Nurses are in high demand with many hospitals and clinics hiring for positions. The nursing profession is not for everyone. It takes dedication and passion, as well as a willingness to work with vulnerable people while juggling emotional situations as professionally as possible. Understanding what it takes to be a nurse can help you determine whether a nursing career is the right profession for you to pursue. So many nurses look back on their rewarding careers with pride and joy in what they have been able to offer the word. It’s a reward of its own.
Qualities of a Good Nurse
The qualities of a good nurse cannot be understated. A good nurse is one that can exhibit the following qualities when working with colleagues and patients.
Compassion
All nurses need to be long on compassion and flexibility. Kindness, empathy and concern for others’ wellbeing is critical for ensuring compassionate care. Personalized patient care helps the healing process as well as creates comfort for the patient and family members during a difficult time.
Dedication
Dedication to the profession of nursing and being of top quality matters. Not everyone is a good nurse. The inner yearning has to be there to want to make a difference for another human being. Some of the following are great motivations to remain dedicated to the job:
- Inspiration for family members
- Giving back compassionate care
- Desire knowledge
- Drawn to profession
Advocacy
Many nurses want to advocate for a patient’s wellbeing and health. This helps empower the patient and family to feel confident in a diagnosis and course of treatment. Nurses must also speak on behalf of or help patients and groups discuss feelings when needed such as communicating patient desires when it conflicts with a physician’s opinion.
Other qualities a good nurse must possess include:
- Patience
- Willingness to learn
- Sense of anticipation of what’s next
- Active listening and communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Time management skills
- Endurance
- Leadership abilities
Becoming a nurse takes time, persistence and dedication. To discern whether a nursing career is the right path, it helps to speak with nurses who are both new and seasoned as well as check out the places where jobs exist for nurses in the chosen field. Exploring all the possible options and what it entails will help make the decision to become a nurse easier.
If you’ve decided that a nursing career is right for you, explore the programs available here at Felbry College School of Nursing and get in touch with our admissions office today!