As a nurse, you’re committed to providing the best possible care to your patients. You feel like you’re doing a good job right now, but you know there’s always room for improvement.
When patients are on your watch, you want them to feel safe, comfortable, and confident they’re in the best possible hands. Mastering the five soft skills below will allow you to provide them with the level of care you would want your loved ones to have in the same situation.
Empathy
Many patients seeking healthcare services are there for preventative reasons, but others are sick or injured. These people feel unwell and they’re scared, so it’s important to treat them with compassion. In some cases, you might be able to personally relate to them, but even if not, you still need to shower them with kindness and consideration. This will help put them at ease, so they’re relaxed and able to receive the care they need.
Listening
As a nurse, you see a variety of patients each shift — and no two are the same. Therefore, it’s important to have strong listening skills, so you can learn what’s going on with each person. The ability to listen closely and read between the lines can make the difference between a proper diagnosis and treating them for the wrong ailment.
Having a nurse who listens also helps build trust with patients. People want to feel heard in matters regarding their own health, so knowing their nurse is listening means a lot.
Flexibility
Since every patient is different, it comes as no surprise that the same treatment methods don’t work on everyone. One patient might excel with a certain medication or therapy, while another doesn’t respond as well. Therefore, nurses must be flexible and open to new ideas. This skill allows you to provide better patient care by tailoring treatment plans to individual needs.
Teamwork
As a nurse, you’re part of a healthcare team. While you might make rounds individually, you work with other doctors, nurses, and medical professionals to care for patients. Since you’re all focused on the shared goal of helping patients, this means you might sometimes need to take on extra shifts or tasks that fall outside your general realm of responsibility. You might not always want to do this, but you’re willing to step in for the good of your patients.
Detail-Oriented
In healthcare, sometimes the smallest details mean the most. Nurses must pay close attention to detail because patients’ lives are on the line. Ordering the wrong dose of a medication or overlooking a symptom a patient complains about can literally make the difference between life and death. It’s also important to really take in the big picture — including what a patient isn’t saying — to give the most accurate assessment of their condition.
Ready to take the next step in your nursing career? Management Registry, Inc. wants to help you find a fulfilling new role. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you!