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In being a nurse, you monitor a patient’s symptoms, give them information about their condition, you console the patient and their family through difficult times. This career is full of complexity, dedication, and never ending challenges. Thus, there are a number of skills and traits that a registered nurse must have and learn. Here are just four of those traits:

Physical Activity:
I bet you didn’t see that coming! Yes, in being a nurse you need to be prepared to be able to walk for miles everyday. Often during your twelve hour shifts you may not even get a chance to take a seat. You will be scurrying from patient to patient and back again, you will be at the nurse’s station, and running to get labs or doctors or medication. On top walking and standing for so long, you must be able to help move patients into different positions as you bathe them, help them get comfortable, or for treatment reasons. In some cases where the patients are reacting poorly to the situation, you may even be required to restrain them. Don’t count on there being coworkers around to help you out either, as everyone will be running around working and you may have to deal with it yourself .

Critical Thinking:
Get ready for math, as you will need to measure dosages for drugs, and will be figuring information in both metric (centimeters) and standard (inches) units of measurement . Things happen fast so you need to be able to react quickly with good decision making skills. It is important to be able to know what has been happening with the patient in the past, what are the current conditions, what you need to do to benefit the patient and weather or not the patient needs urgent attention. You must know when to call the doctors their input but you must also know when you don’t need to call them. (They get very angry at you if you call them at 3 am for something that you could have checked on your own!) Things happen fast so be on your toes, alert and always thinking.

Observation:
Speaking about being alert, one important skill is to learn how to be observant . Subtle changes in the state or condition of someone who is ill can be indications of life threatening situations. Being extremely aware of such changes will help you head off dangerous situations. Also, in many cases, people don’t really feel comfortable telling a stranger about embarrassing conditions and thus a keen eye will help ferret out when people are not giving you all the facts !

Compassion:
When people need a registered nurse’s care, they are often experiencing one othe the scariest and most embarrassing times in their life- so be compassionate. It can be stressful on you when you have a frustrating patient, you may not like the person, you may just be having a really bad day- but in the end you must remember that these people are ill and you are there to help them. Be compassionate in your care.

Of course there a ton more traits you need to have to be a nurse, these are only a few . To become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN,) or achieve an advanced nursing level like a nurse practitioner (NP), you will need to first obtain a degree and then pass the NCLEX exam. Your education will vary depending on the career level you wish to pursue and in what specialty.

Do you have the traits needed in being a nurse?