Becoming a nurse is not an easy task. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to make it through nursing school. There are also many skills and qualities that nurses must have to provide the best possible care for their patients.
After deciding that you have many, if not all of the qualities talked about below, you will then find it useful to look into Compact State Nursing. This will provide you with a fuller picture of what is involved when it comes to nursing, training, and education.
Compassion
Compassion is one of the most important qualities that a nurse can have. Patients who are sick or injured can be in a lot of pain, both physically and emotionally. They may be scared and confused about what is happening to them. It is the nurse’s job to be there for the patient, to provide comfort and support. Nurses must be able to put themselves in their patient’s shoes and understand what they are going through.
If you have comforted someone in the past that was upset then you have already displayed the quality of compassion, which is a quality required for nursing. You will want to have this every single day that you are nursing.
Patience
Nurses often have to deal with a lot of different personalities, both from patients and from other staff members. There will be times when things get chaotic and it can be very frustrating. In these situations, nurses need to be able to remain calm and patient. They need to be able to take a step back and see the big picture. Being patient will help a nurse to make better decisions and so provide better care for their patients.
Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking skills are essential for nurses. They need to be able to assess a situation and make quick decisions. Often, there is not a lot of time to think things through. Nurses need to be able to trust their instincts and make the best decision for their patients.
Decisions in nursing can have consequences in terms of survival rates and quality of life.
Although nurses are not generally the ones in overall charge, the doctors and consultants are, moments will occur when they will take over the care of patients. On a night shift, for instance, when often less staff will be on duty, decisions may need to be made before additional help arrives.
It is a responsibility to be a nurse. You have to be a thinker and a carer at the same time and then juggle this between looking after several patients simultaneously. There is no doubt that nurses possess some very special qualities, as well as the skills that they will learn from education and on-the-job training.
Good Communication Skills
Nurses need to have good communication skills to effectively communicate with their patients and other staff members. They need to be able to understand what their patients are saying and be able to explain things clearly. When there is a miscommunication, it can lead to serious consequences.
An effective communicator is not just good at explaining but also good at listening to all around them. An empathetic and understanding approach is required but, at the same time, information will need to be found out quickly.
Written communication is as important as verbal because the results recorded in the medical notes of patients need to be decipherable for all to read easily and quickly act upon.
These are just some of the qualities that nurses need to have to be successful. It is a demanding job, but it is also a very rewarding one. Nurses make a difference in the lives of their patients and their families. They are the ones who are there when things are tough and they provide hope amid difficult times.
