What Skills Do You Need To Be a Good Nurse?

Nursing jobs are consistently in demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses (RNs) constitute the largest employment group in the healthcare profession.

Essential nursing skills are required for success in the field. These include both soft skills and hard skills. Adding these to your nursing resume puts you on track for obtaining highly sought-after and rewarding healthcare roles.

The following describes the crucial skillset needed to be a good nurse and provide high-quality nursing care to achieve positive patient outcomes.

10 Essential Skills Nurses Should Have

Learn about the top ten skills every nurse should have to excel in the nursing profession.

1. Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking skills are necessary for nurses to identify and understand a patient's problems and issues and how to address them adequately. This leads to effective diagnoses and decision-making in implementing the right patient care.

2. Patient Safety Skills

Patient safety skills are important for adhering to specific protocols to minimize and avoid potential harm while delivering patient care. It can include ensuring the accuracy of treatment plans and safe medication administration.

3. Clinical Skills

Healthcare professionals must develop and apply the necessary clinical skills required in medical settings. Nurses need to know how to use their medical knowledge to assess and diagnose patients and provide the appropriate clinical care plans.

4. Technical Skills

Nurses need the adaptability to work with different technologies, which can vary between facilities. This can involve maintaining electronic health records of a patient's condition and working with medical equipment to monitor vital signs, where excellent technical skills are mandatory.

5. Communication Skills

Effective communication skills are critical for nurses to have in determining the well-being of their patients. This includes interpersonal skills that help nurses clearly communicate in both verbal and written form to ensure the accuracy of a patient's needs and necessary treatment.

6. Problem-Solving Skills

Nurses must possess problem-solving skills to make well-informed decisions that impact a patient's health. They need to effectively assess and interpret patients' problems to decide the best course of action and implement solutions to help resolve them.

7. Teamwork Skills

Teamwork is an important skill for a nurse to have. In various work environments, nurses collaborate not just with patients but also with a healthcare team. Administering the proper care can require many team members, and nurses need the ability to do so successfully.

8. Leadership Skills

Nurses should have leadership skills that allow them to demonstrate compassion and empathy and lead others toward productive patient-care solutions. These leadership qualities help them understand, assist, and effectively communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals.

9. Time Management Skills

Being adept at time management is crucial for nurses. Prioritizing the most urgent tasks in addressing patient needs and also in providing their self-care will aid in their success in remaining productive and avoiding burnout.

10. Basic Life Support Skills

Every nurse must receive training in basic life support (BLS) skills. This includes acquiring the skills and knowledge to provide patient care involving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using automated external defibrillators (AED).

What Degree Do You Need To Become a Nurse?

An associate degree in nursing (ADN) is the minimum requirement for becoming a registered nurse. Many RNs choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to qualify for better jobs and higher-paying roles.

Suppose you are interested in pursuing a nursing career as a nurse practitioner. In that case, you must complete graduate-level education, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Prospective nursing students have the option to choose from a variety of nursing programs offered by accredited institutions, many of which are accessible through flexible online learning.

Examples of colleges offering online nursing degrees include:

• Southern New Hampshire University
• Western Governors University
• Purdue Global
• Grand Canyon University
• Capella University
• Liberty University
• University of Phoenix
• Maryville University
• Arizona State University
• Walden University

You only need to complete a certification program to get a nursing job as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN). These nursing programs are also available through distance education for the convenience of adult learners.

How To Become a Nurse

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for registered nurses is excellent. They encompass the biggest employed group in healthcare, and their growth rate is expected to be better than the average of all occupations until 2032, with a projection of 193,100 job openings each year.

Now is a great time to be a nurse, and the steps to becoming one include the following:

• determining the type of nursing profession and the required education to pursue
• going to an accredited nursing school to gain the right competencies in patient care
• passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and earning state licensing
• obtaining a nursing job and maintaining the necessary qualifications

Performing these actions will put you on the right path toward being a nurse and lead to a fulfilling nursing career.