2 answers
Marc Brian
Student
Daly City, California
1
Question
Asked
818 views
What characteristics/skills are needed in order to be a great nurse?
I want to know this question because I need to know what skills need to be possed in order to be a nurse that is great.
#nurse #career #skills
2 answers
cassandra Harris
Social / Emotional learning Teacher
15
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
cassandra’s Answer
Hello Marc Brian M,
This is a great field to go into but there are a lot of needed skills that go with it.
The first is the Ability to Adapt
Hospitals are very dynamic spaces where different kinds of people have to interact on a daily basis. There is always a chance of conflict looming in the air. As a nurse, it is your job to maintain the decorum of the place and resolve all issues that arise inside the institution. You might have to change your schedule as per the work demands.
As a nursing professional, you must be extremely malleable and adaptable to whatever challenges thrown your way. An efficient nurse is not one who has common medical knowledge but someone who shows traits such as resilience, patience, and transparency in their personality. These core values are thier strengths.
Having a Strong Work Ethic
People working in hospitals have the most hectic and exhaustive working hours. There is no set time frame for work; you can be called at any time for emergency cases.
An Eye for Detail
An eye for detail is perhaps the most important of registered nurse skills that a candidate has to possess. There is a lot of documentation involved in the hospital including patient reports, diet charts, medications, and hospital forms.
Other than that you also have to closely observe all the patients entrusted to your care. Are they all eating and sleeping properly? Do they need a change of setting, medication, or require another form of help? Are they showing any signs of recovery?
Compassion, Sensitivity, and Empathy
You have to deal with people who are hurting every day and have to deal with immense pain and suffering.
A Sense of Humour
Hospitals are grim, serious places where life and death are but a part of the routine. Most patients feel suffocated in such a depressing space and might lose their will to recover at all. Laughter not only reduces the tension-filled atmosphere of the hospital but also helps the patient in managing his anxiety and strengthens the immune system. Your optimism and positive outlook will automatically brighten up their otherwise dull day and help them summon the willpower to improve.
Strong Communication Skills
A number of patients all belonging to various religious beliefs, cultural diversities, and geographic locations are connected through the thread of suffering. As a nurse, you will have to deal with a number of people on a daily basis ranging from patients, their families, doctors, your colleagues, assistants, and hospital staff. You cannot communicate the same way, with everyone.
Quick Decision-Making Skills
When it comes to a matter of life and death, every second count. Quick thinking can save lives. Remember, the doctor won’t always be nearby available at your beck and call. There will be instances where you have to take charge and make some on the spot decisions. Always be on your toes, be aware of your surroundings, to be able to notice when a patient is in need of your immediate assistance.
Patience and Perseverance
A good nurse is ever patient and absolutely dedicated to her job of serving the sick. People suffering from diseases, both chronic and acute are often scared, anxious, and worried about their health. They are suspicious of their surroundings and may refuse to cooperate with you. You might have to take care of a difficult patient who refuses to follow the dietary restrictions or complains about everything under the sun. Try to empathize with their pain and be gentle yet firm in your approach. Controlling your natural reactions to the patient’s aggression (you’re human after all) and maintaining a professional demeanor is what makes a nurse successful.
Physically Strength
It may not seem like a big deal, but standing on your feet for over 10 hours continuously is no easy feat! A nurse has to move around all the time. You may have to lift patients up in and out of chairs or push the medicine cart around.
Technical Know-How
Thanks to technology, the healthcare sector is growing by leaps and bounds. Sound technical knowledge and computer skills are essential for a nursing professional.
The trick is to adapt to the changing times and learn the new and improved innovations made in the field of medicine. Also, there are numerous applications to check the body stats, track physical activity, and diet intake that’ll make your job a lot easier.
Tolerance for Squeamish Tasks
A typical day in the life of a nurse would involve distributing medicines and record the progress reports. However, the duties of a nursing professional are just not confined to keeping tabs on the patient. In fact, most of her work involves dealing with disgusting and squeamish tasks.
Remember, as a nurse, you are responsible for the well-being of a sick and suffering person.
Strong Intuition (Sixth Sense)
By a strong sense of intuition, every individual possesses a certain sixth sense, an inner intuition that immediately alerts him/her in case of a major event.
Excellent Organisational Skills
A nurse is just not responsible for taking care of the patients and assisting the doctors, there are several other mundane duties involved in her job profile. For instance, a registered nurse has to maintain the patient records, perform numerous tests, make medical reports, diet charts and take care of the administration among other things.
The Intrinsic Need to Help the Sick
Nursing professionals have little or no personal life, all their time is taken up by the hospital. Yes, a career in nursing is not everyone’s cup of tea. Only people who have a deep-seated need to care for the sick can feel motivated enough to sacrifice their private life thus. For instance, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing sensed her calling at the tender age of 16! A nurse needs to be passionate about her job and find happiness in the selflessness and nobility of the profession.
This is a great field to go into but there are a lot of needed skills that go with it.
The first is the Ability to Adapt
Hospitals are very dynamic spaces where different kinds of people have to interact on a daily basis. There is always a chance of conflict looming in the air. As a nurse, it is your job to maintain the decorum of the place and resolve all issues that arise inside the institution. You might have to change your schedule as per the work demands.
As a nursing professional, you must be extremely malleable and adaptable to whatever challenges thrown your way. An efficient nurse is not one who has common medical knowledge but someone who shows traits such as resilience, patience, and transparency in their personality. These core values are thier strengths.
Having a Strong Work Ethic
People working in hospitals have the most hectic and exhaustive working hours. There is no set time frame for work; you can be called at any time for emergency cases.
An Eye for Detail
An eye for detail is perhaps the most important of registered nurse skills that a candidate has to possess. There is a lot of documentation involved in the hospital including patient reports, diet charts, medications, and hospital forms.
Other than that you also have to closely observe all the patients entrusted to your care. Are they all eating and sleeping properly? Do they need a change of setting, medication, or require another form of help? Are they showing any signs of recovery?
Compassion, Sensitivity, and Empathy
You have to deal with people who are hurting every day and have to deal with immense pain and suffering.
A Sense of Humour
Hospitals are grim, serious places where life and death are but a part of the routine. Most patients feel suffocated in such a depressing space and might lose their will to recover at all. Laughter not only reduces the tension-filled atmosphere of the hospital but also helps the patient in managing his anxiety and strengthens the immune system. Your optimism and positive outlook will automatically brighten up their otherwise dull day and help them summon the willpower to improve.
Strong Communication Skills
A number of patients all belonging to various religious beliefs, cultural diversities, and geographic locations are connected through the thread of suffering. As a nurse, you will have to deal with a number of people on a daily basis ranging from patients, their families, doctors, your colleagues, assistants, and hospital staff. You cannot communicate the same way, with everyone.
Quick Decision-Making Skills
When it comes to a matter of life and death, every second count. Quick thinking can save lives. Remember, the doctor won’t always be nearby available at your beck and call. There will be instances where you have to take charge and make some on the spot decisions. Always be on your toes, be aware of your surroundings, to be able to notice when a patient is in need of your immediate assistance.
Patience and Perseverance
A good nurse is ever patient and absolutely dedicated to her job of serving the sick. People suffering from diseases, both chronic and acute are often scared, anxious, and worried about their health. They are suspicious of their surroundings and may refuse to cooperate with you. You might have to take care of a difficult patient who refuses to follow the dietary restrictions or complains about everything under the sun. Try to empathize with their pain and be gentle yet firm in your approach. Controlling your natural reactions to the patient’s aggression (you’re human after all) and maintaining a professional demeanor is what makes a nurse successful.
Physically Strength
It may not seem like a big deal, but standing on your feet for over 10 hours continuously is no easy feat! A nurse has to move around all the time. You may have to lift patients up in and out of chairs or push the medicine cart around.
Technical Know-How
Thanks to technology, the healthcare sector is growing by leaps and bounds. Sound technical knowledge and computer skills are essential for a nursing professional.
The trick is to adapt to the changing times and learn the new and improved innovations made in the field of medicine. Also, there are numerous applications to check the body stats, track physical activity, and diet intake that’ll make your job a lot easier.
Tolerance for Squeamish Tasks
A typical day in the life of a nurse would involve distributing medicines and record the progress reports. However, the duties of a nursing professional are just not confined to keeping tabs on the patient. In fact, most of her work involves dealing with disgusting and squeamish tasks.
Remember, as a nurse, you are responsible for the well-being of a sick and suffering person.
Strong Intuition (Sixth Sense)
By a strong sense of intuition, every individual possesses a certain sixth sense, an inner intuition that immediately alerts him/her in case of a major event.
Excellent Organisational Skills
A nurse is just not responsible for taking care of the patients and assisting the doctors, there are several other mundane duties involved in her job profile. For instance, a registered nurse has to maintain the patient records, perform numerous tests, make medical reports, diet charts and take care of the administration among other things.
The Intrinsic Need to Help the Sick
Nursing professionals have little or no personal life, all their time is taken up by the hospital. Yes, a career in nursing is not everyone’s cup of tea. Only people who have a deep-seated need to care for the sick can feel motivated enough to sacrifice their private life thus. For instance, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing sensed her calling at the tender age of 16! A nurse needs to be passionate about her job and find happiness in the selflessness and nobility of the profession.
Jordan Rivera
CareerVillage.org Team COACHSenior Community Manager at CareerVillage
112
Answers
Soquel, California
Updated
Jordan’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
Hey Marc,
It's so wise for you to seek advice in preparation of your career as a nurse! This step is greatly preparing you for the rewarding career you would have as a nurse! Here are some insights I've picked out for you that could help you develop the characteristics and skills in your journey of being a nurse:
http://careervillage.org/questions/674/what-steps-do-you-need-to-take-to-become-a-registered-nurse
http://careervillage.org/questions/1039/what-is-the-day-to-day-experience-for-a-nurse
http://careervillage.org/questions/1021/what-might-cause-a-nurse-to-get-their-license-suspended
These insights will tell you of the nature of this work and overall share what is needed, highlighting the skills required for your career path!
Best,
Jordan
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