What Makes A Great Nurse
Knows Her Stuff
A great nurse must, first of all, know how to perform all of her responsibilities with the utmost accuracy and detail. The primary responsibilities of a nurse usually include knowing and understanding the health needs of her patients, performing initial and sometimes frequent evaluations of her patients, and performing basic procedures such as shots or IV placements. Some nurses are able to prescribe certain medications and diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries.
Over time, nurses refine their skills. In doing so, her responsibilities usually increase. Additionally, to stay sharp, many nurses participate in continuing education classes to stay informed on new diseases, drugs, and techniques for patient care. By constantly practicing and learning, a great nurse develops and displays confidence in her medical knowledge, which makes being a patient easier.
People Skills
Learning people skills is another crucial aspect of becoming a great nurse, which usually comes after years of experience and mistakes. A nurse is always on the side of the patient. She speaks with gentleness and care, and she develops personal relationships with her patients.
Many hospitals or doctors offices have tricky political structures that can cause friction. In these cases, a nurse always sets aside the job politics and puts the patient’s care as top priority. Some work environments do not allow nurses to develop long-term relationships with patients, but a casual conversation with a friendly demeanor is always useful to help ease tensions.
Great nurses also end up being in the conversations of former patients. Many times nurses help to create a memorable childhood experience for young patients. For children shots are often scary. A good nurse will use the art of distraction along with casual conversation to administer a shot, often without the child even knowing. The nurse turns a frightful situation into an enjoyable one.
What Patients Expect
- A level of professional knowledge and technical competence.
- A personal relationship to individualize his or her care to ensure his or her feelings are taken into consideration during treatment.
- His or her health care felt like a partnership in which nurses shared the decision making process.
- A caring and attentive nurse.
- His or her needs to be address promptly.
- Having the same nurse as often as possible.
Patients, who felt they received excellent nursing care were more optimistic about the future, felt a greater sense of fortitude to fight their illness, and felt better overall.
Attributes of a Great Nurse
- A great nurse knows when she doesn’t know something and isn’t afraid to ask.
- A great nurse puts herself in the patient’s shoes and provides as much information as she can.
- A great nurse stands up for herself and her colleagues when confronted by obnoxious family members, doctors, managers, etc.
- A great nurse understands that personal time is as important as the work itself.
- A great nurse is there for her patients. She holds her patient’s hand and calms his fears.
- A great nurse has compassion and empathy for both patients and colleagues alike.
In the future, medical professionals will be assisted by mobile electronic attendance machines — Robot Nurses. Currently, a telepresence robot dubbed Sister Mary is being tested at St. Mary’s hospital in Paddington, London, in the UK. Robot Nurse Pearl in Oakmont, Pa. reminds her elderly clients to eat, drink and take they’re medicine. The robot “nurses” are not being created to replace humans; they are being designed to assist nurses and medical technicians.
In today’s health care world, the patient is the customer. Patient demands are greater than ever before, and health care organizations are focused on meeting those demands by providing exceptional medical and customer service care. What’s understood is that if things are done right in these areas, strong bottom-line results will follow. If they are not done at all, the bottom line will hit rock bottom.
Great nurses greatly contribute to the success and stability of the health care institutions and to the mental and physical well being of patients. They give not only their book knowledge, but they give a piece of their heart with each patient.
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