How to be a Good Nurse
Like just about any other profession, Nursing is not without its share of drama-instigators, gossipers, liars, and flat-out cold hearted and ethically compromised people. As if that first sentence weren't enough to digest alone, its important for everyone to realize that Nursing is a particularly unique profession. While there are also cases of life and death situations in just about any other profession as well, in nursing, one's ability to stay drama free and ethically sound can actually have a direct and profound impact on patients and their care. Case studies can be given to no end regarding the variety of situations that could ensure, however, the "Good" Nurse knows how to put the needs and desires of her/his patients before their own.
The following article will show you exactly what you have to do to be a "Good" Nurse.
Things You Will Need
Credentials allowing you to function as a Nurse, in the first place.
Step 1
It is important for every nurse to take a step back to their textbooks of old. While it's so easy to digress from the role of passionate student, to a nurse that is fully complacent in wherever their career has taken them, it is important to realize your duty and responsibilities as a nurse. You are entrusted with alot of responsibility, and, unlike many other professions, the results of your decisions, actions, and inactions (failure to act) can unfortunately lead to significantly compromised patient conditions. It is our duty to provide the most competent, and ethically sound, care that reaches across a wide spectrum of needs. Otherwise known as "holistic" care, time limitations and a heavy case lady may keep you from addressing every possible patient need, however, it is important that you at least do what you can to address the 2 or 3 most pressing.Step 2
Where a plethora of patient needs and desires abound, it is important that you prioritize effectively and efficiently. Prioritization requires critical thinking. Even though it may be painstakingly obvious that a patient who is grasping at their throat, while turning blue (cyanotic), may be more of a priority than a patient with a splinter in their finger, sometimes this determination isn't 100% strait forward. You must be quick to think on your feet, yet know the delicate balance between determining when it's appropriate to intervene and when it's not appropriate to intervene. Simply listening to a patient (I mean, ACTIVE listening) can work wonders in the field of Nursing.Step 3
To expound upon the last sentence in my previous step, being a good listener is so critical to a Nurse's success that, of course, it is given ample time of consideration in textbooks. While it may have been years since you graduated from Nursing school, active listening is just as effective today as it was 50 years ago and way back in Florence Nightingale's time. Active listening allows you to really identify underlying issues and concerns that a patient may be having. Male patients, especially, may be very timid to 'open up', on an emotional level, to a nurse who is attempting to further explore and identify a problem or potential for risk. While there are a fair share of "cold" female patients, as well, men, by nature, have a tendency to bottle up emotions, especially to strangers or outsiders.Step 4
As a nurse, you can't be afraid to put your detective hat on. With active listening, you may realize that you encounter clues and hints that must all be synthesized in order to come to the realization of an even greater picture of problems or risks. Without blatantly prying, a nurse must be tactful and professional, yet resolute and understanding. A "good" nurse must meet their patients where they are, care for their needs, and give them the tools and resources to effectively nurture and foster positive lifestyles and health choices. You won't be able to necessarily 'make' a patient become compliant, however, you can present a very compelling case as to why it is important that they do. Without delving too much into scare tactics, nurses should be able to tactfully navigate communication in a way that is productive and beneficial to the patient.Step 5
"Good" Nurses should do all they can to avoid dramatic situations. Where one is constantly surrounded by the same people, day in and day out, it is important to realize that the situations and mentality you bring into work (or occur at work) can have a direct affect on patient care. The last thing all nurses should want to occur is having a patient's condition deteriorate because they somehow overheard, or became involved in, a dramatic situation. Stress levels can shoot through the roof quickly, causing noticeable and measurable alterations in patient's conditions. A patient's vital signs are typically a very sensitive indicator of increased patient stress levels.If you are having issues with your family, or ex-husband/ex-wife, a "Good" Nurse will leave these issues at the door, while placing their patient's before their own situations, needs and desires. This may be difficult, at times, however, a fake smile is better than no smile at all.
Step 6
Lead by example. Principles of leadership are integrated into any nursing student's curriculum for a reason because you will be the one who patients, and staff, will be looking to for solid advice and help. Not only must you have a good work ethic, but, by virtue of your role, you should also have a very sound foundation of knowledge in medical and physiological processes. If you give insulin, you should know exactly why you are giving it. This same knowledge and understanding should be founded over as many disease processes as possible.As a nurse, there are many elements that go into being a "Good" Nurse. Putting the needs of your patient's first means making your own needs secondary.
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Comments
I have worked with so many extraordinary nurses closely for several decades in many hospital in the US. Their dedication and knowledge and compassion never ceases to amaze me. More often than not we find good nurses.
Great article. My cousin was an Army nurse, moved on to get his masters in nursing. He's dedicated, passionate about his field. Also, he's a great listener. I'm going to send him this. Thanks.
Thoughtful article about nursing. There are many aspects of nursing that I hadn't thought about, such as how they need to be good detectives, too. I'll appreciate them more than ever, now.
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