If you enjoy helping others and making a difference, a career in nursing may be right for you. But what is nursing, exactly, and what does working as a nurse entail? There are various kinds of nurses, each with their own unique responsibilities and skills. At the end of the day, choosing your ideal nursing path boils down to your personal interests and professional goals.
With a more thorough understanding of the nursing field, the evolving role of nurses in healthcare, and the qualities and skills you need to be successful as a nurse, you may better determine whether this path may be right for you.
What Is the Essence of Nursing?
What is a nurse, anyway? More than likely, you have come into contact with various types of nurses in your life, from registered nurses to licensed practical nurses and more. But defining exactly what the work of a nurse entails may be easier said than done, especially considering how broad and all-encompassing this type of work can be.
Defining Nursing
What is nursing as a field, then? In simplest terms, nurses are healthcare professionals responsible for providing direct patient care as part of a larger care team that typically consists of doctors and specialists. More specifically, nursing itself is defined by the American Nurses Association as “the diagnosis and treatment of human responses and the advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in recognition of the connection of all humanity.”
What Is a Nurse? The Role of Nurses in Healthcare
The exact roles and responsibilities of a nurse may vary depending on a nurse’s specific job title, level of education and experience, and some other factors. However, there are some general responsibilities most nurses are regularly required to carry out.
Responsibilities of Nurses
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), some of the most common nursing responsibilities among registered nurses include:
- Assessing the conditions of patients
- Recording symptoms, medical histories, and other patient information
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, including doctors and physicians, to create treatment/care plans
- Educating patients and their families
- Performing diagnostic tests
- Administering some medications and treatments
In certain cases, nurses may also take on more advanced leadership roles where they are responsible for overseeing and managing other teams of nurses.
Importance of Nurses in the Healthcare System
Nurses play a critical role within the healthcare system at large, serving as frontline healthcare providers and contributing significantly to patient outcomes and overall healthcare delivery. Nurses are often the healthcare providers seen first and most often by patients, so they are able to make a considerable difference in the patient experience while having a major impact on the quality of care.
Qualities and Skills of Successful Nurses
Do you have what it takes to become a great nurse? Ultimately, there are numerous qualities, characteristics, and skills that the most successful nurses tend to possess. This includes both technical skills and soft skills, many of which you have the opportunity to develop as part of a nursing education program (like a nursing degree program). Other nursing skills may come more naturally to you.
Essential Qualities
A range of core qualities make up an excellent nurse; these are characteristics that a person might be born with or work on improving throughout their lives.
Empathy, or the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes, is one of the most essential qualities. Leveraging empathy, you are better able to understand what your patients (and their families) are going through, which helps you anticipate and respond to their needs compassionately.
Communication skills are crucial as a nurse as well, especially when it comes to effectively communicating with other healthcare professionals, patients, and their families. Nurses need to clearly relay their thoughts and ideas both verbally and in written form. Otherwise, patient care could suffer.
Critical thinking skills are imperative in the nursing field, as new obstacles and challenges may present themselves at a moment’s notice. The most successful nurses are those who are able to think quickly on their feet to overcome problems and prioritize the highest standard of patient care at all times. This, in addition to being adaptable and flexible, could serve you well in the dynamic nursing field.
Required Nursing Skills
Along with the essential qualities of a nurse outlined above, nurses should also possess some more technical skills for the job. One of the most crucial nursing skills to possess is clinical expertise, or technical proficiency in the kinds of tasks nurses carry out every day. From the ability to read vital signs to accurately administering medications, the right clinical expertise may go a long way.
Nurses must have excellent organization skills, too, especially when caring for multiple patients at once. Organization is key because, without it, nurses could make mistakes when administering medication or following treatment plans, for instance.
Finally, nurses should develop solid leadership skills in order to do their jobs well. This is especially critical for nurses who are responsible for overseeing other groups of nurses within a healthcare facility. However, even those not currently in leadership positions could benefit from having solid leadership and managerial skills.
Educational Pathways and Training for Nursing
If you are interested in working in the nursing field, you might be wondering where to begin when it comes to educational requirements and nursing training. The most important thing to keep in mind is that specific education and training requirements vary depending on the type of nurse you want to be. In general, though, all nurses need to meet certain academic qualifications and become licensed before they may practice in the United States.
Academic Requirements
Once you have chosen a specific nursing path, you should start working toward your diploma, certificate, or degree by completing a related academic program. This could be anything from an associate degree in nursing to a bachelor’s or master’s degree (depending on the particular nursing designation you are pursuing).
The length of time you need to be in school varies depending on the number of credit hours in your program and whether you enroll on a part- or full-time basis. Typically, you could expect an associate degree program in nursing to take about two years to complete. A bachelor’s degree in nursing takes closer to four years, and a master’s degree takes an additional two years beyond that (assuming you are enrolled full-time).
Once you complete your academic requirements, you may need to earn your nursing license by taking and passing a standardized exam. The most common is the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), but the specific exam required may vary depending on the license you are pursuing.
Clinical Training
In addition to completing your educational requirements and getting licensed, you may also need to obtain some hands-on clinical training in your field. Some academic degree programs may actually include a clinical placement as part of your credit hour requirements; this could be an ideal way to gain valuable, practical experience while you are still in school. Beyond that, however, securing an entry-level nursing job may help professionals gain the clinical training and experience needed to work in the field.
Diverse Specializations in Nursing
Within the broader nursing field, there are numerous different specializations to choose from if you wish to practice in a more specific area. Specializations may be worth pursuing if you want to put some precise skills to use or work with a particular population.
Various Nursing Specialties
While this is by no means a comprehensive list, some of the most common nursing specialties in the field include:
- Emergency room nurse
- Operating room nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- Geriatric nurse
- Neonatal nurse
- Oncology nurse
- Public health nurse
- Nurse educator
- School nurse
Choosing a Nursing Specialty
How do you know what type of nursing specialty is right for you? For starters, consider the types of strengths and skills you bring to the table. If you enjoy working with young children, for example, then becoming a pediatric or even a neonatal nurse could be rewarding. On the other hand, if you are more interested in a leadership role, working as a nurse manager or even a director of nursing may be more up your alley.
What Is a Nurse’s Impact on Patient Care and Public Health?
Each time they show up for work, nurses play a vital role in providing the highest standard of patient care and influencing public health as we know it.
Improving Patient Outcomes
Quality, compassionate care provided by a nurse may directly enhance both patient outcomes as well as the overall patient experience. This is because nurses are often working on the front lines, coming into contact with patients early and frequently in their treatment process.
Community Health Promotion
Nurses are key to promoting a greater sense of community health. From delivering educational workshops to providing patients’ families with the information they need to take care of their loved ones, nurses make a difference every day by promoting better health and wellness education for everyone.
Explore a Master of Science in Nursing at Post University
There is no denying the impact that skilled, compassionate nurses have on patients and their families each day. From improving patient outcomes to promoting a healthy lifestyle, nurses play a central role in the healthcare system.
For those interested in working in the nursing profession or advancing their current career, the right degree could help build the nursing skills and knowledge you need. At Post University, we are proud to offer a wide range of nursing degree programs to those already in possession of an registered nurse license, including our popular Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). This program focuses on core topics such as nursing education, leadership and management, case management, advanced practice nursing, and more. Plus, it is offered entirely online, allowing you to pursue your degree on your own time. Request more information to get started today.
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