In the world of healthcare, there are many many options for jobs you can choose from. I may be biased, but by far, I think being a nurse is the best of all the options. it may not be the most glamorous or the most highly compensated, but it's a noble, proud, rewarding career. It's also quite humbling, at times. I couldn't imagine doing anything else, and it's been, ahem, twenty years in the field (including my years as a nurse's aide).
Obviously a nurse has to learn clinical skills regarding how to be a nurse and care for the patient(s). those will be taught in school on a basic level, and the skills themselves will be perfected with experience. as time goes on, depending on the specialty chosen, each nurse begins to know the skills she needs to perform her job, and eventually, they become second nature.
there are other skills, however, qualities maybe, that one should possess in order to be a good nurse. some can be taught, some you're born with, and some are a combination. let's go over what I think (or know, rather) are the top skills.
- communication. communication is huge in nursing. you've got to be able to talk to the head physician, the patient, the staff, and families - intelligently and while keeping your cool. You've also got the rest of the disciplines of the care team as well as the other departments in your company.
- advocacy. this is one of the top tasks of the job. to advocate for your patient, as a nurse, is pretty much what you do. if you won't do it, who will? You have to be willing to put yourself on the line for the patient.
- empathy. Most people who become nurses have this quality naturally, otherwise why would you want such a high paying, glamorous job?! just kidding. obvi.
- compassion. not all nurses have compassion, and too much can actually be a bad thing, but in general, it's a needed skill. you want to be able to put yourself in your patient's shoes enough to understand where they're coming from, but not so much that you can't maintain your composure.
- critical thinking. this is a skill that new nurses don't have. they teach it in school, or they attempt to, but only a certain amount of experience will tighten up your much needed critical thinking skills. Books can't teach critical thinking.
- prioritization. You've got to be able to prioritize your day, as it is ever changing - and if you don't, you'll drown. It's that simple.
- perseverence. this is maybe more important during nursing school, but nonetheless, is super important. you've got to know what you want and be able to push through to get it, no matter what. if you want to be a nurse you will, anyway.
- confidence. This is another skill that not all nurses have, but you're way better off as a nurse if you do. again, you're dealing with a wide variety of people in one of the most important ways possible. you need to be comfortable in standing up to whoever needs stood up to - without losing your temper, though.
- integrity. There are so many tasks in nursing that require the use of integrity - how you behave if nobody's watching is what matters most. Admitting that you broke sterile field when you're alone, for example--and so many others. you've got to have integrity to be a good nurse.
- willingness to learn. there's nothing scarier than a nurse who thinks she knows it all - because none of us do. nurses learn their whole careers, and the best ones know it and embrace it. Plus, it's fun to collaborate on those tricky cases!
- versatility. Healthcare, nursing, specialties, and even the tasks of the day are constantly changing. if you love the field and are good at it, you have to be able to be flexible, even if it's not your most favorite thing. I used to be completely rigid, in work and in life. I had to learn to be more adaptable, like a chameleon. 🤣
- committment. Committment to nursing, the job, the patients, and their families is what I mean by this one. there are days you won't eat, go to the bathroom, or talk to your family. There are days I feel unappreciated. There are days I don't feel well, and there are days that I have my own personal stuff going on--but my patients need me. it takes a certain level of committment.
- assertiveness. this is another one that all nurses don't possess, but you'll be far better off as a nurse if you do. if you don't, time and experience can teach it to you. You'll want it.
- dependability. it's a hard job and a lot of people depend on you. you've got to be where you say you'll be, when you say you'll be, and do what you say you'll do - if you want to be a good nurse.
- leadership/mentorship. This is partly something you already possess likely, if you want to be a nurse, but it could be something you don't. you can learn it, or not, but to be able to lead the team in all the ways is important and necessary.
- time management. you will not succeed as a nurse without this skill. You can learn it if you don't have it, but you have to be willing to admit it's an issue, and truly, you have to have a well balanced life. our personal lives, if we don't take care of ourselves (which nurses hate to do) will significantly affect our ability to maintain optimal time management. that I learned from experience. you'll want to eat well, exercise, decrease stress at home as much as possible - and of course, have a good system for organization. without organization, you can't have good time management.
maybe there are some of you (actually, I know there are) that are thinking of or planning on going into nursing. hopefully this helps a little. if you're not one of those people, now you at least know nurses a little bit better. new nurses, when you're not new anymore, be nice to the newbies. you'll know what I mean soon.
Thanks for stopping by! until next time...
mama gnome, a.k.a. eliza
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