Nowadays, very few people will disagree that the nursing profession is one of the most challenging subfields of the healthcare industry. Without a doubt, being a nurse is extremely difficult. In fact, in this field, job demands are very unforgiving.
Moreover, taking care of the frazzled and the ailing for long hours and dealing with the same patients every day can be challenging for nurses who do not have the right nursing qualities. After all, being overworked will lead to burnout, leading to both physical and mental health issues, forcing even the most aspiring nurses to quit the profession.
That said, to avoid such a thing from happening, nurses need to be helpful and compassionate while making difficult patient care decisions. They also have to be on their guard and administer care while the doctor is away.
Of course, education is crucial here. However, they are a few qualities that every nurse must adopt to become better at their job. So, if you are an aspiring individual looking to dive headfirst into the nursing world, you will need these qualities to become the best nurse you can be;
A good nurse is well-educated.
There is no doubt that the nursing field is evolving at a rapid pace. Nurses need to be up-to-date with the latest nursing best practices and healthcare administration techniques to remain competitive. It is the case for both potential nursing candidates and already-employed nurses. However, one way to do such a thing is by acquiring further education.
For example, you can acquire a terminal degree in nursing, such as a DNP, Ph.D., or an EdD, to improve your nursing knowledge, enhance existing skills, learn new skills and become the best nurse you’ve aspired to be. Not only will you become a more competent nurse, but you’ll also be able to take advantage of the career advancements a terminal nursing degree provides you.
So, go ahead and acquire one whenever you get the chance.
A good nurse is empathetic.
Empathy is an individual’s ability to feel what another individual is going through. For nurses, such a thing means trying to understand what their patients are going through from their point of view by putting themselves in their shoes.
It is all about changing how the patient thinks. If a patient rings a nurse, he or they might only see the nurses who are not assisting them, instead of focusing on the ones. That said, to change this mentality, nurses need to keep helping their patients, even if they don’t require assistance.
That said, not every individual is born with an empathetic personality. However, empathy is a skill that can be learned by understanding the patient’s emotions and helping them while they go through the worst phase of their lives. However, nurses need it the most as their profession demands it more than others.
A good nurse is an excellent communicator.
To be a good nurse, top-notch communications skills are a must-have for you. As a liaison between family members, doctors, and patients, a nurse must collect critical information and share it with the involved parties.
If there are any errors in this information, such as inaccurate prescriptions, missing patient information, or incorrect bloodwork information – it could lead to significant harm. It is why communication is crucial in nursing.
So, to communicate effectively with everyone involved in the treatment process, nurses must be comfortable presenting, reading, and writing information to others via verbal and written communication.
In the end, anything from utilizing techniques to enhance dialogue with family members and patients to breaking down barriers between co-workers, a good nurse knows how to communicate with everyone in the healthcare setting.
A good nurse is a critical thinker.
A critically thinking nurse knows how to evaluate facts and come up with rational and practical solutions objectively. It is a self-directed, disciplined way to troubleshoot clinical issues, prioritize patient needs, and interpret information accurately and quickly.
For instance, during training, nurses have to determine whether a patient has chest pain due to indigestion or experiencing a heart attack.
Thinking critically is vital for nurses to become more autonomous and make better professional decisions. Without the ability to think on your feet, you will probably turn a low-pressure situation into a high-pressure one.
For example, small tasks such as applying sutures might seem daunting if you are not thinking critically.
A good nurse has excellent physical stamina.
Working as a nurse requires standing, turning, and regularly twist for extended periods. That said, health leaders and facilities provide nurses with equipment and training that makes such tasks less strenuous while preventing employee injuries and improving patient outcomes.
Moreover, if you are looking for a less physically demanding nursing job, consider working in an administrative position or a doctor’s office. However, if you want to become a successful nurse, having excellent stamina will significantly help your cause.
Conclusion.
Nursing is more of a calling than a career choice. It requires a special breed of calm-headed and compassionate individuals who are willing to put their patient’s needs and requirements before their personal goals.
In the end, a nursing career can be fulfilling for individuals who want to make a positive difference in people’s lives and help humankind counter and stay protected from adverse health-related issues.
