By making the decision to join the healthcare industry as a nurse, you're committing yourself to a rewarding career of improving the quality of life for a variety of different people. Making a difference in the lives of your patients and investing in your success as a nurse could both be impacted by these helpful tips.
Be patient.
There's a reason patience is considered a virtue—because it can be a challenge, especially as a nurse. During your workday, you may encounter a number of different personality types, some of which may be difficult to handle.1 Some patients might be belligerent, or their families may be upset and take it out on you. Focusing on being patient may help you resist the temptation to react emotionally to an aggressive situation. Take deep breaths and remind yourself that it's part of your job to remain calm and stay patient.
Be diligent.
There may often be times when you're very busy with common tasks like recording updates on a patient's condition or taking vitals from a recently admitted individual. But when you do have an extra moment, you should always try lend a helpful hand to your coworkers.2 Demonstrating this work ethic is likely to be appreciated by your coworkers, noticed by patients, and recognized by your supervisors too.
Be willing to learn.
The nature of the nursing job may have you carrying out similar tests and procedures each day with seemingly little variation. However, no matter how much you've experienced through nursing school courses and your observations, there's always something new to learn about nursing.3 Keep your mind open to fresh ideas and input that might be beneficial to your career. If you decide you want to learn something new every day, you might be surprised how much you improve in your abilities as a nurse.
Be independent.
While you may be part of a team of capable nurses, you also need to be independent in your work.4 Taking the initiative to find effective solutions to important challenges without being told is part of becoming a leader and a respected team player. Your ability to make swift clinical decisions to meet the needs of a patient might set you apart from the other nursing staff. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this skill is one of the most important qualities for a nurse to have in order to be successful.5
1. http://www.nursetogether.com/five-must-haves-for-a-successful-nursing-
3. http://scrubsmag.com/7-habits-of-highly-successful-nurses/
4. http://www.healthecareers.com/article/top-10-characteristics-of-successful-nurses/173129
5. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Registered-nurses.htm#tab-4