly aggressive with exercises, or a physical therapist who is too gentle and doesn't push the patient enough?
Would you rather have a colleague who constantly complains about their workload, or a colleague who never asks for help even when overwhelmed?
Would you rather have a supervisor who gives vague instructions, or a supervisor who gives overly detailed instructions that are hard to follow?
Would you rather have a pharmacist who is always late with medications, or a pharmacist who questions every order?
Would you rather have a medical student who asks a lot of basic questions, or a medical student who acts like they know everything?
Would you rather have a patient’s family member who is constantly in the way, or a patient’s family member who is completely absent?
Would you rather have a fellow nurse who is always seeking your approval, or a fellow nurse who constantly critiques your work?
Would you rather have a respiratory therapist who is excellent but has a bad attitude, or one who is pleasant but occasionally misses details?
Would you rather have a dietary aide who delivers the wrong meal consistently, or one who forgets to deliver meals altogether?
Would you rather have a new graduate nurse who is eager to learn but makes mistakes, or an experienced nurse who is set in their ways and resistant to change?
Would you rather have a social worker who is always unavailable, or a social worker who tries to solve problems but creates more?
Would you rather have a unit where everyone is overly competitive, or a unit where everyone is overly passive?
Would you rather have a lab technician who is very thorough but slow, or one who is fast but sometimes makes errors?
Would you rather have a preceptor who offers constant praise but little constructive feedback, or one who is all constructive feedback and no praise?
Whimsical and Weird Wonders
Would you rather have to sing a lullaby to every patient you administer medication to, or have to wear a silly hat every day in clinicals?
Would you rather have to communicate solely through interpretive dance for an entire shift, or have to talk in a squeaky voice the entire shift?
Would you rather have a patient who is convinced their cat is secretly a medical expert, or a patient who believes their goldfish is a psychic?
Would you rather have to give all your patients a high-five after every procedure, or have to give them a thumbs-up and a wink?
Would you rather have to wear fuzzy slippers to work every day, or have to wear a cape as part of your uniform?
Would you rather have to tell every patient a bad pun before you leave their room, or have to give them a lollipop after every vital sign check?
Would you rather have a patient who communicates only by meowing like a cat, or a patient who communicates only by quacking like a duck?
Would you rather have to administer treatments while dressed as a clown, or have to administer treatments while wearing a full-body animal costume?
Would you rather have a patient who believes they can fly if they flap their arms hard enough, or a patient who believes they are a superhero with special powers?
Would you rather have to start every shift by singing a motivational song at the top of your lungs, or have to end every shift by performing a small magic trick?
Would you rather have a patient who thinks they are a talking dog, or a patient who thinks they are a vegetable?
Would you rather have to give all your patients a sticker after they take their pills, or have to give them a gold star for good behavior?
Would you rather have a patient who insists on talking to you in a robot voice, or a patient who insists on speaking only in rhymes?
Would you rather have to administer medications using a toy stethoscope, or have to check vitals with a pretend thermometer?
Would you rather have a patient who believes their IV drip is a portal to another dimension, or a patient who believes the hospital bed is a spaceship?
Would you rather have to wear oversized novelty glasses all day, or have to wear a bright pink wig as part of your uniform?
Would you rather have a patient who communicates through elaborate hand gestures and charades, or a patient who communicates by drawing pictures?
Would you rather have to administer treatments while humming loudly, or have to administer treatments while skipping?
Would you rather have a patient who believes they are a talking parrot and repeats everything you say, or a patient who believes they are a sentient plant?
Would you rather have to give all your patients a temporary tattoo after their procedure, or have to give them a sticker of their favorite animal?
The "Oops" and "Uh-Oh" Moments
Would you rather accidentally spill a cup of water on a patient’s chart, or accidentally leave a vital sign machine running unattended?
Would you rather forget to document a minor detail in a patient's chart, or accidentally give a patient the wrong colored bandage?
Would you rather misplace a non-critical piece of patient equipment, or accidentally bump into a piece of equipment and make a loud noise?
Would you rather be a minute late to administer a non-critical medication, or be a minute late to answer a call light for a patient who is not in distress?
Would you rather accidentally startle a sleeping patient, or accidentally leave a door slightly ajar when you leave a room?
Would you rather forget to turn off a light in a patient's room, or forget to restock a supply cabinet?
Would you rather accidentally get a drop of saline on your scrubs, or accidentally use the wrong size glove?
Would you rather forget to lock a medication cart, or forget to sign out a piece of equipment?
Would you rather accidentally have a brief, awkward silence during a patient conversation, or accidentally make a slightly awkward joke?
Would you rather forget to ask a patient about their allergies (when they’ve already stated them), or forget to document that you asked about their allergies?
Would you rather accidentally overfill a water pitcher, or accidentally underfill it?
Would you rather forget to adjust a patient's pillow, or forget to check if they have enough blankets?
Would you rather accidentally leave a pen on a patient's bedside table, or accidentally leave a pen on the floor?
Would you rather forget to close a curtain all the way, or forget to pull it all the way shut?
Would you rather accidentally hear a snippet of a private conversation between colleagues, or accidentally be overheard saying something slightly embarrassing?
Would you rather forget to replace a used tissue box, or forget to turn down the TV volume?
Would you rather accidentally use the wrong cleaning wipe on a surface, or accidentally leave a cleaning wipe out after you're done?
Would you rather forget to mention a minor patient request to a colleague, or forget to log off a computer terminal?
Would you rather accidentally spill a few drops of water on the floor, or accidentally leave a trash can lid slightly off?
Would you rather forget to adjust the bed to the lowest setting after a procedure, or forget to put up the bed rails after a non-fall risk patient requested them?
Whether you're deep in study mode or unwinding after a long shift, these Would You Rather Questions For Nursing Students are a fantastic way to engage your mind and connect with your peers. They remind us that nursing is about more than just science; it's about critical thinking, empathy, and a good dose of humor. So, next time you're feeling the pressure, pull out a few of these and see what interesting conversations and insights they bring!