There are certain personality traits that are essential to the nursing role. Nurses must have empathy and patience to provide comfort to patients who are suffering. These traits need to be balanced with assertiveness and confidence, which helps nurses advocate for their patients and keep them safe.
The work of a nurse is varied, and a nurse therefore must be organized. Nurses also require excellent communication skills, as they need to be able to interact well with doctors and patients. Nurses also spend a lot of time working with computers, as medical records are typically stored on electronic databases.
A good starting point for an individual with a keen interest in nursing is studying for a degree. This can be achieved by taking up a BSN for non-nurses, such as the one offered at Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing. This intensive full-time program employs various teaching methodologies, including online courses, clinical and lab experiences, and hybrid interactive learning courses, and can be completed in one year.
The balance of characteristics required can make nursing a challenge for some people, but it can also be rewarding. Nurses work in many different environments, ranging from hospitals to offices to schools. The work is varied, but all nurses are responsible for helping patients maintain good health, ensuring their safety, and helping them recover when they’re sick. Let’s look at some of the essential traits in detail.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It’s essential for good nurse-patient relationships, as it allows nurses to put themselves in their patients’ shoes and understand how they feel. Nurses need empathy in order to provide compassionate care that meets each patient’s needs.
It is also important for nurses because it allows them to connect better with their patients and their families. They can use this connection to build trust with those they are caring for, which improves the outcomes for everyone involved – the patient gets better more quickly, and the family feels more comfortable about asking any questions they have.
Patience
If you want to be a nurse, patience is an important trait – in fact, it’s one of the most important traits for nurses. Nurses must be patient with those they are caring for, and also their families, other staff members, and even themselves!
Patients can become frustrated when they’re sick or in pain. They may not understand why they have to wait for something as simple as receiving medicine or help getting out of bed. They may feel as though no one cares about them due to the length of time it takes for a nurse to arrive at their bedside after pressing the call button several times.
This is where being patient comes into play: keeping your cool while dealing with these kinds of situations will help keep everyone calm and prevent any unnecessary outbursts of stress from occurring (which could lead to more serious problems).
Nurses also need patience when working with other staff members, who might not always agree on which course of action should be taken when dealing with specific situations involving patients and families. It’s important not only because we need each other, but also so that we don’t lose sight of what matters most: helping others recover more quickly.
Confidence
It’s necessary to be able to confidently give advice, perform procedures, and do your job well. Confidence also helps patients feel comfortable with you as they go through a difficult time in their life.
Self-awareness and self-management
Self-awareness and self-management are important traits for nurses because they help us to understand our own strengths and weaknesses. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Self-management is the ability to manage your emotions, thoughts and behaviors.
These two characteristics can help you avoid making mistakes in your job as a nurse by allowing you to think before acting or speaking out loud at work. They also help you better understand how others might perceive their interactions with you.
The ability to balance one’s priorities is an essential skill for any nurse. This can be challenging, as many nurses are required to juggle multiple tasks at once. A good nurse will be able to prioritize tasks and make decisions about where they should spend their time based on the needs of their patients or facility.
This includes being able to set priorities before starting work, and being able to change them if circumstances alter during a shift (for example, if there is an emergency). In addition, a good nurse should be able to switch focus between different tasks without losing sight of their goals or objectives.
The ability to communicate well
Nurses must have the ability to listen and respond effectively in a variety of situations, including those that require quick thinking, accurate information gathering, and effective problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities in the face of uncertainty.
It is imperative for nurses to be able to communicate with patients in a way that makes them feel safe and comfortable during their stay at the hospital or clinic. This includes giving them clear instructions about how they should care for themselves at home after discharge, and providing written materials on self-care techniques if needed. It also includes verbal instruction when necessary (for example, telling someone how much water they should drink every day).
Conclusion
Nurses with a lot of compassion often sacrifice their own personal time and energy to help those in need, putting their own needs after those of the patient. It has been estimated that over 17% of new nurses abandon the profession within the first year. However, if you’ve got what it takes, then you’ll likely enjoy many years of fulfillment in this career.
