There is more to nursing than the skills

As an instructor at two different nursing schools in the area, I am around a lot of nursing students. I have noticed that a lot of the students get caught up in the skills of nursing. I think that students believe that a good nurse is just being good at the sum of the skills. I am here to tell you that is not true. There is so much involved in being a good nurse.

Yes, the skills are part of it.  The skills will make you a good nurse, but if you master the art, you will be a great nurse that is highly sought after in your field. You can study your heart out and know as much as you can about the skills, but if you don’t have the art, you will never be a great nurse.

So now you ask, what is the art of nursing? There is a lot that contributes to the art of nursing, the following are just examples. Listening to your patient and never seeming rushed (even if you are). Explaining what you are giving to your patient or what you are doing to them. Treating them with dignity and respect while you are caring for them. Being there for your patient, letting them know you are not gonna be one of those nurses that never check in on them. Giving your patient a voice in their care, not making it all about you and what you need to get done, but letting them choose if and when they can.

There are what I call the “task oriented” nurse and then there is the “goal oriented” nurse. The task oriented nurse does the required tasks of the day without much thought or care. They strive to be done with their duties early and sit at the nursing station the rest of their shift. They rely heavily on their partnering CNA’s and aren’t team players. They are the lazy ones. The goal oriented nurses check in on their patients frequently, talk with their patients, work as a team player with the other staff. They realize they are going to be on the floor for a certain period of time and do their job accordingly. They get their required tasks done as well, but usually are done better (and with less mistakes) as they were not done in a rush.

Of course we all have our “task oriented” days, but for the goal oriented nurse, those tend to be the exception. So, to all the nursing students out there, please realize that the skills will come in time, but the art is what you will never get if you don’t practice it now and make it a habit, before it is lost to the tasks. There are too many nurses out there, set yourself apart and be a great nurse. Be the one your patients remember and request…