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What are some of the skills that I should learn for nursing?
Are there any skills that I should know that nursing school doesn't teach you?
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James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
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James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Dori,
Here are the essential skills to enhance your nursing career:
1. Clinical Skills: Continually sharpen your clinical abilities, such as medication administration, physical assessments, and medical equipment usage. The key is consistent practice and refinement through hands-on experience.
2. Communication: Clarity in communication is vital in nursing. It encompasses active listening, empathy, and the ability to simplify medical jargon for patients, their families, and other healthcare providers.
3. Time Management: With multiple tasks and responsibilities, efficient time management skills help prioritize tasks and ensure their effective completion.
4. Critical Thinking: To make quick, informed decisions and solve problems swiftly, nurses need to hone their critical thinking abilities.
5. Emotional Intelligence: Nursing can be emotionally taxing. Therefore, developing emotional intelligence helps provide compassionate care and manage personal emotions and stress levels.
6. Leadership: Leadership skills are crucial for nurses who often lead healthcare teams. These skills involve motivating and guiding team members, making informed decisions, and taking responsibility for patient outcomes.
7. Technology Proficiency: With healthcare increasingly dependent on technology, it's crucial to be proficient in electronic health records (EHRs), understand medical terminology, and be comfortable using medical equipment and devices.
8. Cultural Competence: Understanding different cultural beliefs and practices related to health and healthcare is essential to effectively communicate with patients from diverse backgrounds.
9. Ethics: Adhering to strict ethical standards and prioritizing patient welfare is crucial. A strong understanding of ethical principles helps navigate complex situations and make informed decisions.
However, some skills aren't taught in nursing school:
1. Self-Care: Nursing can be physically and emotionally draining. Prioritizing self-care, including taking necessary breaks, managing stress, and promoting physical and mental well-being, is vital.
2. Professional Development: It's up to each nurse to seek additional training and education throughout their career. This could involve pursuing advanced degrees, attending workshops, or joining professional organizations.
3. Networking: Building relationships with other healthcare professionals is crucial for career advancement. This includes attending networking events, joining professional organizations, and seeking mentorship from experienced healthcare leaders.
4. Advocacy: Nurses play a crucial role in advocating for their patients. Strong advocacy skills help ensure high-quality care, educate policymakers about healthcare issues, and promote positive changes within the healthcare system.
5. Financial Literacy: Comprehensive financial education for nurses isn't always provided in nursing schools. Developing strong financial literacy skills can help manage personal finances, negotiate salaries or benefits, and make informed decisions about career or future education opportunities.
May God bless you!
James Constantine.
Here are the essential skills to enhance your nursing career:
1. Clinical Skills: Continually sharpen your clinical abilities, such as medication administration, physical assessments, and medical equipment usage. The key is consistent practice and refinement through hands-on experience.
2. Communication: Clarity in communication is vital in nursing. It encompasses active listening, empathy, and the ability to simplify medical jargon for patients, their families, and other healthcare providers.
3. Time Management: With multiple tasks and responsibilities, efficient time management skills help prioritize tasks and ensure their effective completion.
4. Critical Thinking: To make quick, informed decisions and solve problems swiftly, nurses need to hone their critical thinking abilities.
5. Emotional Intelligence: Nursing can be emotionally taxing. Therefore, developing emotional intelligence helps provide compassionate care and manage personal emotions and stress levels.
6. Leadership: Leadership skills are crucial for nurses who often lead healthcare teams. These skills involve motivating and guiding team members, making informed decisions, and taking responsibility for patient outcomes.
7. Technology Proficiency: With healthcare increasingly dependent on technology, it's crucial to be proficient in electronic health records (EHRs), understand medical terminology, and be comfortable using medical equipment and devices.
8. Cultural Competence: Understanding different cultural beliefs and practices related to health and healthcare is essential to effectively communicate with patients from diverse backgrounds.
9. Ethics: Adhering to strict ethical standards and prioritizing patient welfare is crucial. A strong understanding of ethical principles helps navigate complex situations and make informed decisions.
However, some skills aren't taught in nursing school:
1. Self-Care: Nursing can be physically and emotionally draining. Prioritizing self-care, including taking necessary breaks, managing stress, and promoting physical and mental well-being, is vital.
2. Professional Development: It's up to each nurse to seek additional training and education throughout their career. This could involve pursuing advanced degrees, attending workshops, or joining professional organizations.
3. Networking: Building relationships with other healthcare professionals is crucial for career advancement. This includes attending networking events, joining professional organizations, and seeking mentorship from experienced healthcare leaders.
4. Advocacy: Nurses play a crucial role in advocating for their patients. Strong advocacy skills help ensure high-quality care, educate policymakers about healthcare issues, and promote positive changes within the healthcare system.
5. Financial Literacy: Comprehensive financial education for nurses isn't always provided in nursing schools. Developing strong financial literacy skills can help manage personal finances, negotiate salaries or benefits, and make informed decisions about career or future education opportunities.
May God bless you!
James Constantine.
Updated
Megan’s Answer
Hi Dori!
Great question! I think there are a lot of skills you do not get taught in school that you need to work on your own. For example- you might not be taught how to make a resume in class- college campuses have career services offices though that can help you make a resume!
Some skills you will touch on in school but are something that comes with practice. Bedside manner is very important as a nurse. You might learn about it but it is a special skill you have to develop. Learning how to communicate, build trust, and have meaningful relationships with patients is hard to learn from a textbook.
Time management is a very important skill that you need as a nurse. Things can be very fast pace and many things can be happening at once. I always tell students that going from high school to college is a crash course in learning time management. You have to figure out a schedule with classes, studying, socializing, exercising, eating, and sleeping. No one teaches you time management in class but it is something you need to develop to be successful.
These are just a few skills to think about! Hope this helps!
Great question! I think there are a lot of skills you do not get taught in school that you need to work on your own. For example- you might not be taught how to make a resume in class- college campuses have career services offices though that can help you make a resume!
Some skills you will touch on in school but are something that comes with practice. Bedside manner is very important as a nurse. You might learn about it but it is a special skill you have to develop. Learning how to communicate, build trust, and have meaningful relationships with patients is hard to learn from a textbook.
Time management is a very important skill that you need as a nurse. Things can be very fast pace and many things can be happening at once. I always tell students that going from high school to college is a crash course in learning time management. You have to figure out a schedule with classes, studying, socializing, exercising, eating, and sleeping. No one teaches you time management in class but it is something you need to develop to be successful.
These are just a few skills to think about! Hope this helps!