Medely provided this article.
At one point, everyone has had their lives touched by a nurse. Whether it’s the school nurse that let you lay down in her office when you had a headache, the nurse that was with you through the delivery of your first baby, or the nurse that held your hand when a parent or grandparent was in the hospital. Nurses are tireless, compassionate, and passionate workers that are there when it’s time to take care of ourselves and our loved ones, and they are a group with a unique set of skills. So, it’s time to celebrate the qualities that make a great nurse, and there’s no better time to do that than during Nurses’ Week.
Here are the 6 top qualities of nurses who are working every day to provide the best possible care for their patients:
Empathy.
First and foremost, nurses care. Their empathy and compassion are unmatched, and these are crucial skills nurses need to be the best in their field. Patients often come to nurses when they’re in pain, anxious, or scared, and nurses offer comfort and support in addition to medical help. Caring about their patients on a deeper level and trying to understand both their physical and emotional needs establishes a foundation of trust. This nurse-patient trust helps them build a rapport and a plan for treatment catered specifically for each patient.
Ability to Communicate.
Nurses are able to effectively communicate with doctors, medical teams, patients, and their families in order to provide the best possible care. This starts with active listening from the very first patient interaction, communicating those needs to doctors and other medical professionals in the patients’ care team, and conveying complicated medical information in everyday language back to patients and families. They are the essential conduit that patients trust, and doctors rely on to make sure everyone has all of the essential information to give the patient the care that they need.
Passion for helping others.
If you ask a nursing professional why they decided to become a nurse, they will often say it’s because they wanted to help others, care for patients, and be there for people when they’re most vulnerable. They are motivated by creating intimate connections with patients and having a meaningful impact on their lives – helping them navigate illness, end-of-life care, or caring for family members – all while treating them with respect and kindness. They help those in need for a living and take a lot of satisfaction and pride, knowing that they can be advocates for their patients and be the ones that help alleviate their suffering and get them on the road to recovery.
Equanimity.
Nurses are cool under pressure and have quick decision-making and sound judgment skills. They are smart and steadfast. In order to be able to make decisions in complicated and urgent situations when it comes to patient care, nurses have to be able to think critically and solve problems fast, which often involves weighing potential complications, analyzing data, and leaning on precedent and their own knowledge and experience to implement safe and effective care. It’s not easy, but nurses make these tough decisions every day.
Resilience.
Nursing also requires resilience. Many nursing professionals are still reeling from the effects and burnout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which added challenging and distressing elements to work that was already physically and mentally demanding, even in the best of times. Plus, many nurses work in fast-paced and high-stress environments, facing challenging situations like emergencies, critically ill patients, hard decisions, and difficult conversations with patients and families. But, they are a strong workforce that can handle the stress and pressure while staying professional and putting patients first. And the nursing field is growing and expected to see continued growth as more and more brave nurses join the force in order to help people for a living.
Adaptability.
With the ever-changing field of medicine, especially post-pandemic, nurses have to be adaptable, especially when it comes to changing policies, tech, care plans, procedures, and schedules. And, as healthcare has evolved, so too has the nursing profession. Some nurses have found their niche by specializing in cardiac care and family care, or become nurse anesthetists or educators, while some have looked outside of hospitals and delved into home health care or hospice care. Some have turned to travel nursing, local assignments, and other ways to expand their skills and find new experiences, while still, others have found permanent staff positions to be a part of a local community of patients. There are always evolving ways for nurses to use their skills to help those in need, and they continue to step up to be our best care advocates in every stage of life.
Nurses are an integral part of the delivery of care across the United States. This National Nurses Week, take time to acknowledge, celebrate, and recognize the nurses that have changed your work and personal lives. These skills are also something to keep in mind if you are considering a professional career in nursing.
If you’re interested in learning about how you can use your skills to lead a more flexible and balanced work life, visit medely.com to find per diem, local assignments, and travel assignments that are right for you.
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