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Josie
Student
Haslet, Texas
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what technical skills do nurses need?
I'd like to become a nurse #nursing
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5 answers
Jared Buescher
Registered Nurse at Boone Hospital Center
61
Answers
Columbia, Missouri
Updated
Jared’s Answer
It depends on what you mean by "technical skills". First off, you go to nursing school. It isn't a career center/vocational school training where you take a couple courses and you're ready to go. As far as skills that you will need on a daily basis it will be physical assessments, placing IV's, placing urinary catheters, placing nasogastric tubes, and operating equipment available at your facility, depending on what type of floor you work on or what type of hospital/clinic you are located at. It is an extremely broad question because so much goes into your day-to-day life as a nurse and it varies greatly depending on the place you work and what specialty area you are in. If you have any other questions, feel free to message me
thank you for the great info
Justin
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
4842
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Subject: Essential Technical Skills for Nurses
Dear Josie,
In the demanding field of nursing, a multitude of technical skills are needed to ensure effective patient care. These skills are crucial for patient safety, well-being, and recovery. Let's take a closer look at the key technical skills required for nurses:
1. Medical Knowledge: A strong grasp of medical knowledge is vital for nurses. This includes understanding intricate medical terminology, interpreting lab results, and comprehending the implications of different medical conditions. This knowledge base allows nurses to deliver precise assessments and interventions for patients.
2. Patient Assessment: Proficiency in conducting comprehensive patient assessments is a must. These assessments involve collecting data about a patient's health status, identifying changes in condition, and spotting potential complications. These skills are key in creating suitable care plans and making prompt decisions.
3. Medication Administration: Nurses bear the responsibility of delivering medications to patients safely and accurately. A firm understanding of various medications, including dosage calculations, administration methods, potential side effects, and drug interactions is essential. This proficiency aids in preventing errors and ensures the best patient outcomes.
4. Clinical Skills: Nurses need to be adept at performing a range of clinical procedures such as wound care, IV therapy, catheterization, and monitoring vital signs. These practical skills are crucial for providing direct patient care and responding swiftly to emergencies or critical situations.
5. Documentation: Precise documentation is a vital aspect of nursing practice as it serves as a legal record of the patient care provided. Nurses must be adept at documenting assessments, interventions, treatments, and patient responses in a clear and organized way to facilitate communication among healthcare team members and ensure continuity of care.
6. Infection Control: Nurses are instrumental in preventing healthcare-associated infections by adhering to infection control protocols and maintaining a clean environment. Knowledge of proper hand hygiene techniques, isolation precautions, sterilization methods, and use of personal protective equipment is essential to minimize the risk of infections spreading.
7. Technology Proficiency: Nurses often interact with various technological tools such as electronic health records (EHRs), medical devices, telehealth systems, and monitoring equipment in today’s healthcare settings. Proficiency in using technology boosts efficiency in documentation, communication, data analysis, and decision-making processes.
8. Critical Thinking: Critical thinking skills are indispensable for nurses to analyze complex situations, prioritize tasks effectively, anticipate potential problems, and make sound clinical judgments. Nurses must be capable of thinking critically under pressure and adapt their approach based on changing circumstances to ensure the best patient outcomes.
In conclusion, a blend of technical skills, including medical knowledge, patient assessment abilities, medication administration proficiency, clinical competencies, documentation accuracy, infection control practices, technology utilization capabilities, and critical thinking skills, are required for nurses to deliver top-tier care to patients across diverse healthcare settings.
Here are the top 3 authoritative sources used:
1. American Nurses Association (ANA): The ANA is a professional organization that establishes standards for nursing practice in the United States. Their publications and guidelines provide valuable insights into the technical skills required for nurses.
2. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): The NCSBN creates licensing examinations for nurses and provides resources on nursing practice standards and essential competencies for safe and effective nursing care.
3. National League for Nursing (NLN): The NLN is committed to promoting excellence in nursing education. Their research-based resources provide valuable information on the technical skills needed by nurses in various healthcare settings.
May God bless you,
JC.
Dear Josie,
In the demanding field of nursing, a multitude of technical skills are needed to ensure effective patient care. These skills are crucial for patient safety, well-being, and recovery. Let's take a closer look at the key technical skills required for nurses:
1. Medical Knowledge: A strong grasp of medical knowledge is vital for nurses. This includes understanding intricate medical terminology, interpreting lab results, and comprehending the implications of different medical conditions. This knowledge base allows nurses to deliver precise assessments and interventions for patients.
2. Patient Assessment: Proficiency in conducting comprehensive patient assessments is a must. These assessments involve collecting data about a patient's health status, identifying changes in condition, and spotting potential complications. These skills are key in creating suitable care plans and making prompt decisions.
3. Medication Administration: Nurses bear the responsibility of delivering medications to patients safely and accurately. A firm understanding of various medications, including dosage calculations, administration methods, potential side effects, and drug interactions is essential. This proficiency aids in preventing errors and ensures the best patient outcomes.
4. Clinical Skills: Nurses need to be adept at performing a range of clinical procedures such as wound care, IV therapy, catheterization, and monitoring vital signs. These practical skills are crucial for providing direct patient care and responding swiftly to emergencies or critical situations.
5. Documentation: Precise documentation is a vital aspect of nursing practice as it serves as a legal record of the patient care provided. Nurses must be adept at documenting assessments, interventions, treatments, and patient responses in a clear and organized way to facilitate communication among healthcare team members and ensure continuity of care.
6. Infection Control: Nurses are instrumental in preventing healthcare-associated infections by adhering to infection control protocols and maintaining a clean environment. Knowledge of proper hand hygiene techniques, isolation precautions, sterilization methods, and use of personal protective equipment is essential to minimize the risk of infections spreading.
7. Technology Proficiency: Nurses often interact with various technological tools such as electronic health records (EHRs), medical devices, telehealth systems, and monitoring equipment in today’s healthcare settings. Proficiency in using technology boosts efficiency in documentation, communication, data analysis, and decision-making processes.
8. Critical Thinking: Critical thinking skills are indispensable for nurses to analyze complex situations, prioritize tasks effectively, anticipate potential problems, and make sound clinical judgments. Nurses must be capable of thinking critically under pressure and adapt their approach based on changing circumstances to ensure the best patient outcomes.
In conclusion, a blend of technical skills, including medical knowledge, patient assessment abilities, medication administration proficiency, clinical competencies, documentation accuracy, infection control practices, technology utilization capabilities, and critical thinking skills, are required for nurses to deliver top-tier care to patients across diverse healthcare settings.
Here are the top 3 authoritative sources used:
1. American Nurses Association (ANA): The ANA is a professional organization that establishes standards for nursing practice in the United States. Their publications and guidelines provide valuable insights into the technical skills required for nurses.
2. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): The NCSBN creates licensing examinations for nurses and provides resources on nursing practice standards and essential competencies for safe and effective nursing care.
3. National League for Nursing (NLN): The NLN is committed to promoting excellence in nursing education. Their research-based resources provide valuable information on the technical skills needed by nurses in various healthcare settings.
May God bless you,
JC.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
4842
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Josie,
Technical Skills Required for Nursing:
Nursing is a complex and dynamic profession that requires a unique set of technical skills. These skills enable nurses to provide high-quality patient care, manage medical equipment, and navigate electronic health records (EHRs). Here are some of the essential technical skills needed for nursing:
Computer Literacy: Nurses must be proficient in using computers and various software applications, including EHR systems, word processors, spreadsheets, and databases. They need to be able to enter patient data accurately and efficiently, retrieve information quickly, and generate reports as needed.
Medical Equipment Operation: Nurses should be familiar with various medical devices used in healthcare settings, such as ventilators, infusion pumps, monitors, defibrillators, and syringe pumps. They must know how to set up, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot these devices to ensure optimal patient care.
Electronic Documentation: Nurses are responsible for maintaining accurate and complete documentation of patient care. They need to be skilled in using EHR systems to document vital signs, medications administered, treatments provided, assessments made, and progress notes written.
Data Analysis: Nurses must be able to analyze data from various sources to identify trends and make informed decisions about patient care. They may use statistical software or data visualization tools to analyze data related to patient outcomes, medication usage, or other clinical indicators.
Communication Technology: Nurses often use communication technology such as phones, radios, intercoms, or pagers to coordinate care among team members or respond to emergencies. They may also use email or instant messaging platforms for non-urgent communication with colleagues or patients’ families.
Basic Mathematics: Nurses need a solid foundation in mathematics to perform calculations related to dosages of medications or intravenous fluids based on patients’ weight or body surface area. They may also need to calculate fluid intake and output rates or perform other mathematical calculations related to patient care.
Keyboarding Skills: Nurses spend a significant amount of time typing on keyboards while documenting patient care in EHR systems or communicating with colleagues via email or instant messaging platforms. Good keyboarding skills help them work efficiently and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs).
Familiarity with Medical Terminology: Nurses must have a strong understanding of medical terminology related to anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, lab results, diagnoses codes (ICD-10), CPT codes (Current Procedural Terminology), and other clinical concepts used in healthcare settings.**
Authoritative References Used: American Nurses Association (ANA) 2015-2018 Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 2016 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)-RN Content Outline Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2003 Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality
GOD BLESS!
JC.
Technical Skills Required for Nursing:
Nursing is a complex and dynamic profession that requires a unique set of technical skills. These skills enable nurses to provide high-quality patient care, manage medical equipment, and navigate electronic health records (EHRs). Here are some of the essential technical skills needed for nursing:
Computer Literacy: Nurses must be proficient in using computers and various software applications, including EHR systems, word processors, spreadsheets, and databases. They need to be able to enter patient data accurately and efficiently, retrieve information quickly, and generate reports as needed.
Medical Equipment Operation: Nurses should be familiar with various medical devices used in healthcare settings, such as ventilators, infusion pumps, monitors, defibrillators, and syringe pumps. They must know how to set up, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot these devices to ensure optimal patient care.
Electronic Documentation: Nurses are responsible for maintaining accurate and complete documentation of patient care. They need to be skilled in using EHR systems to document vital signs, medications administered, treatments provided, assessments made, and progress notes written.
Data Analysis: Nurses must be able to analyze data from various sources to identify trends and make informed decisions about patient care. They may use statistical software or data visualization tools to analyze data related to patient outcomes, medication usage, or other clinical indicators.
Communication Technology: Nurses often use communication technology such as phones, radios, intercoms, or pagers to coordinate care among team members or respond to emergencies. They may also use email or instant messaging platforms for non-urgent communication with colleagues or patients’ families.
Basic Mathematics: Nurses need a solid foundation in mathematics to perform calculations related to dosages of medications or intravenous fluids based on patients’ weight or body surface area. They may also need to calculate fluid intake and output rates or perform other mathematical calculations related to patient care.
Keyboarding Skills: Nurses spend a significant amount of time typing on keyboards while documenting patient care in EHR systems or communicating with colleagues via email or instant messaging platforms. Good keyboarding skills help them work efficiently and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs).
Familiarity with Medical Terminology: Nurses must have a strong understanding of medical terminology related to anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, lab results, diagnoses codes (ICD-10), CPT codes (Current Procedural Terminology), and other clinical concepts used in healthcare settings.**
Authoritative References Used: American Nurses Association (ANA) 2015-2018 Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 2016 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)-RN Content Outline Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2003 Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality
GOD BLESS!
JC.
Diane Stanley
retired and enjoying family and pursuing personal interests
2
Answers
Billerica, Massachusetts
Updated
Diane’s Answer
The above answer is perfect for technical skills, most of which will be taught as you go through nursing school. The more Important skills are non-technical and include: being a good listener, being compassionate and caring, having patience, being flexible--you may not leave on time and your schedule will never be set in stone! If you are bilingual this is a huge help, basic computer skills are a must, as is good telephone etiquette and good grammar. What you say and how you say it will be a big part of who you are and how you are regarded! If you are young and text a lot practice writing in full sentences with attention to spelling. Being friendly and receptive is a must when dealing with people who are sick and families in crisis. There is so much more, but this is a good start. . .
Grace S
Registered Nurse
3
Answers
Brunswick, Ohio
Updated
Grace’s Answer
Number one, you need to care about people. Number two, you have to have a thick skin and not be easily offended. Number three, you have to be organized and a good time manager. Number four, you have to have a good sense of humor. Number Five you have to be calm under pressure. Number six, you can't be easily Grossed out by bodily fluids. Bodily smells open wounds, bad breath, dirty teeth or hair, wiping butts. Number seven, you have to realize that there are people who take advantage of the medical system and will try to get everything from you without doing anything for themselves.