Being a nurse is more than just a job.The principles of care and compassion are the basis of nursing.A combination of high tech and high touch is what nursing is sometimes described as.The care to provide the finest healthcare, the compassion to help patients cope with illness, and the courage to advocate better patient care are all needed by nurses.
Step 1: Be willing to learn.
There are always new practices and procedures in the healthcare field.You need to have both scientific and personal skills in order to be a nurse.You can learn from anyone and any situation.The nurses who are open to learning new things are more likely to perform well.
Step 2: Get ready for your training.
You can advance your training by learning from your daily work, as well as other ways.Every few years, many states require that registered nurses and licensed practical nurses complete a minimum number of continuing education hours.These hours are not part of a formal degree program, but they will help you stay in touch with new developments in the field.Continuing education hours can be earned through several training programs.Many nurses like their education.Don't wait until the last minute to sign up for opportunities that are popular.You can find information on certification on the American Nurses Credentialing Center's website.There are several free online courses offered by Nurse.com.Check to make sure online courses meet state requirements.There is a catalog of various courses available from the American Nurses Association.You can attend conferences to get hours.NurseCEU has a directory of online courses.There are several CE seminars offered by PESI HealthCare.Cruises, where you can earn contact hours and credits, are offered by some associations.It is important that the cruise will count towards your state's requirements.
Step 3: Do you want to be a nurse?
Some nurses enjoy working on the floor.Others may want to practice more types of nursing.Advanced Practice Nurses can learn to practice in several fields.A Clinical Nurse Educator is a nurse who teaches other nurses in academic settings.If you want to become a CNE with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you will need a master's degree.A degree in nursing is required for some teaching positions.A nurse practitioners degree is a master's degree.NPs are able to diagnose and manage medical conditions.They can order lab services and X-rays.Occupational health, child care, or emergency care are some of the areas they can specialize in.A nurse midwife has a master's degree.Maternal and fetal care includes exams, prescriptions, parenting and patient education, and reproductive health care.Post birth care can be provided by CNMs.A clinical nurse specialist has at least a master's degree.The treatment of chronic diseases, geriatric or psychiatric care, and other areas of clinical practice are some of the areas that the CNSs specialize in.As expert consultants in nurse training, CNSs can diagnose and treat conditions within their area of expertise.A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) has a master's degree and additional certification.They are the primary providers of anesthesia in rural areas.A nurse has a master's degree in computer information systems.An Informatics Nurse does not have a graduate degree.INSs and INs help evaluate and select new technologies to adopt, as well as train others in how to use the technologies.A nurse researcher is doing research.People with a master's degree are more likely to have a PhD in nursing.
Step 4: You can earn an advanced degree.
An Associate Degree in Nursing is required to practice as a nurse.If you want to do Advanced Practice Nursing, you will need a Bachelor Degree or even a Master's Degree.You can get a Doctor of Philosophy or DNP if you want to.You have more career options with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.If you want to become a public health nurse, you can focus on educating communities about health issues or help educate new nurses.If you already have an Associate Degree, you can complete a bachelor's degree in as little as 12 months.A bachelor and master's degree can be earned by RNs with associate degrees.You must have a master's degree in nursing to work as a nurse.If you have a master's degree, you can become a supervising or managing nurse.The degrees that are called Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) are one of the degrees.If you continue to work and attend part-time, your master's degree may take much longer than 2 years.If you plan to keep working as a nurse while you pursue higher education, online degree programs are a good option.These programs can be more expensive than brick-and-mortar programs.The National League for Nursingcredit Acing Commission is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Step 5: You should move between hospitals.
There is a lot of flexibility in nursing.At the beginning of your career, moving between hospitals can help you decide what you want to do.It can help you make a decision on what environment you want to work in.Different hospitals achieve patient safety and satisfaction.In the different hospitals, you will learn different skills and use different products and technologies.This increases your flexibility.
Step 6: Try travel nursing.
Hospitals choose travel nurses to fill nursing shortages.Travel nurses pick assignments all over the world.Travel nursing allows you to work with different patient populations and different types of medical needs in addition to the excitement of living and working in new environments and cultures.You can work in a range of medical settings, from rural clinics to huge teaching hospitals.You can become a better nurse by learning different ways to practice nursing.Most travel nurses have health benefits, housing, and transportation, but you should check with the hospital where you are applying.There is a US job search feature on TravelNursing.com.Asking fellow nurses who have worked as travel nurses can help you find other job listings.
Step 7: It's a good idea to communicate clearly.
In fast-paced environments, nurses have to communicate with their patients.It is important that you communicate effectively.Ask your patients if they need anything.They will know you care for them even if they send you for a million things.It is important that you do not sacrifice showing interest in your patients for efficiency.Say hello to your patient even if you just check an IV bag.Don't run back out the door.For a caring-based profession like nursing, eye contact and body language are very important.When you speak and when you listen, make eye contact.Don't send the wrong message with your body language.Shifting your weight from leg to leg suggests that you are not confident.You should present yourself in a calm and respectful manner.Provide complete information.Sometimes a small detail can be the difference between recovery and re-injury.If you don't tell an oncoming nurse that your patient fell a few hours ago, that nurse will not know to watch the patient so he does not fall again.Remember that what you say is not always what others hear.Ask for feedback if someone looks confused, or reacts in a different way than you expected.It is better to catch miscommunications early than to let them get out of hand.Depending on the situation, you will have to change tactics.If you work in an ER, you'll have to talk to a 6-year-old girl differently than you would an adult man.Approach each patient with respect and kindness.
Step 8: Take some time to explain.
Patients and their families can be frightened in a hospital.They may not know what to expect.Discuss the illness with your patient.The patient should know what to expect from the procedure.Don't use jargon as much as possible.It is unintelligible to the average person.It is better to say "Your arteries were blocked, and this caused you to have a heart attack" when possible.Everyone has different levels of knowledge and ability to comprehend.Ask questions!Asking your patient what they already know about such-and-such is a good way to make sure they understand.If there are errors, correct them without making the patient feel stupid.That is mostly correct.It is important that you only ice your foot for 15 minutes at a time.A patient shouldn't leave your care feeling alone.
Step 9: Be part of a team.
There is no place for egos in nursing.One-upmanship and trying to compare yourself to the other nurses will make you no friends and won't be good for your patients.Being a team player means that your patients will get the best care possible, and everyone's jobs will run more smoothly.It's important to keep the staff happy and the patients cared for.Ask your nurse what your charge needs help with.Ask your coworkers what they need help with.Ask for help if you need it.Don't overextend yourself or neglect your responsibilities.It is more important to be able to help than it is to offer.You have limitations if you're swamped at a particular moment.It is okay to say no.Each person has a part to play in the multi-disciplinary team that nurses work with.Stay in touch with the other people on your team and know what is going on with your patients at each step of the care process.
Step 10: Cultural competency can be developed.
It is important to develop cultural competency because you will likely work with many patients from different cultures.You have an understanding of your biases and values.You recognize and respect cultural traditions other than your own, and you know how to communicate with people with limited English skills.A person from an Asian culture may want to eat only hot food to replace the heat they have lost through illness.If you don't respect your patient's culture and traditions, you will communicate that you are not interested in their well-being.If you are interacting with a person who is unfamiliar to you, ask before you act.Use nonjudgmental open-ended questions, such as "Could you tell me more about _____?"If you make a culturally inappropriate mistake, acknowledge it and apologize.Studying transcultural nursing assessment can help you learn more about cultural competency.You can learn more at www.tcns.org.
Step 11: Be positive.
Patients are scared.They're in a situation that they may not understand, and which may have huge ramifications for their lives.You will be the professional with whom they will have the most contact if you become a nurse.Speak confidently and assertively when asked a question.The patient may feel as though you don't know what you're doing if you hem with a lot of "ums" and "uhs".Being correct and confident.Your answers will help your patients trust you.If your patient asks if it is okay to put her baby on his stomach, don't reply "Um, well, I think it's probably not." Instead, give a clear, research-based answer.SIDS kills many infants every year.Most infants who die of SIDS are usually lying on their sides or stomachs.Tell yourself that you know what to do.It's easy to doubt yourself after a long shift.You can learn what you don't know if you remind yourself that you have the knowledge.
Step 12: Ask for assistance when you need it.
If you are new to nursing, you may be worried that asking for help is a sign that you don't have the expertise to be a good nurse.No one knows everything.It is better to ask when you don't know anything than to make a decision that could hurt your patient.When you need help, be attentive.If you were unfamiliar with the situation, note what your fellow nurses did.You can learn from their experience.Repeatedly asking for help on the same issue suggests that you don't value your fellow nurses' time.
Step 13: Show care.
You will not excel as a nurse if you don't care about the people you are serving.On a daily basis, nurses deal with the sick and injured and their families, and you need to be able to show them that you care about their situation.Showing you care can be done in a variety of ways, but they all involve responsibility, competence, and responsiveness.People believe that you care about them.If you know a young patient who will be afraid to go to the hospital, draw him a picture to make him feel better.Make sure to give your patient a cup of red jello if she prefers green jello.It shows that you care about your patients.If your patient is experiencing increased pain, it's a good idea to contact the doctor in charge of the painkillers.When you check in with your patient, ask how he is feeling.Don't get into a formula with your patients.It's important to personalize your interactions.People who are ill don't want to feel like a part of a giant wheel.
Step 14: Be honest.
Even if you think honesty will upset the patient, be completely honest with them.If your patients discover that you are being dishonest with them, it will destroy their trust in you.Honesty also means following through.Make sure you follow through if you promise to revisit a patient or take a shift for a coworker.It is possible to keep your obligations straight even in busy times with the help of a planner or phone.In nursing ethics are paramount.When you make mistakes, address them.They can be used as learning experiences for the next time.You should tell the truth to your team members and hospital staff.The last thing patients want is to be lied to in the hospital.Only doctors and nurse practitioners can diagnose, so be careful when giving them a diagnosis.
Step 15: It is necessary to develop emotional stability.
The joy of seeing a new baby is followed by the pain of losing a patient who had become a friend.Nurses need emotional stability in order to survive the roller coaster ride of emotions.The nurses who can't control their emotions are more likely to experience low performance.Better patient outcomes can be achieved by nurses who know how to handle stress better.Staying in touch with your feelings is part of emotional stability.Check in with yourself throughout the day.Understand what you are feeling.Think about your emotions and your experiences.Trying to bury your emotional responses will make them explode.It is possible to keep your emotions from controlling you.It is possible to notice what you are feeling and accept it without judgement.It can help relieve stress and anxiety.There are many ways to practice meditation and deep breathing.
Step 16: It's a good idea to practice flexibility.
Although yoga can help with your emotional stability, we're not talking about it here.Being able to adapt to different situations is important for being a good nurse.You need to be able to adapt to circumstances when you work as a nurse.Under stress, people become even more unpredictable.Nurses can handle multiple demands and change quickly.They can see situations from different perspectives.Learning flexibility and adapting to change will build emotional resilience.You are less likely to feel like you need to control everything if you are able to roll with the punches.You will never be able to exercise that kind of control in nursing.
Step 17: Show kindness.
Empathetic is a crucial skill for nurses.You don't have to understand how people are feeling to know that they need someone to care.Listen and ask questions.Sometimes patients need someone to acknowledge their feelings.Judgementalism is the enemy of compassion.Even if the situation seems wrong to you, try to see it from the patient's perspective.If you don't understand why a person would think a certain way, acknowledge the importance of their feelings.
Step 18: Stay calm.
Sometimes nursing can feel frightening.It is important that you stay calm.Managing stress in your life will help you.Take a deep breath and count to ten.You can't help your patient if you're both upset, so remind yourself that you chose this profession.If you work in a labor and delivery unit, you may come across a woman who needs an emergency c-section to protect her baby's health.It is important that you remain calm because this is an important moment for the mother.Explain what is going to happen and why it is necessary.Don't shout or become upset.If your patient doesn't understand, try to clarify your explanation, such as "Nod if you understand."An example for your patient will be set by your cool and collected manner.
Step 19: Practice patience.
There are many situations that try your patience as a nurse.It is important that you remain patient with your patients, even when you are at work for 8 hours and an eighth family member comes and asks you the same question again.Information that you don't know should not be shared.A patient may ask you about the test results that you know.The doctor should talk to the patient about the results.Explain to your patient that you can't give them that information.