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More than knowledge. What are the qualities of a good nurse?
The job of a nurse is a difficult and challenging profession. It requires specialist knowledge and a series of skills. What else do you need to be a nursing role model? Here’s a list of the key qualities that characterise a good nurse.
The axiology of ethics in nursing
Let’s first explain what axiology is: it’s a study of values and morality that defines the patterns of ethical conduct, role models and the concept of ultimate good as well as the criteria for the moral evaluation of human behaviour. Below, you will find more information about the axiology of nursing.
The key personal qualities of a good nurse
The work of a nurse is very demanding both in physical and mental terms. A person who wants to do a good job as a nurse needs to have a variety of qualities. Here are the most important of them.
- Care for patients
This may seem too obvious. Most people believe that nurses take up this profession because caring for others is one of their most important personality traits. And that’s true, in most cases, but for many persons, other values come to the forefront, such as work security. However, nursing care has a major impact on patients. Nurses who are genuinely interested in their patients’ wellbeing have a lot of influence on the quality of care. - Communication skills
This is definitely a crucial skill for nurses. After all, nurses constantly work with people: patients and their families, doctors and other nurses. Without proper communication skills, they are likely to cause misunderstandings and medical errors. What’s more, patients may feel neglected or misinformed, which affects them in both physical and mental terms. By setting the right priorities and practising your communication skills, you can provide better care and equip your patients with a sense of safety. Last but not least, effective communication increases your promotion opportunities. -
Empathy
Nurses take care of multiple patients on a daily basis. A good nurse is able to give a helping hand to each patient and try to understand their situation. By practising empathy, nurses can take better care of their patients, concentrating on their needs rather than routinely performing their duties. Patients will surely feel that they receive good care and they will appreciate this approach. This is particularly important for nurses who work with elderly and ailing persons. - Attentiveness
Without a doubt, nurses work under severe pressure. On the one hand, they have to carry out the instructions of doctors, on the other – they need to make their own decisions on how to take care of patients as best as they can. Moreover, they look after multiple patients at once and run a risk of making errors. Good nurses are aware of how responsible their work is: frequently, it’s not only the patient’s comfort that’s at stake but also their life. If you want to be a good nurse, make sure you pay attention to detail. - Problem-solving skills
While studying, nurses learn mostly about the theory and practice of their profession. However, another important skill to learn is how to behave in conflict situations. Years of experience will surely help you handle such situations correctly, but if you’re just starting out as a nurse, you need to make sure you learn how to do that properly. Problem-solving skills are crucial as nurses normally spend a lot of time with patients and are often held responsible for a majority of decisions related to patient care. Sometimes, even minor decisions may influence others and result in a negative outcome of the treatment. - Physical endurance and stamina
This aspect of nurses’ work is very important although frequently underestimated. Sometimes, nurses have to lift patients, which is a huge burden on their spines. Not to mention the long hours of duty, when they are constantly on the go, moving between the hospital rooms without respite. Surprisingly, even though nurses spend so much time on the move, they tend to maintain both physical and emotional resilience, which is not the case in most professions. Thus, the right level of endurance is one of the key qualities of a good nurse. You need to be aware of the hazards of working in a standing position and learn how to relax after a long duty. - Sense of humour
To draw satisfaction from this exceptionally challenging and exhausting work, a nurse must be a cheerful person. This is extremely important, considering how many stressful situations nurses face every day. A positive attitude will surely help you relax after a tiring day at work. It can bring you relief if you’re beginning to be overcome by stress. A bright personality has another positive aspect to it. It has an impact on the attitude of patients and their families to nurses. If you’re pleasant to be around, you will definitely build trust with patients and help them open up to you: and that will translate to good cooperation between you and them. Especially in the case of critically ill patients, a nurse with a positive attitude and sense of humour may bring some joy to their lives. - Commitment
This is one of the fundamental objectives of healthcare: to ensure the best quality care and safety to patients. In other words, you need to build trust with your patients and make sure they feel safe. Many patients feel confused when they come to hospital: they are apprehensive and afraid to speak up. In such situations, the help of a nurse is just priceless. If you protect your patients, you can be sure you will win their trust. - Openness to continuous development
Just like any other industry, healthcare undergoes a number of technological improvements and there is ongoing research focused on that. If you want to keep up with all the changes, you need to be open to new challenges. Nurses spend a lot of time with patients at their beds, so learning and using modern technologies in practice can bring tangible effects in this respect. You will certainly benefit from being open to self-development. This is an important skill for nurses at any age. - Critical thinking skills
Being open to learn new skills is one thing, but you also need to be able to filter the information that you acquire and turn theory into practice. This is what critical thinking is all about. It is of particular importance in stessful situations. For some nurses, this is an inborn quality, while others have to work on it, but it is certain that critical thinking skills make the work of a nurse much easier. - Time management skills
Handling multiple patients at once, performing your duties in stressful circumstances, prioritising, filling in documents and many more: it’s really challenging to deal with all of these at once during one twelve-hour nursing workday. Advanced time management skills are in demand in all industries, just like the ability to focus on the most important matters first. You also need to learn how to plan your tasks (if possible) and to find time to regain strength. Only then can you say that your duties have been performed correctly. - Leadership skills
Although most nurses don’t perceive their work this way, the profession does require leadership skills. When a nurse is able to take control and assume a leadership role in crisis situations, this brings value to all parties involved.
A fashionable and professional image of a nurse
The qualities of a nurse that are listed above will help you build a positive image among patients and colleagues. What’s equally important is your professional nursing look. With carefully selected clothing, you can also win the trust of your patients. The most practical choices include scrubs sets, which consist of scrubs tops and scrubs trousers, as well as lab coats and scrubs jackets with scrubs skirts. Below, you will find sample sets.
To find other interesting professional clothes for nurses, take a look at this site: https://www.uniformshop.eu/new-products.