Nursing has always been my “dream job”. I guess it is in the blood. My mom ran a six doctor medical practice and my sister is the director of surgical theatres as well as a new heart surgery center in central Florida. Listening to their stories and hearing their flat-out passion for their work made its mark on me in a big way.
The nurses I have met through the years have all had the qualities I most admire in others: Brilliance, a “Whatever it takes work ethic”, positive attitude, desire to make life as good as it can be for others, excellent communication skills, and a wicked-good wit. I feel honored and excited to be beginning a journey of joining up with “my favorite kind of people”.
Now, later in life, I finally have the chance to pursue my nursing dream. While I thought I knew what type of nursing I wanted to practice, I feel less sure every moment. I believe that more knowledge and experience will help me in determining the type of nursing for which I am best suited.
If I had to list the strongest qualities that I feel I bring to the profession they would include:
Empathy. While I have always been a very empathetic person, my life experience helps me to not only understand a patient’s feelings and apprehensions, but to use that understanding to facilitate their care and the healing process.
Humor. I think people who can laugh about things are the kind that most of us want to be around. I also believe that humor helps build trust. Gaining a patient’s trust will be important to the quality of care they experience.
Knowledge. While I’m just beginning to receive the knowledge I need, I know that this is the cornerstone of everything. But I believe that there are many kinds of knowledge that are required in nursing. First there’s the clinical knowledge that a nurse must have. But there is also the knowledge and understanding of the environment, such as the hospital, the staff and the doctors that complete the picture.
Dedication. I would say that what distinguishes nursing (and medicine in general) from other professions is the expectation that you will do whatever it takes to provide solutions. If that means time and personal sacrifice, then as a nurse, I am expected, and prepared, to work beyond the workplace limits of other professions.
Focus. In addition to the other qualities above, there is a need to be focused. I know there will be many opportunities to make serious mistakes and the only way to avoid them is to be focused on the task at hand.
If I can use the knowledge I’m taught to get the job done by understanding and appreciating the needs of the patient; if I can do this in an atmosphere of trust and be empathetic to the patient’s concerns; if I can remain focused in the midst of distracting and chaotic surroundings; and if I can do this for more hours in a day than I ever thought possible; then I will feel like I am living up to the challenge of being a nurse.
