Few would disagree that nursing is one of the most underrated professions in modern times. Being a nurse isn’t easy. In fact, it is a field that can be extremely demanding—and even unforgiving—to those who pursue it. Being around the ailing and the frazzled for long hours and dealing with them patiently day after day can be challenging, to say the least.
Nurses are required to be not only compassionate and helpful, but also capable of making difficult decisions and administering the right medical care to patients in the absence of doctors. Of course, education plays a big role in ensuring this, but there are certain innate qualities that make one nurse better than the other.
Here are 10 qualities that make an exceptional nurse.
1. High Standards of Professionalism
Nurses need to be professional in their approach towards their work. Whether it is meeting with and attending to patients, administering medication, or maintaining patient records, they need to do all of it in the most skilled and ethical manner.
As a nurse, you’re bound to deal with patients coming from different age groups, genders, races, communities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is important not to make assumptions or generalizations with respect to their appearance, and instead focus on their illness, injury, or that which ails them.
There may be times when you may have to deal with difficult patients. Do not let that experience get to you. View each patient as an individual who deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.
2. Never-Ending Diligence
Nurses are extremely hard working, which is why diligence is an important attribute they need to possess. While we may think that theirs is a 9 to 5 job, the truth is far from that. More often than not nurses end up working long hours, thanks to the nature of their job.
To be an exceptional nurse, you need to have it in you to work long hours and be up and running to (possibly) do it again the next day.
3. Exceptional Communication Skills
One of the most critical traits to be good at any job is outstanding communication skills. This applies to nurses as well. In fact, this skill is a necessity rather than an option. A great nurse has exceptional listening and speaking skills. The rest of his or her work depends on these two factors.
Nurses can solve problems only if they’re able to effectively communicate with patients and families. Patients expect nurses to understand their troubles perfectly well before administering any medicine. An effective nurse is one who can not only fulfill, but also anticipate patients’ needs.
4. Effective Interpersonal Skills
Apart from excellent communication skills, nurses need to have remarkable interpersonal skills. After all, they act as the link between doctors and a variety of patients. Further, they also need to work well with other nurses and members of the staff.
For patients, nurses are the face of the hospital and doctors depend on them for carrying out several tasks. A great nurse is able to strike the right balance between doctors’ and patients’ needs.
5. Attention to Detail
Good nurses realize that every step they take in providing patient care can have grave consequences. This is why all effective nurses pay careful attention to detail and make sure they do not miss any step.
Whether it is reading and understanding a patient’s chart or memorizing the details of a case, nurses take nothing for granted. In a profession where a tiny mistake can ruin another’s life, attention to detail is one quality that can either spell the difference between life and death.
6. Quick Problem-Solving Abilities
The ability to mitigate problems quickly is a must-have quality in a great nurse. An even better quality would be to anticipate and address problems before they arise. You never know when a tricky situation will arrive at the time of dealing with emergencies or trauma cases.
A nurse always needs to be prepared with solutions, whether it is speaking to patients’ families, comforting patients, or communicating with doctors and other administrative technicians.
7. Action-Oriented
Patients who come to a hospital or clinic typically need remedies that are not only effective, but also administered quickly. A great nurse understands the importance of responding promptly to emergencies and sudden incidences and is prepared for all sorts of surprises with a composed mind and a calm attitude.
8. Empathetic Disposition
More often than not, patients happen to be enduring or have endured immense pain and suffering. Remarkable nurses have empathy for them and are able to be compassionate to provide comfort. Of course, nurses can experience their share of mental and physical fatigue too, but they’re able to get past it.
The atmosphere in a hospital can be a formal one. However, nurses can add the humane touch with their kindhearted attitude. This can be instrumental in improving patient care to a great extent.
9. Solid Stamina
Nurses work long hours. Further, they’re also required to frequently carry out various physical tasks, lift heavy equipment, provide physical support to patients, stand for long periods of time, and carry out other demanding drills on a daily basis. In short, they’re always on their feet.
This is why nurses need to be energetic enough to make it through the shift, irrespective of whether they’re in a surgery or looking after a patient.
10. Sense of Humor
Finding humor in difficult situations isn’t easy, but the nurses who can do it are able to mitigate stressful situations better. It is perfectly okay to mix the elements of fun and humor into your work to be able to enjoy it better. After all, this combination will keep you going in the tough times!
As a career, nursing can be a difficult, yet rewarding one. The satisfaction of being helpful to those in need can be tremendous. All you need is the right personality to deal with the stresses that come with it and you should do well. If you aspire to become a nurse and think that you possess all of the above qualities, you should definitely pursue nursing as a career.
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Swati Kapoor
Swati is a qualified dietitian at Practo. She has a Master’s degree in Dietetics and Food Service Management. She is a strong believer in spreading the goodness of ‘nutrition through healthy eating’. As a responsible dietitian Swati examines her patients’ health history carefully before recommending any diet or workout regimen, because everybody has different requirements. Swati has also taken it upon herself to debunk myths in diet and fitness through practical advice in her articles. This helps her readers learn the essence of health eating and make the right choices in their daily diet. Swati has been helping people live healthy and active for the past 4 years, by recommending diet plans that fit individual preferences and health parameters.
Latest posts by Swati Kapoor (see all)
- 10 Qualities That Make a Great Nurse - July 5, 2016
LSGon August 16, 2016 at 11:11 am
Nice article and very correct but my only concern is that the person who wrote the article is actually not a nurse.
Critical thinking skills and clinical decision making is also a hallmark of exceptional nurse – but all nurses must have these skills Another quality is they must have great time management skills as well.Joyon August 29, 2016 at 8:41 pm
I thought the same thing when reading the article. Someone should have wrote it who has personal experience as a nurse. It would have been different if they wrote from a patient/client perspective.
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FAQs
What is the most important quality of a nurse? ›
Compassionate. One of the most important qualities of a good nurse is compassion. In their career, nurses will see patients suffer. Beyond simply offering a solution, they must be able to express compassion for patients and their families.
What makes an extraordinary nurse? ›Dedication to the job. Patience when dealing with difficult situations. Communication skills with patients, family and staff. Attention to details.”
What are 10 roles of a nurse? ›Nurses care for injuries, administer medications, conduct frequent medical examinations, record detailed medical histories, monitor heart rate and blood pressure, perform diagnostic tests, operate medical equipment, draw blood, and admit/discharge patients according to physician orders.
What are the 5 core values of nursing? ›Caring is best demonstrated by a nurse's ability to embody the five core values of professional nursing. Core nursing values essential to baccalaureate education include human dignity, integrity, autonomy, altruism, and social justice.
What is a successful nurse? ›“A successful nurse, in addition to having sound clinical skills, is compassionate, and has the ability to listen to their clients and peers,” said Cynthia Stadler, MSN, APRN, CHPNA, community liaison for BAYADA Hospice in Vermont.
What words describe a nurse? ›- 01Attentive. An attentive person pays close attention to things and who is always on alert. ...
- 02Caring. ...
- 03Empathetic. ...
- 04Energetic. ...
- 05Friendly. ...
- 06Knowledgeable. ...
- 07Honest. ...
- 08Optimistic.
The five key components of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship are professional intimacy, power, empathy, respect and trust. Regardless of the context, length of interaction and whether the nurse is the primary or secondary care provider, these components are always present.
How would you describe a compassionate nurse? ›A compassionate nurse is empathetic to the pain and suffering of her patients, which is vital to the patients' well-being. Compassionate care makes patients more comfortable when they're in pain, feeling ill or suffering from mental or emotional stress.
What is the full meaning of a nurse? ›Definition of Nursing
Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people.
- Care.
- Compassion.
- Competence.
- Communication.
- Courage.
- Commitment.
What are the 6 professional roles of a nurse? ›
Make a set of flash cards that lists and defines the six roles that nurses must play in patient care (caregiver, decision maker, communicator, manager of care, patient advocate, and teacher).
What are the 3 roles of a nurse? ›Nurses are Key to the Health of the Nation
Nurses' roles range from direct patient care and case management to establishing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, and directing complex nursing care systems.
- Quality #1: Empathy. ...
- Quality #2: Emotional Stability. ...
- Quality #3: Communication Skills. ...
- Quality #4: A Desire to Learn. ...
- Quality #5: Critical Thinking. ...
- Quality #6: Open-Mindedness. ...
- Quality #7: Versatility. ...
- Quality #8: Respectfulness.
The search yielded 10 nursing ethical values: Human dignity, privacy, justice, autonomy in decision making, precision and accuracy in caring, commitment, human relationship, sympathy, honesty, and individual and professional competency.
What are the 9 code of ethics for nurses? ›What Are The 7 Ethical Principles On Which The Nursing Code Of Ethics Is Based? The 7 ethical principles the Nursing Code of Ethics is based upon include beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, accountability, autonomy, fidelity, and veracity.
What are core skills in nursing? ›A core competency of nursing is “the ability to practice nursing that meets the needs of clients cared for using logical thinking and accurate nursing skills.” The nursing competency structure consists of four abilities: the ability to understand needs, the ability to provide care, the ability to collaborate and the ...
What are values of a nurse? ›Core values of nursing include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, honesty and social justice [3]. The core ethical values are generally shared within the global community, and they are a reflection of the human and spiritual approach to the nursing profession.
What is the personality of a nurse? ›Kindness, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, emotional stability, empathy, and compassion are components that make you human on a personal level and serve you well as a nurse. You exhibit strong communication skills. You communicate well with patients and colleagues — sometimes at their worst life moments.
Why are skills important in nursing? ›Nurses tend to have excellent clinical skills that are learned through education and on the job experience. Their ability to identify conditions, side effects of medication, and when treatments are not working are vital for patient care, and that's why we value their expertise and knowledge.
What are my skills and interest in nurse? ›good people skills in order to develop and sustain relationships. problem-solving skill. an ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands. an enthusiasm and genuine interest in health protection.
What attitude should a nurse have? ›
Nurses with a positive attitude are expected to provide altruistic service, compassionate care for health customers, to be proud of their profession and able to hold intra and extra professional factors.
What is the motto of nurse? ›"Save one life, you're a hero. Save a hundred lives, you're a nurse."
What is quality nursing? ›Quality nursing care entails meeting client needs and expectations, through conformance to relevant. standards/requirements. Itis the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the. likelihood of desired health outcomesand are consistent with current professional knowledge (Neil H. P, 2015 ...
What are the five 5 components of the nurse-client relationship? ›There are five components to the nurse-client relationship: trust, respect, professional intimacy, empathy and power. Regardless of the context, length of interaction and whether a nurse is the primary or secondary care provider, these components are always present.
What characteristic is unique to the nurse-patient relationship? ›A vital characteristic of the nurse-patient relationship is the sharing of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that is based on clear role expectations.
What are the 4 phases of nurse-patient relationship? ›Hildegarde Peplau describes four sequential phases of a nurse-client relationship, each characterized by specific tasks and interpersonal skills: preinteraction; orientation; working; and termination.
How do you show kindness to patients? ›- Practice good manners. ...
- Show personal interest. ...
- Take the time to think about what they have been through. ...
- Always acknowledge their feelings. ...
- Lastly, take time to care for your own emotional needs.
Compassionate care in nursing can include the following forms of communication: Verbal cues—focusing on what patients say and don't say. Facial expressions—noting, for example, whether patients make eye contact. Body language—sensing when patients seem tense.
How do you show respect to patients? ›- Listen to understand.
- Keep your promises.
- Be encouraging.
- Connect with others.
- Express gratitude.
- Share information.
- Speak up.
- Walk in their shoes.
Florence Nightingale (Figure 1), the founder of modern nursing of professional nursing, was born in Florence, Italy, on 1820, in an English family; she was named of the city of her birth.
What is the role of nurse? ›
A registered nurse's primary role is to ensure that every patient receives the direct and proper care they need, and they go about doing this in a number of ways. RNs assess and identify patients' needs, then implement and monitor the patient's medical plan and treatment.
Why do u want to be a nurse? ›As a nurse, you can make a real difference in someone's life. You can offer hope to people, sometimes during the worst time of their life. Nurses often counsel patients and families after a devastating diagnosis, celebrate with them when they receive good news, and become trusted confidantes.
What are the 6 care values? ›- Introduction. The 6Cs, which underpin the Compassion in Practice strategy, were developed as a way of articulating the values which need to underpin the culture and practise of organisations delivering care and support. ...
- Background. ...
- Care. ...
- Compassion. ...
- Competence. ...
- Communication. ...
- Courage. ...
- Commitment.
Nurses' professional standards of practice and behaviour are underpinned by values of equality and diversity. This means that nurses must treat people as individuals, avoid making assumptions about them, recognise diversity and individual choice, and respect and uphold their dignity and human rights.
What are the 7 core values of the NHS? ›- Working together for patients.
- Respect and dignity.
- Commitment to quality of care.
- Compassion.
- Improving lives.
- Everyone counts.
Florence Nightingale: The Mother of Nursing.
What are the 6 C's of nursing? ›- Care.
- Compassion.
- Competence.
- Communication.
- Courage.
- Commitment.
Core values of nursing include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, honesty and social justice [3]. The core ethical values are generally shared within the global community, and they are a reflection of the human and spiritual approach to the nursing profession.
What are 3 important characteristics of the nurse patient relationship? ›The five key components of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship are professional intimacy, power, empathy, respect and trust. Regardless of the context, length of interaction and whether the nurse is the primary or secondary care provider, these components are always present.
What words describe a nurse? ›- 01Attentive. An attentive person pays close attention to things and who is always on alert. ...
- 02Caring. ...
- 03Empathetic. ...
- 04Energetic. ...
- 05Friendly. ...
- 06Knowledgeable. ...
- 07Honest. ...
- 08Optimistic.
What are the 6 care values? ›
- Introduction. The 6Cs, which underpin the Compassion in Practice strategy, were developed as a way of articulating the values which need to underpin the culture and practise of organisations delivering care and support. ...
- Background. ...
- Care. ...
- Compassion. ...
- Competence. ...
- Communication. ...
- Courage. ...
- Commitment.
Nurses' professional standards of practice and behaviour are underpinned by values of equality and diversity. This means that nurses must treat people as individuals, avoid making assumptions about them, recognise diversity and individual choice, and respect and uphold their dignity and human rights.
Why you should hire me as a nurse? ›Best answer for a nursing job #1 (example)
“If i'm being honest, I have all the skills and experience that you're searching for in a nurse.. Apart from having years of experience and the technical skills, I am also a very motivated person and always go beyond what's expected for the job.
The search yielded 10 nursing ethical values: Human dignity, privacy, justice, autonomy in decision making, precision and accuracy in caring, commitment, human relationship, sympathy, honesty, and individual and professional competency.
What are the 9 code of ethics for nurses? ›What Are The 7 Ethical Principles On Which The Nursing Code Of Ethics Is Based? The 7 ethical principles the Nursing Code of Ethics is based upon include beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, accountability, autonomy, fidelity, and veracity.
What attitude should a nurse have? ›Nurses with a positive attitude are expected to provide altruistic service, compassionate care for health customers, to be proud of their profession and able to hold intra and extra professional factors.
What are the five 5 components of the nurse-client relationship? ›There are five components to the nurse-client relationship: trust, respect, professional intimacy, empathy and power. Regardless of the context, length of interaction and whether a nurse is the primary or secondary care provider, these components are always present.
What characteristic is unique to the nurse-patient relationship? ›A vital characteristic of the nurse-patient relationship is the sharing of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that is based on clear role expectations.
What is a good nurse-patient relationship? ›A nurse shows empathy by understanding, validating and confirming what the health care experience means to the patient. Nurses must ensure that they maintain appropriate emotional distance from the patient to ensure objectivity and an appropriate professional response.
How would you describe an amazing nurse? ›Remarkable nurses have empathy for them and are able to be compassionate to provide comfort. Of course, nurses can experience their share of mental and physical fatigue too, but they're able to get past it. The atmosphere in a hospital can be a formal one.
What is your strength as a nurse? ›
Having empathy to interact with the patient and their family and helping them to cope with problems is very important in a nursing position. Having the ability to understand and share those feelings with the patient and their loved ones is an essential strength for a nurse.
What is the full meaning of a nurse? ›Definition of Nursing
Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people.