Most intelligent people can get a college degree. But some degrees require you to have a special set of traits to be successful; registered nursing is on of those degrees. So, do you have the right qualities to make a great nurse? Being a registered nurse is a very challenging and fulfilling job. Not everyone is cut out for it. Before you decide to take the plunge and apply to a nursing program, think about the qualities you possess and if they would make a good fit for nursing. Here are just some of the skills and qualities that nurses need to have:
- Caring, compassionate and nurturing: you will be working closely with very ill patients and family members who may be vulnerable, physically stressed and afraid. They need a caring nurse to calm their fears, give information in a compassionate way, and show empathy for their situation.
- Detail-oriented: Nurses must prepare and dispense medications with precision, carefully document assessments, interventions and outcomes of treatment plans. You will record specific and complex medical orders and be required to become expert at highly specific equipment and technology. All of this requires that you be a detail -oriented person.
- A team player/interpersonal skills: You must be able to work well with a variety of people on the health care team such as doctors, nurses, therapists, family members and the patients themselves. You will be working closely with many different personalities and will need to do what is in the best interest of your patient and not let personalities or conflict get in the way of that goal. Registered nurses often supervise other nurses and staff, so your interactions and interpersonal skills must be superior.
- In good physical shape: Nursing is a physically demanding job. You will be on your feet for most of the day. You will perform repetitive tasks such as bending, lifting and stretching. The shifts required of staff nurses are physically demanding; you will work nights, weekends, evenings, holidays, 12 hour shifts and overtime. Staying in good physical condition will help to extend your nursing career and prevent injuries.
- Good listening skills: Nurses work closely with patients and their family members to assess signs and symptoms of a disease process or illness and to determine if the interventions are effective. Part of obtaining a quality assessment is to carefully listen to your patient answers. As an empathetic nurse, your good listening skills allows your patients to talk to you about their fears, anxieties and unanswered questions.
- Ability to Multi-task: Nurses are required to perform many tasks at once, take care of multiple patients at a time and organize each patient’s daily activities such as medications, treatments, tests, dressing changes, baths, walks, educational meetings, and much more. This requires a high degree of skill in multi-tasking.
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