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Those who choose to become nurses embark on a career path that is one of the most fulfilling. You have the chance to change lives every day and contribute to their health and well-being. It takes a special type of person to be a nurse, with the perfect balance of compassion and objectiveness to ensure optimal care. Clinical knowledge is of massive importance in your nursing career, though equally important is your skills and tendencies. As a nurse, here are the most important skills you can possess.

First and foremost, as a nurse, you must be compassionate. You will be dealing with patients in crisis who are experiencing both emotional and physical pain. That’s not to mention the families who experience stress and anxiety as well. During your education, you will learn some tactics about how nurses can help reduce patient anxiety and make their patients and families feel more at ease. Your empathy for every patient's situation will help you become a better and more trusted nurse.

Communication is a critical factor in developing a good relationship with your patients. Nurses are typically the first people that patients encounter, and many could be having an emergency. Regardless, having effective communication skills means that you will ask the right questions, listen thoroughly to the answers, and accurately diagnose the problem. While the doctor will give a formal diagnosis, the nurse may need to act quickly depending on the situation. Therefore, being able to communicate with patients, other nurses, and the doctor is imperative.

Beyond just verbal communication, written communication is equally as important. You'll likely need to record information about the patient, and it needs to be 100% accurate. One error, such as an inaccurate measurement for medication, could lead to huge problems.

Each patient that you meet as a nurse has a problem. If they didn't, they wouldn't be there to see you. Whether you work in an ICU or clinical setting, you need to be a good problem-solver. You must use your training to assess the situation and determine the best course of action quickly, as time is of the essence. The more knowledge and training you've had, coupled with experience, will allow you to develop your problem-solving skills. It's essential that you take your education seriously and also work to remain calm under pressure enabling you to think clearly and solve problems effectively.

As a nurse, you will need to be in a million places at once. There is always something to do and you'll never be sitting still. With a long list of tasks to do on your shift, time management is essential to your success and your sanity. The better you can manage your time, the less stressed out you will be. Specific tasks, such as emergency patient care, will always take priority over paperwork, but you need to be adaptable. Prioritize your day in a way that is organized but be open to that schedule changing on the fly if something else comes up. Effectively managing your time will help your day go smoothly and make it more enjoyable.