Which Skills Are Necessary For Being A Great Nurse?

You must know that nursing as your profession is going to be a huge commitment. Working in stressful situations, being responsible, taking care of ill and wounded patients can be physically and emotionally draining. But this noble profession would give out unmatched satisfaction, which will motivate you to continue doing the good work. 

Being a nurse has numerous benefits. You can easily find stable and well-paying jobs in every nook and corner of the world. A top local nursing agency terms nursing as a high secured profession. This is because the number of hospitals and medical facilities is increasing daily. But if you want to become a nurse, you must have the following skills. 

Problem Solving And Critical Thinking Skills 

There would be situations in your career where you will have to make life-changing decisions. If you do not have exercise critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the patient may have to suffer. Due to the nature of your profession, you will have to make such decisions within a very short period. Critical thinking integrates information, experience, evidence and outcomes, and then transforms them into effective plans and solutions for the patients. 

Clear Communication Skills 

As a nurse, you will not only have to speak well but also listen carefully. Whether you work in a general ward, serve a home patient, or as a midwife, you must know how to convey information quickly and calmly. 

You will be talking to the patient and their family members on behalf of the doctor, and to the doctor on behalf of the patient. You will have to gather sufficient information about a patient’s condition and then let the doctor know about it. This will involve reading and understanding their symptoms.

Adaptable

You will have to work in varying wards, hospitals, and medical facilities. You may be asked to report any time as well. Even if you are new to the working environment, you will be expected to adapt accordingly, that too, in a short period.

Apart from that, you must be able to handle challenging situations with ease and change the course of action as per the requirement, and without adaptability, this would be difficult. As a nurse, you will be caring for a child one day and tending to an adult the next. This means you have to be flexible as well.

Pay Attention To Detail 

When a patient is being treated in the hospital, the nurse may have to look for side effects and identify changes in behavioral patterns if any new medication is introduced. Moreover, patients have to be given doses of medicines on time and in the right quantity. So, the nurse should be able to read the prescription rightly, understand it, and provide the right dosage every time. You may also check the expiry dates, serial numbers, batch numbers, ingredients, etc. of the medicine to make sure it is safe for consumption. 

Possess Compassion 

During the treatment of a patient, the nurse has to interact with their friends and family members, who will be having innumerable questions and queries regarding the patient’s condition, medication, etc. You will have to be compassionate and answer those questions with patience and positivity. 

Nurses are also responsible for calming down the patient, making them believe they are recovering, and be sympathetic even when situations do not seem promising. This is amongst the most crucial skills a nurse should have. However, doing so can result in burnout. But by practicing meditation, yoga, and relaxing exercises, you can cope up and perform your duties with a smile. 

Be Diplomatic 

You will have to be diplomatic while dealing with difficult colleagues or patients. This involves knowing how to read the mood of people around you and managing them so that working becomes easier in situations where time and resources are limited.

Sometimes, you will have to deal with stubborn patients while performing your duties. You have to be charming, positive, friendly, and calm while you are fulfilling those responsibilities. Moreover, you may have to deal with hospital politics and if you are not diplomatic, working in such an environment would be challenging.

Teamwork 

Nursing is all about working in a team. You will be assisting doctors in surgeries, supervising patients, and maintaining patients’ records. For working in a team, you will have to converse clearly, take orders, give instructions, and be composed while doing so. 

The Bottom Line

Working in the field of medicine is highly challenging. If you are working as a nurse, the work is going to be even more difficult. Working as a nurse involves meeting new people every day and treating all of them alike with compassion while working in a dynamic environment. This is why you must possess the above-mentioned skills to give your best and enhance your career.