Qualities and Skills required for a Nurse, Being a great nurse goes far beyond clinical knowledge—it’s a blend of technical expertise, emotional intelligence, and human connection. Pursuing a career in nursing can be extremely rewarding. The majority of nursing roles involve working directly with patients, so understanding the qualities that make a good nurse will help ensure you’re doing the best you can for your patients and working better with your team.
Nursing qualities and skills:
- Empathy
- Respect for Human Dignity
- Patient Advocacy
- Emotional Regulation
- Critical Thinking
- Curiosity
- Communication
- Problem-Solving
- Flexibility
- Time Management
- Experience
- Willingness to Learn
What Makes a Good Nurse? Essential Qualities and Skills required
The field of nursing is growing, and it has been for years. With the nursing field seeing such growth, aspiring nurses should know what it takes to make a good nurse.
The American Nurses Association’s nursing code of ethics serves as a compass for many nurse qualities that are required. It is one of the best guidelines for ensuring that your nursing responsibilities are consistent with quality care and ethical obligations of the profession and that as you carry out your work, you provide a welcoming space for patients to feel safe and cared for.
1. Empathy
Empathy is one of the most important traits of a good nurse. Empathy means showing compassion and understanding to others. It is such a vital skill for working with patients. And it doesn’t stop there. Nursing jobs often involve working with teams that can include fellow nurses, doctors and other medical staff. Practicing empathy can help you work better as a team and understand where others on your team are coming from.
A common misconception is that empathy and sympathy are the same. Empathy is about caring about what someone else is going through, whereas sympathy is more of a feeling of pity for another person. Empathy involves putting yourself in another person’s shoes, and this can help you better meet their needs. When caring for others, it’s also important to be mindful of compassion fatigue.
2. Respect for Human Dignity
In addition to empathy, respect for human dignity goes a long way in the nursing field. And it’s part of the first provision of the ANA’s nursing code of ethics, which states that all people have a right to healthcare, regardless of individual differences.
People can feel especially vulnerable while sick or injured. As a nurse, it’s important that you help your patients feel as much dignity as possible while they’re being cared for. Empathy will help you in this process as you learn to understand each individual patient’s needs and how you can respect them.
3. Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy is one of the core qualities of a good nurse. Advocating for patients means speaking up when you know something is wrong and protecting patients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality.
Being a good advocate for your patients can help in situations when patients are too nervous or may find it difficult to “speak up” when they’re in a healthcare facility. Of course, racial, gender and other biases exist, and patient advocacy can also help reduce inequity in healthcare.
4. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking skills go hand-in-hand with problem-solving, along with some added nuance and perspective. Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman describes two modes of thinking: “System 1” and “System 2.” System 1 thinking is fast and intuitive, while System 2 thinking requires more effort and happens when we slow down and think critically.
As a nurse, you may run into situations where your intuition tells you one course of action is correct, but when you slow down and use System 2 thinking, or critical thinking, you find a better solution.
5. Curiosity
ANA code of ethics examines how nurses can advance their professional skills through research and scholarly inquiry. One of the best ways to do this is to develop a sense of curiosity—a sure sign of intellectual humility. When you’re able to be curious, you’re open to learning and remaining open-minded when working with patients and solving problems.
6. Communication
Good communication is essential and necessary when working with patients. Explaining what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and how it will help them will help your patient feel more comfortable with the care you’re providing them.
Communication is also crucial when working with colleagues as part of a caregiving team. One of the most common system failures this study listed was poor professional communication. As an effective communicator, you can help reduce errors and keep patients safe.
7. Problem-Solving
In healthcare, as in life, situations may not always go as planned. Nurses need to be able to solve problems as they delegate tasks. Furthering your nursing education and undergoing on-the-job training will help you gain additional problem-solving skills to put you in a good position to resolve challenges as they arise.
8. Flexibility
Nurses have to be ready to be flexible in so many situations. You may need to work longer hours some days or switch tasks on a dime. By accepting that things can change, you become more flexible, which is a great nursing quality. Your flexibility can help patients as well as other members of your team when they need help the most.
9. Time Management
Nurses have a wide range of tasks and are often caring for multiple patients while balancing all kinds of other duties. Despite working long shifts, it still may feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. Developing time management skills can be helpful in so many ways, especially for learning to prioritize the most important tasks.
It stands to reason that when you can manage your time well, you’ll provide better care for patients and their families and have a better shot at completing your other duties. Good time management will have a ripple-down effect on everything you do!
10. Experience
Experience counts for everything, but obviously, gaining it takes time. As a nurse, you’re constantly dealing with a wide range of situations, helping you gain the experience and skills you need to be better.
For newer nurses, this is also where the quality of curiosity can help. Knowing that you currently lack some experience keeps you open to learning, and your willingness to learn will help you gain more experience. You may be working alongside nurses who have many more years on the job, and you can learn from their experience to help you become a better nurse.
11. Willingness to Learn
Changes in the healthcare system are inevitable, and it’s important to maintain a willingness to learn. Medical science advances all the time, and you may see all kinds of changes within your healthcare setting. These can include systems you use, tasks you undertake and other responsibilities. A willingness to learn helps you stay flexible and able to advance and stay agile in an ever-changing field.
12.Integrity
Integrity is one of the most essential qualities of a nurse. Integrity is defined as the quality of being fair, honest, and having high moral principles.
Nurses often face complex challenges and situations related to patient care and the nursing job. Integrity ensures nurses execute their job responsibilities and uphold their duties to patients, team members, and employers.
13. Clinical Intuition
Clinical intuition is a process based on nursing knowledge and care experiences. Nurses use clinical intuition to process information about patients, form nursing diagnoses, and develop care plans.
Intuition plays a vital role in the steps of the nursing process as a basis for clinical decision-making that supports safe and effective patient care. Intuition is a validated component of clinical nursing care and expertise and one of the essential attributes of a nurse.
14. Emotional Stability
Emotional stability is another of the qualities of a good nurse. Emotional stability refers to a person’s ability to remain balanced and stable, even in stressful situations.
A nurse’s job is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. Each day can bring feelings of surprise, joy, sadness, or frustration. To effectively manage the needs of patients, families, and colleagues, nurses must demonstrate the ability to remain calm and emotionally stable.
15. A Willingness to Learn
Of all the characteristics of a good nurse, the desire and willingness to learn is one of the most crucial. Nurses can show a willingness to learn by actively pursuing new skills or developing clinical practice experiences.
Healthcare is an ever-evolving industry. While nursing programs teach entry-level knowledge and skills, successful nurses understand the importance of keeping up with changes in healthcare.
16. Versatility
Versatility is the ability and willingness to adapt to different functions, activities, or responsibilities. Versatile nurses often explore diverse activities and disciplines, which help them develop an open-minded approach in caring for patients from various backgrounds.
Versatility is one of the qualities of a nurse that can benefit you in any professional setting. Ideally, nurses could plan every moment of their day and carry out duties according to that plan. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for unexpected things to happen each day in nursing. Whether a patient’s status begins to deteriorate, an unstable patient comes through your unit, or staff is short-handed when you exercise the quality of versatility, you feel equipped to successfully handle whatever happens during your shift.
17. Commitment to Patients and the Profession
By definition, commitment means “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity.” Commitment in nursing relates to one’s dedication to providing high-quality patient care and promoting the nursing profession. Nurses demonstrate commitment by being thorough and dedicated to improving patient outcomes and furthering the profession.
Commitment is one of the essential qualities of a nurse. Nurses who demonstrate commitment help ensure patients have confidence they will receive the support and care needed to recover or face challenging medical issues.
18. Respectfulness
While being respectful may not be at the top of the list when it comes to qualities of a good nurse you expect, it is essential for nurses to learn its importance. Successful nurses should strive to show respectfulness to patients and colleagues alike.
Respectfulness promotes a healthy work and care environment in which coworkers feel appreciated, engaged, and committed to service, and patients feel cared for as individuals.
19. Assertiveness
Assertiveness is a person’s ability to express feelings and thoughts and expect those thoughts and feelings to be acknowledged and respected. It is essential for nurses to realize there is a difference between aggressiveness and assertiveness. Aggressiveness is a type of behavior that is often manipulative and wants to be right or win, even at the expense of others. Assertiveness, on the other hand, is based on mutual respect. It seeks solutions that are fair and just. In nursing, assertiveness values what is best for the patient and healthcare team and is demonstrated by a willingness to stand up for what is right.
Being assertive may feel uncomfortable at times, but it has several benefits. Assertive nurses quickly earn the respect of patients and family members for whom they advocate. Team members who feel well represented by nurses who are willing to be assertive often feel less stress and become eager to work together more cooperatively. Lastly, when nurses practice assertiveness, it improves professional and nurse-patient relationships, which leads to improved patient outcomes.
20. Dependability
Dependability is one of the most important qualities of a good nurse. It means consistently doing your job and doing it well. Although dependability may seem like a simple concept, for nurses, it takes skill. Dependability in nursing requires balancing the needs of patients, coworkers, employers, and members of the interdisciplinary team.
Patients depend on nurses to show up for work and do their jobs. Team members count on one another to do their part in providing care and following through. In a busy hospital or healthcare facility, when a nurse fails to do her job, it can have a negative impact on patient care as well as the cohesiveness of the healthcare team.
21. Resourcefulness
Resourcefulness is the ability of someone to find clever ways to overcome challenges or difficulties. In nursing, resourcefulness involves using critical thinking skills to address patient problems and provide quality, effective patient care.
Time is often of the essence in patient care. Resourceful nurses make the most of the time they have for providing care to patients and find ways that are most beneficial to patient outcomes.
22. Leadership
Leadership is simply defined as the “state or position of being a leader.” However, leadership in nursing is not reserved for those in management or administrative positions only. All nurses can and should, demonstrate leadership qualities. Leadership is truly one of the vital characteristics of a good nurse.
Nurses who take the initiative for getting things done, motivate others, and act as liaisons between patients and staff are excellent examples of leadership in nursing. When nurses demonstrate leadership qualities, they take pride in the quality of their work and the care they provide. They create an atmosphere where respect for coworkers becomes common, and patient outcomes are significantly improved.
23.Mentorship
Mentorship in nursing is the act of experienced nurses sharing knowledge and skills development with less experienced nurses.
Mentorship is an important quality in nurses. Mentors provide guidance, offer emotional support, help build confidence in others, and teach skills necessary to become successful nurses. Nurse mentors help new nurses develop professional networks, which is instrumental in career advancement.
24. Goal-Oriented
The nursing process is a patient-focused, goal-oriented approach to care. Objectives, expected outcomes, and goals are established at the onset of each patient encounter.
Goal-oriented nurses have long-term vision coupled with short-term motivation. Being goal-oriented allows nurses to focus on time and resource management, prioritization, and acquisition of knowledge, which benefits patients, nurses, and the healthcare industry. A goal-directed approach to patient care enhances nurse-patient relationships, which increases the likelihood of patient compliance to therapeutic plans.
25. Endurance
Endurance is the ability to sustain an activity over a period of time. In nursing, endurance applies to both physical and mental abilities.
Nursing is a demanding job and requires endurance to be successful. There may be days when you spend hours on your feet caring for patients. As rewarding as nursing can be, the mental strain of caring for several patients with varying degrees of illness can take its toll. When nurses develop a strong sense of endurance, it becomes possible to shoulder responsibilities associated with the job and decrease the chances of physical and emotional burnout.
26. Practice Self-Care
While self-care may not be the first thing you think of when you think of qualities of a good nurse, it is an essential trait that affects everyone. Self-care includes every measure a person can implement to become and remain physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. It includes practicing personal hygiene and good nutrition, seeking medical care when needed, and avoiding stress.
A simple explanation about why self-care is an important quality for a nurse is that it is difficult, and often impossible, to provide effective patient care if you cannot take care of yourself first. Nurses who practice self-care are more likely to handle the stresses associated with work and personal life.
27. Veracity
The principle of veracity, is also known as truth-telling or honesty, is one of the essential qualities of a nurse who is successful. Veracity in nursing requires nurses to be honest with their interactions with patients, families, and team members.
Veracity helps establish trusting relationships between nurses, patients, and team members. Patients who feel they can trust their nurses are more likely to be open about their concerns. They are also more likely to report symptoms which helps nurses know how patients are responding to treatment and can indicate any adverse responses or deterioration in status. When nurses practice veracity, it creates an atmosphere of trust and confidence among team members.
28. Contextual Perspective
Contextual perspective in nursing involves considering all variables that affect a clinical situation. For example, interpersonal dynamics, ethnic influences, and economic considerations can each affect clinical situations and patient outcomes.
Contextual perspective allows nurses to improve evidence-based practices in nursing care without threatening the integrity of the patient’s autonomy, nonmaleficence, and informed consent.
29. Confidence
Another of the essential qualities a good nurse should have is confidence. Confidence in nursing is self-assurance in one’s ability to perform in the capacity of a nurse and to provide effective, high-quality patient care.
Confident nurses work with an attitude of professionalism, curiosity, and excitement. Nurses who are confident in their abilities are known for stronger clinical practice, thoughtful leadership, and nursing innovation.
30. Clinical Reasoning
Clinical reasoning is the term used to describe assessment and management of patient issues at the point of care, such as care at the bedside or during a visit to the physician’s office. It is the process through which nurses observe patients, process information they receive, plan and implement interventions, and evaluate outcomes. Clinical reasoning is one of the qualities of a good nurse that demonstrates continuous learning.
Clinical reasoning is instrumental in making timely decisions for patient care. Clinical reasoning in nursing is often the fine line between poor and favourable patient outcomes. Nurses who fail to implement clinical reasoning in their practice are more likely to have lapses in judgment, harming patients.
How to Develop the Qualities of a Good Nurse
Reviewing the qualities of a good nurse and nurturing those virtues within your nursing practice can help you provide effective care that contributes to your professional growth.
Additional ways to nurture strong qualities include:
- Working with a nurse mentor
- Surrounding yourself with nurses who hold the qualities you wish to develop
- Accept and learn from constructive criticism regarding your professional practice
- Pursue continuing education
- Work as a team with your peers to help strengthen the nursing profession
- Practice how to identify and address issues affecting patient and staff safety
Why Are Soft Skills Important in Nursing?
Nurses must apply their soft skills to complement the technical aspects of the job. To aid their patients, nurses must recognize cues to better understand their patient’s needs. When treating a patient, their physical health is only part of the equation. By recognizing verbal and nonverbal responses, nurses can identify physical ailments and unseen emotional challenges.
Soft skills also help nurses work with other medical professionals. The ability to function as a team, communicate effectively, and accept/provide constructive criticism gives teams a better chance to deliver quality care.
Soft skills also include a nurse’s ability to adapt. In learning to work in stressful conditions and maintain their resilience, nurses improve their own outcomes for higher job satisfaction and professional success.
Developing Soft Skills for Nursing
While nurses enter the field with the necessary medical information to deliver care, these professionals commonly develop soft skills for nursing over time. Continued experience and self-reflection, along with the ability to accept constructive feedback, allow nurses to hone these abilities.
Nurses who combine educational and technical skills with excellent emotional and social abilities are better able to provide exemplary care.
REFERENCES
- USA Facts, “Who Are the Nation’s Nurses?”USA Facts, last modified May 2021,https://usafacts.org/articles/who-are-the-nations-nurses/
- Psychiatric Medical Care Communications Team, “The Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy,” Psychiatric Medical Care, https://www.psychmc.com/blogs/empathy-vs-sympathy
- 30 Qualities Of A Good Nurse – Do You Have Them?www.nursingprocess.org/qualities-of-a-good-nurse.html
- American Nurses Association, “View the Code of Ethics for Nurses,” American Nurses Association, https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/
- Rayhan A. Tariq, Rishik Vashisht, Ankur Sinha, and Yevgeniya Scherbak, “Medication Dispensing Errors and Prevention,” National Library of Medicine, last modified May 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519065/
- Standards for competence for registered Nurses: www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/standards/nmc-standards-for-competence-for-registered-nurses.pdf
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