Nr 207

13 Qualities of a Good Nurse: Leadership & Personality Characteristics

Caring. ... 1. Integrity. Every day, nurses make critical

Communication Skills. ... decisions that impact the lives of others. ...
Empathy. ... 2. Empathy. It's a nurse's job to guide patients
through incredibly stressful situations. ...
Attention to Detail. ...
3. Communication. ...
Problem Solving Skills. ...
4. Confidence. ...
Stamina. ...
5. Endurance. ...
Sense of Humor. ...
6. Kindheartedness. ...
Commitment to Patient Advocacy.
7. Great memory. ...
8. Emotional stability.

10 Qualities of the Best Nurses

It takes a very special person to be a great nurse; not everyone can handle the pressure and
demands that come with this critical role. But for those who choose to pursue nursing, it can
be an incredibly rewarding career. If you’re considering a career in nursing, see if you have the
top 10 traits that the best nurses have.
1. Integrity
Every day, nurses make critical decisions that impact the lives of others. They deal with
sensitive information, make recommendations about treatment plans, and are responsible for
helping people live their healthiest lives. The role comes with a lot of responsibility, which
means nurses must act with the utmost integrity. The best nurses are honest, have a strong moral
compass, and always do what’s right – even when it’s not the easiest path.
2. Empathy
It’s a nurse’s job to guide patients through incredibly stressful situations. While doctors are no
doubt critical players, they’re often more pressed for time and only spend a few minutes with
patients. On the other hand, nurses are much more present; they’re the heart of the patient
experience, and their emotional support is vital in a patient feeling cared for. The best nurses are
able to empathize with a patient to fine-tune their approach and tone to meet the patient’s needs;
they can relate to their patients’ experiences, even if they’re not going through it, and practice
compassion, patience and warmth.
3. Communication
Nurses work in coordination with many other care providers – other nurses, doctors, medical
technicians, administrative professionals and more. It’s critical that a nurse is able to
communicate effectively as a member of that team, relaying patient information from one person
to the next in both verbal and written communication. This skill also helps in her interactions
with clients; a quality nurse can communicate with clarity and compassion when working with
patients, especially when delivering bad news.
4. Confidence
A nurse is a leader, no matter her ranking within a medical organization. Specifically, she is a
leader in her interactions with patients. Patients look to nurses for both medical guidance and
emotional support. The best nurses appear in control of the situation at all times, calm, and
assured that the care being administered is what’s best for the patient. This confidence is
infectious, empowering the patient to feel confident about their own health and experience.
5. Endurance
Nurses often work long hours and late nights in high-stress, high-pressure environments. While
the job can be exhausting at times, there’s little room for error when a patient’s health is on the
line. Great nurses have the stamina to administer quality care consistently, regardless of whether
they’ve already been working for 10 hours in a single day.
6. Kindheartedness
A nurse must be simultaneously strong and tender; she needs to exude confidence and strength,
but is also dealing with people who, in some instances, are suffering from debilitating health
issues. In every patient interaction, it’s important for nurses to practice kindness and
compassion, even (and perhaps especially) during high-stress, high-intensity moments.
7. Great memory
While this trait might not seem as important, a nurse’s ability to remember information can be
the difference between life and death for patients. While in the throes of a hectic shift, dealing
with multiple patients at the same time, a nurse must remember the intricacies of each patient to
ensure she administers the proper care to each person. This ability to retain information in the
short-term ensures she doesn’t make mistakes that could harm a patient. Long-term memory is
also a great asset to the best nurses; those who see the same patients throughout their lives can
build lasting, meaningful relationships by remembering each person and their medical history.
8. Emotional stability
A nurse’s day can be filled with ups and downs. Depending on the work environment, she may
be faced with experiences that cause extreme joy, sadness and heartbreak, all in a single shift.
Through it all, she must be able to maintain a level of emotional stability that allows her to
administer quality care.
9. Respect for others
Nurses don’t always get to choose the patients they work with, which can mean they often
interact with people who are very different from them. They also work closely with people who
are experiencing emotional and physical trauma, and may not be in the frame of mind to act with
consideration for others. No matter who she’s working with, a great nurse upholds her own
moral character and shows all her patients respect. She’s able to remain impartial and deliver the
best care at all times.
10. Organization
Nurses are responsible for documenting very important medical information during and after
patient interactions. The best nurses are very organized; they are able to keep track of
medications, record important data and retain information easily. This skill helps a great nurse
do her job more effectively and allows her to stay focused on patients, not remembering where
she left her stethoscope.
If this list of qualities resonates with you, a career in nursing might be in your future. As you
explore this career path, consider the American Institute of Alternative Medicine’s School of
Nursing. AIAM’s unique approach to education emphasizes small classroom sizes, meaningful
relationships between students and professors, and a focus on holistic treatments. Learn more
today as you explore whether nursing is right for you.