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What is your greatest skill as a nurse?
I want to become a nurse because I like to care for people. One of my family members I look up to is a nurse. I want to know what skills are difficult or what skills are fun or easy. #nurse #medicine #skills #medical
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Kerrie’s Answer
I think the greatest skills in being a nurse is compassion and empathy. The ability to "walk" in someone else's shoes is one of the greatest abilities and gift that you can learn, as it will give you depth and insight into extreme caring for others. Compassion and empathy allow you to care for others are a greater depth than just at the surface feelings that we may share with strangers. Compassion and empathy allow you to share your similar experiences with them and to become vulnerable by trusting the relationship you are able to build with them in a short period of time. I feel that this is an extremely important skill because as a nurse you will encounter hundreds, maybe even thousands of patients and their family members across the span of your career and the ability to connect with them is a key to your success in whatever setting you decide to work in.
You will learn a myriad of technical skills along the way that might be useful, fun, or easy to employ during procedures, but the key to nursing is the relationship and trust you build with your patients. These skills will last you your whole career and are applicable outside of your nursing career.
You will learn a myriad of technical skills along the way that might be useful, fun, or easy to employ during procedures, but the key to nursing is the relationship and trust you build with your patients. These skills will last you your whole career and are applicable outside of your nursing career.
Thank you so much for answering my question! This was very helpful!
Esmeralda
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Hi Esmeralda,
This is Sue and I am a retired cancer nurse. I have worked with cancer patients starting in 1984.
I believe that one of the greatest "qualities" of being a good nurse is the ability to be compassionate yet remain objective about your patients.
I believe my personal best skills include the following: performing an accurate patient assessment, the ability to listen carefully, the ability to critically think/analyze patient situations, and the ability to understand complex medical information and relay that to patients using language they can understand.
You may enjoy reading more about important nursing skills here:
https://www.americanmobile.com/nursezone/career-development/7-nursing-skills-you-cant-learn-in-a-classroom/
https://nurse.org/articles/4-best-nursing-soft-skills/
On a very practical level, my best hard skill was inserting intravenous lines and giving injections. I am able to make those procedures less painful by using the right "touch". These skills took much practice to master as you might imagine.
I hope this answers your question!
Best,
Sue
This is Sue and I am a retired cancer nurse. I have worked with cancer patients starting in 1984.
I believe that one of the greatest "qualities" of being a good nurse is the ability to be compassionate yet remain objective about your patients.
I believe my personal best skills include the following: performing an accurate patient assessment, the ability to listen carefully, the ability to critically think/analyze patient situations, and the ability to understand complex medical information and relay that to patients using language they can understand.
You may enjoy reading more about important nursing skills here:
https://www.americanmobile.com/nursezone/career-development/7-nursing-skills-you-cant-learn-in-a-classroom/
https://nurse.org/articles/4-best-nursing-soft-skills/
On a very practical level, my best hard skill was inserting intravenous lines and giving injections. I am able to make those procedures less painful by using the right "touch". These skills took much practice to master as you might imagine.
I hope this answers your question!
Best,
Sue
Thank you so much for answering my question your response was very helpful!!!
Esmeralda