7 answers
Latasha
Student
Como, Mississippi
4
Questions
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What kinds of personality traits are most effective for nurses to have?
#JULY20 #College-student #Nursing
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7 answers
Jaclyn Lamoureux
Human Resources
1
Answer
Omaha, Nebraska
Updated
Jaclyn’s Answer
The most effective personality traits - in all work environments - are actually a combination of traits. Humble, Hungry and Smart. Check out Patrick Lencioni's book called the Ideal Team Player.
Humble - the ability to think more about others and less about themselves. Big picture helpers, not those who want to gain something from helping.
Hungry - Self-motivated, passionate, vigorous pursuit to fulfill objectives. Strong desire to always keep learning.
Smart - so much more than book smart. Emotional Intelligence; able to recognize how their words and actions affect the entire group dynamics.
Check out Patrick Lencioni's book called the Ideal Team Player.
Humble - the ability to think more about others and less about themselves. Big picture helpers, not those who want to gain something from helping.
Hungry - Self-motivated, passionate, vigorous pursuit to fulfill objectives. Strong desire to always keep learning.
Smart - so much more than book smart. Emotional Intelligence; able to recognize how their words and actions affect the entire group dynamics.
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I appreciate your response to my question that I was highly concerned about as I plan my future into nursing school.
Latasha
Valerie F
medical student
161
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Valerie’s Answer
What I think of is: if you were really really sick, how would you want someone to treat you? I would want someone who is caring, compassionate, gentle, pays attention to details, is able to communicate well.
There are many different types of nurses as well, so an OR nurse (surgical) will be with patients that are getting surgeries and most of the time the patients are under anesthesia. Therefore, they do not need to be as talkative or bubbly as a pediatric nurse.
Hope this helps!
There are many different types of nurses as well, so an OR nurse (surgical) will be with patients that are getting surgeries and most of the time the patients are under anesthesia. Therefore, they do not need to be as talkative or bubbly as a pediatric nurse.
Hope this helps!
Jennifer Shink Kornusky
Nurse Medical Writer
2
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Flexibility, compassion, patience and a commitment to life-long learning are excellent personality traits for nurses to possess. Nursing offers numerous career paths. While the ER may be a great fit for one person's personality, hospice may be a great fit for another. I encourage my students to try numerous types of nursing to determine the one that is the best fit for their personality.
Diane Sypien RN, MSHA, PMP
Manger, Clinical Programs - RN
3
Answers
Washington Township
Updated
Diane’s Answer
As a nurse, it is important, is to be a caring individual who truly cares for patients and their general well-being. Nurses interact with patients and families that may be experiencing a great deal of stress, being a caring and patient individual can make all the difference.
Strong communication is also very important. Nurses need to have the ability to effectively communicate with other nurses, physicians, other disciplines involved in the patient care from other units, patients, and their families.
Strong communication is also very important. Nurses need to have the ability to effectively communicate with other nurses, physicians, other disciplines involved in the patient care from other units, patients, and their families.
Nicole Beck
Nurse
6
Answers
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Hi Latasha!
I think the most important personality trait to have as a nurse is a strong sense of empathy. As a nurse you are frequently working directly with patients who are in pain and being able to understand what a patient is going through and to have the ability to have a lot of patience will help you to provide the best quality of care. I also think it is important to be assertive. When working with doctor's it can at times be intimidating to speak up but if you see something that could endanger a patient it is your duty to bring it to the doctor's attention and to advocate for the patient that you are caring for. It is also important to be resilient as there are going to be hard days, both physically and emotionally, and without resilience it may be difficult to persevere in this career.
I think the most important personality trait to have as a nurse is a strong sense of empathy. As a nurse you are frequently working directly with patients who are in pain and being able to understand what a patient is going through and to have the ability to have a lot of patience will help you to provide the best quality of care. I also think it is important to be assertive. When working with doctor's it can at times be intimidating to speak up but if you see something that could endanger a patient it is your duty to bring it to the doctor's attention and to advocate for the patient that you are caring for. It is also important to be resilient as there are going to be hard days, both physically and emotionally, and without resilience it may be difficult to persevere in this career.
KatieAnna Morton
Registered Nurse / Care Coordinator
6
Answers
Knoxville, Tennessee
Updated
KatieAnna’s Answer
Compassion, empathy, non judgmental, Patience , and a willingness to learn. A lot of times, the path you will follow in your nursing career will match to your personality.
Kerrie Chambers, MSN, RN, CNOR, CNS-CP, CLNC
Registered Nurse
59
Answers
Aurora, Colorado
Updated
Kerrie’s Answer
The personality traits that are most effective for nurses to have are being compassionate, having humility, caring, loving, being non-judgmental, and being an active listener. One thing I have learned along with my career as a nurse for the past 25 years is that people just want to know they are being heard and that you care. Taking the time to sit down and really show you can hear what the patient is saying to you by your nonverbal cues is huge, especially now that our charting is on computers. Take that time to connect face-to-face, see and hear what the patient needs from you as a caregiver.
Also, explore the generational lines and gaps; it is important to understand what each generation needs from the person they are trying to relate to and I know from personal experience that this make s a huge impact on the relationship you create with them. For example, the traditionalists need something very different than a Gen Xer. Take the time to explore the basices of these gaps and it will really help you in your relations with the generations.
Nursing is basically a series of tasks, assessments, and treatments, so finding the time to connect with the patient even if it is only the 5 minutes you have before they go into a huge surgery is super important fo that patient. I have always tried to treat my patient like they were extended family and think "what would I do for them if this was my mom, dad, sister, brother, uncle, grandma, aunt, nephew, niece, etc..." This helps drive your compassion and willingness to serve the greater good and not get bogged down with a task-driven attitude or personality. Time may seem so short some days, but if you take the time to care and to listen, it will be the biggest reward of your career.
Also, explore the generational lines and gaps; it is important to understand what each generation needs from the person they are trying to relate to and I know from personal experience that this make s a huge impact on the relationship you create with them. For example, the traditionalists need something very different than a Gen Xer. Take the time to explore the basices of these gaps and it will really help you in your relations with the generations.
Nursing is basically a series of tasks, assessments, and treatments, so finding the time to connect with the patient even if it is only the 5 minutes you have before they go into a huge surgery is super important fo that patient. I have always tried to treat my patient like they were extended family and think "what would I do for them if this was my mom, dad, sister, brother, uncle, grandma, aunt, nephew, niece, etc..." This helps drive your compassion and willingness to serve the greater good and not get bogged down with a task-driven attitude or personality. Time may seem so short some days, but if you take the time to care and to listen, it will be the biggest reward of your career.