It won’t be an exaggeration to claim that RNs are the bedrock of the American healthcare sector. Data shows that there are four nurses for every single doctor, and these 4.2 million RNs make up 2% of the United States’ total workforce.
Unsurprisingly, nurses are the most trusted of all professionals in the country, an illustrious designation they’ve held for the last two decades. However, many newcomers to this vocation are confused about how to excel in their profession. How can you become a better nurse and produce optimal patient outcomes? This article sheds some light on the methods to hone your nursing expertise. You can read the suggestions to boost your medical acumen and bolster your nursing reputation.
10 tips to be a better nurse
America isn’t just facing a massive shortage of nurses; there’s also a shortage of skills in the health sector. For instance, a 2016 study conducted by Australian experts revealed that no more than one-third of nurses lack even adequate clinical skills. Moreover, this study highlights the lack of high-quality soft skills among new nurses. Studies like this have universal implications, and even employers in America need newcomers to the nursing vocation to hone the below-mentioned skills. Consider some of the following capabilities and develop the key “soft skills” present-day employers look for in RNs. You can easily hone your nursing understanding and be the proverbial good nurse by taking these crucial steps:
Education
A decade ago, the IMO lobbied to make 80% of nurses BSN-prepared by 2020. This goal hasn’t been achieved yet, but soon even BSN won’t be the least qualification necessary for nurses. There’s a large shortage of skilled nurses in America, which can be filled by distance learning options. So, you should pursue online MSN programs today to give yourself a competitive advantage over other candidates. If you’re already an RN, you can accelerate your journey towards obtaining your MSN degree through UTA’s program, as they offer a streamlined path with their program. Having a master’s degree in nursing will make you more employable and, thereby, a better nurse.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is one of the most important and also most lacking skills among new nurses. This skill lets you think out of the box and on your feet, come up with creative out-of-the-box ideas, and adapt according to the patient’s condition. Don’t forget that nurses always deal with panic-inducing situations where an experienced nurse may falter and tremble. So, learn to always be prepared for everything as well as anticipate patient needs. Rely on your mind, and don’t just trust your education all the time.
Humor
When dealing with stressful situations all the time, having a little sense of humor won’t hurt. Nurses should cheer themselves up and deflect depression by using humor. Humor can help you evade negative thoughts that might creep up your mind after seeing so much suffering. It also helps cheer up your colleagues and save them from surrendering to the emotional toll of this profession. Humor lets nurses connect with patients effectively and keep them cheerful for quick rehabilitation.
Stamina
Nurses don’t just have to be stronger emotionally but also physically; never forget to maintain your stamina in this vocation. For instance, a study shows that a nurse moves and lifts 1.8 tons per shift on average, and walks 4 to 5 miles in a single shift. While lifting, assisting, and adjusting patients, nurses must build enough stamina to last a 12-hour shift without succumbing to exhaustion. You can build your stamina by eating healthy foods and doing suitable exercises, e.g., lifting weights, doing squats and push-ups, etc.
Empathy
There’s no good nurse who lacks empathy for patients; this empathy fuels your passion for helping patients. Burnout can sometimes lead to compassion fatigue, making you immune to human suffering and showing no empathy. Avoid exhausting your compassion with the following strategies: take breaks more often, create a work-life balance, keep a journal of your daily routines, sleep 7 to 8 hours a day, and exercise regularly.
Communication
Effective communication is the hallmark of good nurses. Nurses must communicate adequately with their clients (patients and their families) and coworkers. Communicate by receiving and transmitting information right, e.g., collecting a patient’s vitals and recording them for your coworkers. Similarly, nurses spend more time with patients than doctors do. So, physicians rely on a nurse’s expertise to gather crucial info regarding their patients’ health and recovery. You must learn how to gather and present info in an understandable manner.
Detail-oriented
Nurses aren’t infallible and often make mistakes. A study from 2013 shows that almost two-thirds of RNs have admitted to making medication mistakes. And these numbers are higher than what we want to imagine. So, RNs must be detail-oriented to reduce these mistakes. Read the label twice to ensure it is the right medicine, for instance. These preventive measures can save people’s lives.
Patient advocacy
Remember that your responsibilities extend far beyond traditional nursing duties. As a healthcare professional, you also advocate on patients’ behalf; you keep them safe and well-informed while ensuring they get the highest quality of care. That’s what the Hippocratic Oath entails, i.e., keeping harm away from your clients. Good RNs always fight to ensure their patients aren’t mistreated or misinformed. So, patient advocacy hones patient outcomes.
Work ethics
The Hippocratic Oath also compels nurses to maintain a patient’s privacy. You can’t reveal any of the sensitive things you know about your patients. These work ethics are crucial for all nurses, and there is no excuse for neglecting them. Remember that your job revolves around helping people by giving them the medical attention they require, no matter what their racial, sexual, or religious identity is. The mark of a good nurse is strong work ethics and commitment to patient safety-slash-privacy.
Temperament
Nurses need to stay even-tempered. Unfortunately, one-half of RNs face verbal abuse from patients. Now, abuse shouldn’t be tolerated, and nurses must maintain some boundaries with their patients. But don’t lose your temper, and try to maintain emotional stability. Don’t lash out at patients, and refrain from getting visibly angry. You have to learn to control your anger and hone your EQ.
Conclusion
After the emergence of the coronavirus, the ANA asked for a national nursing staff crisis to be inflicted nationwide. With many experienced RNs quitting in the middle of a pandemic, the health sector appears to be grappling with an expanding skills gap as well. Amateur nurses aren’t as skilled as senior nurses, and the shortage of soft skills can be disastrous to people’s well-being. A solution exists; it involves training new nurses through online programs. New nurses should also develop their work ethics while honing their critical thinking skills. As a new nurse, you need to communicate better, advocate for your patients, and have some empathy. Developing these qualities can make you a good nurse.