What Is the Average IQ Of a Nurse? – EnhancingBrain (2024)

Nurses perform a myriad of tasks every day. From overseeing patients’ care and monitoring their progress to administering medications and carrying out diagnostic tests, nurses are indispensable in health care and are often in high demand. Yet, nurses’ intelligence remains something of a mystery to the lay public.

Nurses are one of the most unique, dedicated, and talented professions on the planet. It’s no surprise, then, that a lot of guys (and gals) nurse fantasies involve being nurses. (And, some fantasies involve actually being nurses.) But while nurses are certainly special, not everyone is cut out for the job. (And, a nurse’s job, unfortunately, isn’t for everyone.)

The Essence of a Nurse

Nurses are the unsung heroes of society. They devote their lives to caring for others and saving lives. Nurses work hard, put the needs of others first, and provide comfort and compassion. Nurses are caring, compassionate, and dedicated to improving the health of others.

In the nursing field, who we hire is just as important as what you learn. A nurse who lacks the intelligence, compassion, or even basic knowledge to care for patients isn’t doing anyone a favor. If, for instance, I hire a nurse who’s lacking in any of these areas, not only will my patients suffer, but I won’t be doing myself any favors either, since I’m hiring the wrong person, and all I will have done is waste of my time and my money.

So, What Is the Average IQ Of a Nurse?

The average nurse’s IQ is 120, according to a recent survey. Though most nurses fall into the 120-130 range, 10.3% are above average, and 1.8% are gifted. The average nurse’s IQ is 108.2, putting them in the 97.5th percentile.

What is the Essence of Measuring IQ?

Nursing Stat Facts

Nursing Stat Facts

A key part of attaining a high IQ is learning how to measure intelligence and correct flawed IQ tests. In IQ Test Review, students will learn how to measure intelligence and what scoring ranges indicate an above-average or below-average intelligence level.

Many factors impact a person’s IQ, and researchers define IQ tests as tests that measure intelligence. IQ is an estimate of a person’s cognitive ability or mental ability. IQ tests measure the intellectual abilities, such as reasoning skills, memory, and processing speed, that are involved in complex perceptive reasoning, basic numerical skills, and verbal comprehension.

There are many ways to measure intelligence. Some people are asked about their IQ, others are given an IQ test, and still, others use the IQ test-like questions that come in standard IQ tests (such as the SAT), as well as standardized tests like the ASVAB. The SAT is full of questions like “What are three examples of association?” and “What are three uses of electricity?” The ASVAB has questions like “What does a device that measures distance per pound weigh?” and “What does a device that measures pressure in pounds per square inch measure?” While these may not be IQ questions, they certainly measure some aspects of intelligence.

Do You Need a High IQ To Be a Nurse?

You don’t have to be a genius to be a nurse. But you do need to have a keen mind, concern for others, and a nurturing heart. (Perhaps this is why many nurses love taking care of babies?) Nurses must be able to follow directions, think on their feet, and adapt to changing situations. They also need to be kind, compassionate, and empathetic. And, of course, they should always be quality health care providers.

You are a nurse, and you’ve worked hard to earn your RN. You’ve likely heard time and again how critical it is to have a high IQ, but the truth is, you don’t need a high IQ to be a great nurse. In fact, research shows that nurses with IQs between 100 and 130 (the average IQ score) perform as well as nurses with higher IQ scores.

The nursing profession is one of the few professions where intelligence isn’t as important as it is typically perceived. In fact, intelligence isn’t even required to land a position as a nurse. While there seems to be a widespread belief that nurses need to be smart, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Can You Be a Nurse with Low IQ?

Nursing is not a career for the faint of heart, as anyone who has ever worked as a nurse can tell you. Working in the healthcare field requires compassion and patience, and nursing jobs often involve long hours and stressful situations. But can nursing with low intelligence actually be a career? Yes, nurses with low IQs can actually make good nurses, but you’d have to work harder than someone with a high IQ.

A low IQ can be a serious roadblock, but not with nursing. Since nurses provide care under the supervision of doctors, people with below-average mental abilities are well-suited for nursing. In fact, people with below-average intelligence are uniquely qualified to manage patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities. Now, before you pack up your stethoscope and head back to school, it’s important to realize that low IQs can hold you back in nursing school—and in nursing practice—if you aren’t careful.

A recent study found that people with low levels of intelligence have the lowest unemployment rate among college graduates. In fact, nurses with below-average intelligence have the lowest unemployment rate. However, despite this fact, there still seem to be many misconceptions about low IQ. Many people associate a low IQ with a lack of intelligence and believe there would be little value in hiring someone with such a low IQ. Yet, many studies show that the intelligence level at which someone is most successful is far beyond just IQ.

Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare industry. With patients always in the forefront of their minds, they have to manage stress and keep the environment as calm as possible. Nurses need to be caring, attentive, and compassionate.

What Is the Average IQ Of a Nurse? – EnhancingBrain (2024)

FAQs

What is the average IQ of a nurse? ›

Pharmacists average around 120 and nurses in the high 110's. You can find a link to the full list with more professions in the description.

What is the average IQ of a medical student? ›

The average I.Q. of a doctor is approximately 125. Studies have determined that a doctor's I.Q. will normally fall within the 110-130 range, putting them into the 'high average' and 'superior' Wechsler classifications. The average I.Q.

What happens if your IQ is 145? ›

85 to 114: Average intelligence. 115 to 129: Above average or bright. 130 to 144: Moderately gifted. 145 to 159: Highly gifted.

Is an IQ score of 113 good? ›

For example, on The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Stanford-Binet test, scores that fall between 90 and 109 are considered average IQ scores. On these same tests, scores that fall between 110 and 119 are considered high average IQ scores. Scores between 80 and 89 are classified as low average.

What does an IQ of 107 mean? ›

110 - 119 is "superior intelligence", while 90 - 109 is "normal or average intelligence". An IQ between 80 and 89 suggests "dullness", while a score of 70 to 79 is classed as "borderline deficiency".

How common is 150 IQ? ›

Historical IQ classification tables
IQ Range ("ratio IQ")Percent of Group
160–1690.03
150–1590.2
140–1491.1
130–1393.1
10 more rows

Can you be a doctor with an IQ of 120? ›

The median IQ of an average doctor is almost touching an incredible 120. Most iq tests score an individual on a scale of 100.

What is the IQ of a pharmacist? ›

School teachers, Pharmacists, Accountants, Nurses, and Managers – 120. If you decided to have your IQ measured, the tests are most likely to use the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or your child (like mine) would be tested with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

What is the average IQ of Harvard students? ›

Ranked by IQ Test Score Estimates of Undergraduate Students
RankingSchoolStudents IQ Test Score Estimate
13Harvard142.4
13UPenn142.4
16Pomona142
17Duke141.9
21 more rows

What is the average IQ of a PhD in psychology? ›

The average IQ of PhD/MD degree recipients is about 125, which is higher than 95 percent of the general population.

What is Albert Einstein's IQ? ›

His performance beats those of physicists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, who were both estimated to have IQs around 160.

Does IQ change with age? ›

Does an individual's IQ change with age? An individual's IQ does not change with age. In other words: if you did an IQ test now and then another one in 10 years' time, your IQ score will probably be very similar. This is because IQ is always measured relative to other people your age.

Can you increase your IQ? ›

Although science is on the fence about whether you can raise your IQ or not, research does seem to suggest that it's possible to raise your intelligence through certain brain-training activities. Training your memory, executive control, and visuospatial reasoning can help to boost your intelligence levels.

How rare is an IQ of 130? ›

Like other variable human traits (height, for example), the range of IQ is on a standard curve bell curve. Most people you meet are probably average, and a few are extraordinarily smart. Just 2.2 percent have an IQ of 130 or greater.

How do I know my IQ number? ›

The IQ score can be calculated with the formula of IQ = (intelligence age/actual age) x100. Here is a short list of the most common IQ tests (intelligence quotient test), other than MentalUP's online IQ test that you or your children may want to take: Stanford-Binet (SB-V) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)

What is the lowest IQ ever recorded? ›

What Is the Lowest IQ Ever? There's no record of the lowest IQ ever. However, the lowest IQ score possible is zero.

What is an extremely high IQ score? ›

While there is no “standard” intelligence quotient (IQ) test, the scoring tends to be similar across the various versions, with 100 being considered an “average” IQ and anything 140 or above considered genius territory.

What is a good IQ score by age? ›

What Is the Average IQ By Age?
Age RangeAverage IQ Score
20 to 24-year-olds99
24 to 34-year-olds97
35 to 44-year-olds101
45 to 54-year-olds106
3 more rows
Jan 8, 2022

What is the average IQ in the United States? ›

What's The Average IQ In The U.S.? According to 2019's The Intelligence of the Nations report, the average IQ in the United States is 97.43, which was calculated using multiple versions of IQ tests as well as detailed sample data regarding socioeconomic and environmental factors.

Is IQ genetic? ›

Like most aspects of human behavior and cognition, intelligence is a complex trait that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

What is the average IQ of an intelligent person? ›

A score of 116 or more is considered above average. A score of 130 or higher signals a high IQ. Membership in Mensa, the High IQ society, includes people who score in the top 2 percent, which is usually 132 or higher. Keep reading as we explore more about high IQ, what it means, and what it doesn't mean.

What IQ do you need to be a lawyer? ›

Just because you're smart doesn't mean you're likely to have a high EI. Some professionals, such as lawyers, exhibit high average IQ scores (in the 115-130 range), while at the same time scoring lower than the general population on EI (85-95).

What is the average IQ of an anesthesiologist? ›

The mean intelligence test score of orthopaedic surgeons was also statistically significantly greater at 105.19 (10.85) compared with 98.38 (14.45) for anaesthetists.

What is the IQ cutoff for Mensa? ›

In practice, qualifying for Mensa in the top 2% means scoring 132 or more in the Stanford-Binet test, or 148 or more in the Cattell equivalent.

Is being a pharmacist harder than being a doctor? ›

What do you think is more difficult, to become a doctor or to become a pharmacist? Having been both, it was easier and much quicker to become a pharmacist. The courses in pharmacy were more difficult but the medical courses required more memorization. Thus Pharmacy required intelligence, medicine required memory.

What is higher than a pharmacist? ›

A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) degree is a professional doctorate degree that prepares students to practice, whereas a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) is a degree best suited for students interested in research, clinical trials and education.

What personality type is a pharmacist? ›

This makes logical, confident, Extraverted-Intuitive-Thinking-Judging Myers-Briggs test ENTJ types a suitable fit for careers such as pharmacists. Pharmacists advise patients on a variety of issues related to their medication, including dosage, storage, drug interactions, side effects, and more.

What is the average IQ of people who graduate college? ›

They also report that the average IQ of a college graduate is about 114. But they also show that having a high IQ is no guarantee of graduating. Those who score 130 (very rare; about 2-percent of the population) still have a 10-percent dropout rate. 5.

What college has the highest IQ? ›

1. California Institute of Technology. Caltech, a school known for its prestigious STEM programming, has the smartest students in the country.

What kind of math is on an IQ test? ›

“In reality, a genuine IQ test doesn't have maths in it, beyond very basic arithmetic. An IQ tests assesses logic, pattern recognition and speed of thought, not learned knowledge. “There are often numbers in an IQ test, but they are generally there just to test the ability to recognise sequences and patterns quickly.”

What is the average high school graduate IQ? ›

Measured Intelligence and Education
WAIS Mean IQEducational Equivalent
115Mean of college graduates
105Mean of high school graduates
100Average for total population
75About 50-50 chance of reaching ninth grade
1 more row

What is the IQ of average PhD holder? ›

In fact, with an IQ of 130, you could get any sort of doctorate, an MD, a PharmD, a DDS, and LD, a veterinary degree, or even the hardest one of all, a PhD. The average person with a Bachelors has a 113 IQ. The average person with a Masters has a 117 IQ. The average person with a Doctorate has a 125 IQ.

Can a person with an average IQ get a PhD? ›

It's hard to get a PhD with an IQ of 100, but not impossible. There are several ramifications of "IQ." One possibility is that someone of an average (100) IQ will take longer to master a subject than someone with a 115-120 IQ or that the lower IQ person will need to repeat some courses.

What is Kanye's IQ? ›

Kanye says he scored a 133 on Mensa IQ test, compares his brain to women's bodies - Consequence.

Does Ashton Kutcher have a high IQ? ›

Ashton Kutcher

But little do fans of That '70s Show and Dude, Where's My Car know that Kutcher bears no similarities to some of his former on-screen characters. The-now 44-year-old has an estimated IQ of 160, evident in his humanitarian work (he's assisted with the plight of child trafficking) and investment work.

What is Steve Jobs IQ? ›

"Steve Jobs likely had an IQ roughly 160 or above. In Walter Isaacson's biography, near the end of 4th grade, Jobs was tested. Jobs said: 'I scored at the high school sophom*ore level. ' This means he was a 4th grader performing at the 10th grade level.

How much IQ does Elon Musk have? ›

Like, is Elon Musk a genius? It answered, Elon Musk's IQ is reported to be 155, which is very high compared to the average of 100.

What was Bob Dylan's IQ? ›

Bob Dylan, famous folk and rock musician had an IQ test score of 106.

Who had an IQ of 400? ›

Marilyn vos Savant (/ˌvɒs səˈvɑːnt/; born Marilyn Mach; August 11, 1946) is an American magazine columnist who has the highest recorded intelligence quotient (IQ) in the Guinness Book of Records, a competitive category the publication has since retired.
...
Marilyn vos Savant
SpouseRobert Jarvik ​ ( m. 1987)​
Children2
2 more rows

What is the highest recorded IQ in history? ›

The appropriately named Marilyn vos Savant is in a class of her own. According to Guinness World Records, her astonishing IQ of 228 is the highest ever recorded. The daughter of an Italian and a German immigrant, vos Savant was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1946.

Are IQ tests accurate? ›

On aggregate, IQ tests exhibit high reliability, although test-takers may have varying scores when taking the same test on differing occasions, and may have varying scores when taking different IQ tests at the same age.

What age is IQ the highest? ›

IQ peaks at around 20-years-old and later effort will not improve it much beyond this point, research finds. The complexity of people's jobs, higher education, socialising and reading all probably have little effect on peak cognitive ability.

Can your IQ increase drastically? ›

IQ scores can change dramatically in teenage years in parallel with changes to the brain, according to a study that suggests caution in using the 11+ exam for grammar school entrance to predict academic ability. IQ is thought to be stable across a person's life.

What is the difference between IQ and intelligence? ›

Intelligence refers to one's cognitive abilities, including memory, comprehension, understanding, reasoning, and abstract thought. Intelligence is not quite the same as IQ, although people use the terms interchangeably. IQ, which stands for "Intelligence Quotient," is a score determined by an IQ test.

How can I make my brain smarter and faster? ›

10 habits that can help you become smarter
  1. Read more. ...
  2. Surround yourself with like-minded people. ...
  3. Start exercising daily. ...
  4. Learn a new language. ...
  5. Look for learning opportunities. ...
  6. Lower your screen time. ...
  7. Practice meditation. ...
  8. Explore video games.
Jul 6, 2022

What's Justin Bieber's IQ? ›

Somewhere between 70 and 85 would be about right.

Which state has highest IQ? ›

Intelligence Statistics by State
#StateAverage IQ
1Massachusetts104.3
2New Hampshire104.2
3North Dakota103.8
4Vermont103.8
46 more rows

How smart is someone with an IQ of 140? ›

An IQ score over 140 indicates that you're a genius or nearly a genius, while 120 - 140 is classed as "very superior intelligence". 110 - 119 is "superior intelligence", while 90 - 109 is "normal or average intelligence".

How can I check my IQ level by myself? ›

Free-IQTest.net. One of the most well-known online exams available to you is Free-IQTest.net. It has 20 questions that will measure your IQ score accurately. After this test, you have to give your birth date since the test calculates your IQ score based on your age.

How do you determine your intelligence age? ›

mental age, intelligence test score, expressed as the chronological age for which a given level of performance is average or typical. An individual's mental age is then divided by his chronological age and multiplied by 100, yielding an intelligence quotient (IQ).

What is ideal IQ number? ›

Wechsler Intelligence Scales
IQ Range ("deviation IQ")IQ Classification
130 and aboveVery Superior
120–129Superior
110–119High Average
90–109Average
3 more rows

What nationality has the lowest IQ? ›

IQ compared by countries

With an average IQ of 97 points, the USA ranks 29th in this ranking. With 106 points, the inhabitants of Hong Kong reach the highest intelligence quotas worldwide. The last place, with only 51 points, is occupied by Nepal.

Who has 300 IQ? ›

William James Sidis has the World's Highest IQ. Anywhere from 250 to 300 is his IQ score, almost twice the score of Albert Einstein. At the age of eleven, William famously entered Harvard University, becoming the youngest person to enter.

What is the IQ of Albert Einstein? ›

His performance beats those of physicists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, who were both estimated to have IQs around 160.

What is a good IQ score for a 70 year old? ›

People between 65 and 69 years of age have an average IQ score of 114, which puts them in the superior intelligence or above-average end of the scale. But people between 70 and 74 years who are tested for IQ get an even higher average score of 119.

What personality do most nurses have? ›

An article found in NursingStandard explained that one of the most common personality types discovered amongst nurses is ISFJ (introvert, sensing, feeling, and judging). This personality type can be described as quiet but friendly and responsible. Loyal and committed to their obligations.

What professions have IQ 120? ›

School teachers, Pharmacists, Accountants, Nurses, and Managers – 120. If you decided to have your IQ measured, the tests are most likely to use the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or your child (like mine) would be tested with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

What is an average IQ for a 19 year old? ›

For adults between 18 and 19 years of age, the average IQ score is 105, which also denotes normal or average intelligence. The average score for people between 20 and 24 years of age is 99, which also denotes normal or average intelligence.

Can you be a doctor with an IQ of 100? ›

Sources + people's estimates place the average IQ of a doctor well above 100. You seem very out of touch if you think that there's a large proportion of doctors and lawyers who have an IQ below 100. IQ isn't important to me, it's just reality.

What is the hardest type of nurse to be? ›

Possibly one of the most difficult nurse practitioner specialties, a critical care nurse practitioner has to learn to deal with life and death situations daily due to treating the most acutely ill or traumatized patients.

What are the weakness of a nurse? ›

Spending too much time on paperwork. Paying too much attention to detail. Attempting to complete too many tasks at once. A lack of clinical experience, which may apply to recent graduates or new nurses.

What are the 7 characteristics of a good nurse? ›

What Makes Someone a Good Nurse?
  • Caring. ...
  • Communication Skills. ...
  • Empathy. ...
  • Attention to Detail. ...
  • Problem Solving Skills. ...
  • Stamina. ...
  • Sense of Humor. ...
  • Commitment to Patient Advocacy.
Feb 25, 2020

Are you a genius if you have an IQ of 140? ›

Notably, the average IQ score falls between 85 and 115. A score above 140, meanwhile, is considered to be genius level.

What degrees have the highest IQ? ›

Several surveys and studies have found that college majors with students who tend to score highest on average IQ tests include: Engineering majors: Engineering fields like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, etc. consistently rank very highly.

What was Einstein IQ level? ›

His performance beats those of physicists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, who were both estimated to have IQs around 160.

What is the average IQ of a lawyer? ›

The Average IQ of a Lawyer

A recent report shows that some lawyers have IQ's of approximately 114 (in the 50th percentile), some 109 (in the 25th percentile), and some 124 (in the 75th percentile).

What nationality has the highest IQ? ›

The countries with the highest average IQs are Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the People's Republic of China, all with average IQs above 104. On the other hand, countries such as Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Niger, Antigua and Barbuda, and Rwanda have the lowest average IQs, all below 71.

What is the average IQ of a female? ›

He found six nations with sufficient data and, in five of them including New Zealand, women either matched men or exceeded them. On average, women had an IQ of 100.7 compared to men at 100. "One shouldn't exaggerate the significance of that," says Flynn.

What is the average American IQ? ›

What's The Average IQ In The U.S.? According to 2019's The Intelligence of the Nations report, the average IQ in the United States is 97.43, which was calculated using multiple versions of IQ tests as well as detailed sample data regarding socioeconomic and environmental factors.

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