With the American Association of Critical Care Nurses honoring nurses this week with National Nursing Week 2022 and highlighting their determination with a “Rooted in Strength“ theme, we thought we would take the time to highlight what makes a good nurse genuinely great. Here is what we look for in an RN and an LPN that we staff.

Having Compassion  

We wrote about empathy last week (link), but soft skills like that can make or break your career, especially when the going gets tough. Being available to patients is critical. Being sacrificial of your time on and off the clock encourages those who need it, displaying a physical connection like a hug or handshake, saying thanks showing you appreciate them.  

Learning From Experience  

Learning from experience can sometimes be better than schooling or training. Examples from work stick with people longer and make for great answers to questions during interviews. People will always be learning at work and new processes but growing from their mistakes. Reflecting is a time to process and grow. Ask those who work with you for feedback.   

Being A Mentor  

With a mutual trust established at work, more nurses who have been in the profession for a while can help nurses out of school or with a few years of experience. Serving as an example, supporter, and motivator to sustain a new nurse accommodates the workplace. Professional nurse practitioners operate as mentors to deliver formal and informal training, help, and counseling to recent graduates or nurses new in their careers.  

Direct Communication  

You need to keep everyone on the same page and provide quality care to patients. Take good notes and talk to patients and various stakeholders involved with the health and wellbeing of the patients. Adequate instructions reduce medical errors. Non-verbal communication is just as important as what healthcare professionals say with interpersonal and intrapersonal communication.   

Persistence/Stamina  

You must have the energy to keep finding the motivation to do so. Is it helping those in need? The money from picking up an extra shift? Find it and thrive in your work. Nurses spend a lot of time and energy in nursing school and pass various licensing examinations. Resilience during the pandemic can be helped by working alongside others and practicing self-care.   

Strong Personality  

The two times I have had medical appointments, a good attitude and the ability to joke made me feel better. A sense of humor can go a long way toward putting the patient at ease. An openness to answer questions helps give a patient confidence. Breaking the tension with warm feelings is a patient-first approach to healthcare.   

At WSi, we staff the best nurses in the Rocky Mountain region. Contact us if you want to learn more about our facilities.