Hondros College
September 10
,
2013
Summer Quart
er
Week 10
Tuesday’s Tidbits
Characteristics of a Nurse
Nurses have a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of patients and communities.
“Their chosen profession offers them the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals, learn
new information in a progressive and ever-changing environment, work with patients, families and
other staff from different backgrounds and cultures and use their specialized knowledge, skills and
critical thinking abilities to provide optimal care” (Jacksonville University, n.d.). Those who succeed in nursing and who gain the most personal fulfillment from it start their careers with certain
unique qualities. Some of these qualities and characteristics are:
1. Effective Communication Skills
Solid communication skills are a basic foundation for any career, but for nurses, it’s one of the
most important aspects of the job. A great nurse has excellent communication skills that include
speaking and listening. They are able to follow directions and can easily communicate with doctors
and other hospital staff. Their communication with patients and families is just as important as
they need to explain medical procedures, help manage symptoms, respond to emergencies, listen to
family concerns, allay patient fears, soothe worries, and find ways to make difficult situations bearable. A truly stellar nurse is able to advocate for her patients and anticipate their needs, even those
that are unspoken. Effective communication skills in nursing are critical to patient satisfaction and
the prevention of mistakes.
2. Emotional Stability
Nursing is a stressful job and nurses see a lot of pain, suffering and death. A great nurse is very
stable emotionally and doesn’t allow the stress to overwhelm her. While there are good days and
outcomes too, dealing with pain, suffering and death, especially on a day-to-day basis, is difficult. A
good nurse doesn’t expect good outcomes, but is happy when she sees them.
3. Empathy
Empathy is the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what
someone else might be thinking or feeling. Great nurses have empathy for the pain and suffering of
their patients; they can imagine what they would think and feel in the
same situation. Because of this, they are able to feel compassion and
provide comfort. Being sympathetic to the patient’s hospital experience
can improve patient care and make patients feel more comfortable.
4. Flexibility
Being flexible is especially important for nurses. A great nurse is
flexible with regards to working hours and responsibilities. Nurses are
often required to work long periods of overtime, late or overnight shifts,
and weekends. Knowing that it comes with the territory keeps things in
perspective. The upside to a fluctuating schedule often means you have
different times off than most 9-5 workers, so places you want and need
to visit are less crowded. Enjoy what you can when you can.
5. Good Attention to Detail
Great nurses understands that every action and inaction in a medical
setting is one that can have far-reaching consequences. They pay excellent attention to detail and are careful not to skip steps or make errors.
A simple mistake can drastically affect another’s life, so attention to
detail can literally be the difference between life and death.
Definition of a
Nurse
“To go above an
d
beyond the call
of
duty. The first to
work and the la
st to
leave. The heart
and
soul of caring. A
unique soul who
will
pass thru your lif
e for
a minute and im
pact
it for an eternity
.
An empowered
individual whom
you
may meet for on
ly a
12 hour period,
but
who will put you
and
yours above thei
rs.”
—Anonymous
Ne e d
Help?
Contact
,
Beth Smith
Librarian
Phone:
HONDROS,
888
1ext. 6258
Direct:
58
614.508.62
E-mail:
u
hondros.ed
h@
it
m
bs
OR
ndros.edu
library@ho
6. Interpersonal Skills
Nurses are the link between doctors and patients and the glue that holds the hospital together. A great nurse has excellent interpersonal skills and works well in a variety of situations
with different people, including other nurses, doctors, and staff members. Nurses are a friendly
face for patients and a buffer and safety check for doctors.
7. Physical Endurance
A great nurse has strong physical endurance and is able to tolerate standing for long periods
of time, lifting heavy objects (or people), and performing a number of taxing maneuvers on a
daily basis. Always on the go, a great nurse maintains her energy throughout her shift and
knows that staying strong, eating right, and having a healthy lifestyle outside of nursing is important too.
Cherry/Jacob, Chapter 17
8. Problem Solving Skills
A great nurse thinks quickly and address problems as they occur, sometimes anticipating them before they happen. Because they are taking care of sick patients, trauma cases, and emergencies, nurses need to be able to deal with tricky and unexpected situations. They also need to deal with issues that arise with patients’ families, doctors, and other staff members, so
having good problem solving skills is a job requirement.
9. Quick Responder
A great nurse needs to be ready to respond quickly to emergencies and other situations that arise. Much of what is done is in
response to sudden incidences, and nurses must always be prepared for the unexpected. Being calm and cool in a crisis is part
of being a nurse.
10. Respect
Great nurses respect people and rules. They are aware of confidentiality requirements and different cultures and traditions.
They respect each other and the wishes of the patient, and in turn, they are highly respected.
“Nurses have a tough job and wear many hats. As communicators, nurses make sure patients and their families know what’s
going on. Some days dealing with patients day in and day out isn’t easy; nurses must remain calm and collected, even in the
face of tragedy. They empathize with their patients without letting it get personal and interfere with doing their job. A nurse’s
day is often crazy, requiring flexibility, patience, and physical endurance. A situation can change quickly, requiring a nurse to
be quick on her feet, ready to assess the situation and respond. But no matter how intense it gets, a great nurse pays attention
to the patient, from the big issues to the little details! Great nurses, who exhibit all of these qualities, each with a smile, are
ones who we respect and admire” (Top 10 qualities of a great nurse, 2008).
Some additional insight into what it means to be a nurse can be found in the following quotes from some Atlanta health care
professionals presented in an article by Laura Raines (2012):
“Providing strength in a patient’s time of weakness and going beyond the call of duty to bring a smile to his face — that is the
role of a great nurse.” Victoria Alberti, Manager, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia Breast Center
“A great nurse is someone who is a good partner. She partners with her patients and families, not with the goal of making them
dependent, but of fostering empowerment. Her role isn’t to do things to them or for them, but
to strengthen them through the healing process.” Susan Grant, Chief Nurse Executive, Emory
Healthcare
“The technology has changed and our patients have more complex illnesses, but the one thing
that hasn’t changed since Florence Nightingale started the profession is caring. A great nurse
sees the patient, not the tubes. She sees someone who could be her mother, her father or her
child, and she cares for them as if it were so.” Sheyla Desir, Nurse Manager, Acute Care Services, Atlanta VA Medical Center
“A great nurse cares about every nurse, every patient and everyone who comes through the
door, not just her shift or her patients. She’s going to look at the whole patient and the whole
family situation.” Karen B. Seagraves, Program Director, Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center, Grady Health System
References:
Jacksonville University. (n.d.). Be proud of being a nurse. Retrieved from http://www.jacksonvilleu.com/nursing-degree-resources/proud-to-benurse/
Raines, L. (2012). What makes a great nurse? Retrieved from http://www.ajc.com/news/classifieds/jobs/what-makes-a-great-nurse/nQTHG/
Top 10 qualities of a great nurse. (2008). Retrieved from http://nursinglink.monster.com/benefits/articles/5019-top-10-qualities-of-a-great-nurse?
page=2
Top 10 qualities of a great nurse. (2009). Retrieved from http://scrubsmag.com/top-10-qualities-of-a-great-nurse/