Regardless of who takes the lead role in the healthcare sector, we cannot ignore the role played by nurses, especially during the ongoing pandemic.
Every frontline worker is risking their life for the safety of their community, and we owe them a lot for it. In this delicate situation where the demand for healthcare has increased tenfold, only the very best can thrive.
Nursing is a demanding career with long shifts and busy schedules. Nurses who excel in their careers have certain personality traits and a thirst for knowledge.
This profession demands a constant struggle for improvement and those who have the dedication to pull through successfully.
Yes, nursing truly is a rewarding profession that many see as a calling, but it doesn’t come without hurdles; there are some qualities that you need to adapt to perform better than others.
Let’s discuss the traits that define exceptional nurses.
1. Desire for lifelong learning
For nurses, learning doesn’t end with getting a job at a reputable institute; it is a lifelong process if you want to keep excelling in your career.
Successful nurses keep up with new developments and research relevant to their field. The healthcare sector sees upgrades in various departments and areas through technology and new forms of treatments every day.
Being up-to-date about these is especially important in critical care, infusion therapy, and emergency treatments, among others.
You need to have a genuine interest and curiosity in gaining new knowledge. You can start by attending conferences and webinars, taking courses, and registering for advanced education degrees like a BSN or an online RN to MSN program to ensure the best care quality and safety for patients in the long run.
Research shows that patients treated by nurses with higher nursing education degrees like BSN have higher mortality rates.
Exceptional nurses are passionate about learning because they wish to provide their patients with the best care possible.
Being familiar with all the new techniques in healthcare and knowing how to administer them is crucial in getting positive patient outcomes.
Acknowledging this need, many organizations offer their new graduate nurses the opportunity to be mentored by experienced nurses.
2. Critical thinking ability
Critical thinkers can assess the facts and reach valid and objective conclusions quickly. Nursing demands strong essential thinking and analysis skills because you have to evaluate the situation and make rational decisions based on research and experience.
You should be able to think on your feet even under pressure and troubleshoot possible solutions. Quick response from the nurse can have significant implications for the patient’s health.
Nurses working in triage need exceptional critical thinking skills because they need to evaluate diagnostic data and decide what action to take. Although nurses work as a part of a healthcare team, there are times they have to make independent professional decisions that they take full responsibility for.
Some nurses are natural critical thinkers, but you can also develop and nurture this ability through continuous practice and learning.
3. Empathy
Empathy is your ability to understand and relate to other people’s feelings. Since nursing involves dealing with people and families in distress, empathy and compassion are vital characteristics.
Exceptional nurses can maintain the balance of empathy and self-preservation by not crossing the thin line that keeps them from internalizing the pain.
This personality trait reduces patient distress, resulting in greater client satisfaction and increased compliance. A study revealed a strong correlation between the provider’s empathy and patient satisfaction.
On the other hand, health institutes benefit as well as enhanced efficiency, with fewer complaints and higher success rates.
So express empathy by letting patients talk freely with you and expressing genuine concern for their wellbeing.
4. Good communication skills
Nursing is all about interacting and communicating with patients and their families since nurses form the bridge between patients, their families, and the doctors.
Exceptional nurses can communicate effectively without emotional interference, even in stressful situations. On the other hand, as recipients of information from their superiors, they should be able to attend to all the details.
Reading charts and comprehending the intervention plan also requires good reception and interpretation skills.
A genuine smile can make a huge difference for someone in distress when handling patients. A gentle touch on the shoulder, a few words of compassion or understanding, and reassuring words can provide great comfort to patients.
Skilled nurses give patients the time to open up and feel comfortable rather than rushing them. When conveying crucial medical information, keep it simple to make it easier for them to understand the situation.
When interacting with a family, a good nurse can manage conflicts well and conciliate angered family members or patients by identifying cues that indicate escalation.
5. Cultural competence
In today’s increasingly diversified healthcare setting, cultural competence is necessary for nurses. In their everyday practice, nurses will deal with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and are expected to provide consistent care regardless of the differences.
Culturally competent nurses can identify their prejudices or biases and use this cultural awareness to improve themselves.
They are aware of different cultural practices or are keen on looking them up for specific patients. With this knowledge, they shape their encounters in ways that enhance patient care.
Cultural competence includes adjusting your language to the patient’s level of understanding, not disrespecting their cultural values, and treating everyone equally.
This trait improves customer satisfaction, fosters respect, enhances patient safety, and overcomes potential barriers to medical interventions.
Cultural knowledge, skill, and attitudes are necessary to provide the best care to all patients regardless of their backgrounds.
Final words
Nursing is a profession that demands great effort and puts you in challenging situations. You can handle all situations effectively and excel in your career with certain qualities.
Exceptional nurses are empathetic, have a thirst for knowledge, think critically, communicate effectively, and are culturally competent. With these traits, influential nurses can provide care to all patients and produce high patient satisfaction to the best of their ability.
Skilled nurses are an asset to any healthcare facility as they improve patient outcomes. You can enroll in advanced nursing degrees or programs that allow for further training, practice, and learning to polish these skills.