Nursing is a fulfilling healthcare career that requires commitment, hard work and rigorous training, so nurses need extensive and specific skills to have a successful career. This article reviews the everyday skills that prove you could be a successful nurse. Read on for more information!
Here are the seven everyday skills that prove you could have a successful nursing career:
1. Time management
Good time management skills allow nurses to perform their daily tasks efficiently. Nurses handle multiple patient cases at a time, so having the skills to prioritize, manage and organize tasks would prove that you could become an excellent nurse.
2. Physical endurance
Nurses usually work long shifts and are often on their feet for many hours. They also perform strenuous tasks, including moving heavy healthcare equipment and patients.
Having stamina and physical endurance indicates you are well-equipped to offer optimal patient care and have a successful nursing career.
3. Attention to detail
As a nurse, you must listen carefully and closely to patients about their health conditions and symptoms. Nurses are also responsible for correctly recording and documenting patient progress and status.
Excellent attention to detail indicates that you are likely to be highly accurate in diagnosing patients as a nurse.
4. Patient assessment
Every nursing professional requires some basic skills in assessing patient health conditions, such as checking a patient’s pulse, monitoring vital signs and listening to symptoms of labored breathing. Evaluating situations quickly and determining the best course of action could prove your ability to identify and determine if a patient requires emergency care.
5. Empathy
Empathy refers to one’s ability to put themselves in another individual’s shoes. It helps you relate and respond better to what other people are feeling or going through. People with good empathetic skills are more capable of working with patients struggling with various health issues, such as injuries, diseases and illnesses.
6. Critical thinking
A patient’s health condition can change anytime, requiring nurses to think critically while determining possible health complications and deciding how best to administer patient care.
Individuals with sound critical thinking skills are better equipped to play a vital role in interpreting test results, assessing and diagnosing patients.
7. Adaptability
The work environment of nurses is always unpredictable, and they should be able to adjust their responsibilities, schedule and priorities often and quickly, without notice. Nurses are also in charge of multiple patients, so they must adapt swiftly.
Individuals who are flexible, able to cope with unpredictability and highly adaptable are likely to have successful careers in nursing.
How to develop essential nursing skills
To have a successful career in nursing, you must hone the essential skills. One way to develop these critical skills is to enroll in an online nursing program in Indiana that will prepare you for real-world healthcare practice. Programs such as the University of Indiana’s Accelerate Bachelor of Science in Nursing help you to build and develop various everyday skills in addition to providing clinical knowledge to prepare you for a successful nursing career.
Conclusion
These everyday skills prove one is destined to have a successful career in nursing. Do not be concerned if you do not have all the mentioned skills, as some come more naturally while others can be honed by enrolling in a nursing program.