Registered Nurse Characteristics

821 Words4 Pages

What does it take to be a registered nurse? What are the qualities you need to become a nurse? The nursing profession is as much about kindness and caring for the whole person as it is about medical and technical knowledge. When considering a career as a registered nurse the qualifications can appear to be never-ending, however, with dedication, determination, and support, these qualifications are easily met. But it is the numerous traits and skills that enable a person to become a successful registered nurse. There are six key traits one must embrace in order to succeed as a registered nurse. These are: knowledge, respect, calm under pressure, detail-oriented, communication, and compassion. Some of these traits will come naturally, while others …show more content…

There is a lot of technical and clinical information that the one will need as a nurse: critical thinking and communication skills, patient assessment skills, understanding disease management protocols and development of care plans (just to name a few), most of which is only obtainable through college or technical school and on the job experience. Respect for the patient, the patient’s support system, as well as, respect for yourself is another essential trait necessary to be a successful registered nurse. If patients are sick or worrying about what might be wrong with them, they are going to understandably be anxious or upset (and probably both). Part of practicing compassion as a nurse is recognizing situations like this – and so many more – and striving to help patients maintain their dignity through it all. This requires honest and straightforward communication. Say what you mean and mean what you say, behaving fairly and ethically in every …show more content…

Especially when it comes to giving medication, details matter. Doctors and patients rely on nurses to be focused and careful. The best registered nurses are meticulous, paying attention to the smallest details because they know just how important they are.
Communication is, in my opinion, one of the most important aspects of nursing. As a nurse, you’ll regularly work one-on-one with patients, and proper communication in such situations means far more than just giving a dose of medicine or starting an IV. Nurses are responsible for talking to patients and helping them understand medical situations, which can be complex and quite scary to the person who 's going through such tribulations. Great nurses are clear communicators who truly listen to patient needs (and make sure to acknowledge that those patients ' concerns are being