Nurses are healthcare professionals who provide compassionate care to patients in a variety of settings, from hospitals to clinics to patients' homes. They work as part of a healthcare team to help patients manage their illnesses or injuries and promote their overall health and well-being. Nurses are highly trained and dedicated individuals who play a critical role in the healthcare system.
Monday 1 May 2023
NURSES: EXPLORING QUALITIES AND FUNCTIONS
DEFINITION OF NURSE
·A nurse is a healthcare professional who provides medical care and support to patients in various healthcare settings.
·The word "nurse" originates from the Latin word "nutrix," which means to nourish.
·Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, described the nurse's role as one that puts the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon them.
·A professional nurse has completed a basic nursing education program and is licensed to practice nursing in their country of practice.
QUALITIES OF NURSE
Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, and possessing certain qualities can make them exceptional at their job. These qualities include-
1.Communication Skills: Communication is a crucial part of nursing as it is essential to effectively communicate with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals. Nurses must be able to explain complex medical procedures, conditions, and treatment options in a clear and concise manner. Great nurses also listen actively to patients, ask relevant questions, and convey empathy. Nurses who can communicate effectively can build trust and rapport with patients, leading to better patient outcomes.
2.Emotional Stability: Nursing can be a highly stressful job that requires nurses to witness patients in pain or suffering. A great nurse is emotionally stable and can manage the stress of the job without becoming overwhelmed. They maintain a positive attitude, stay calm under pressure, and are resilient in the face of adversity. Nurses who are emotionally stable can remain focused on patient care, even in difficult situations.
3.Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Great nurses have empathy for their patients and can provide comfort and support during difficult times. They show compassion and respect for their patients and help them navigate the healthcare system. Nurses who are empathetic can help ease patient anxiety and improve patient outcomes.
4.Flexibility: Nursing can be a demanding job that requires nurses to work long hours, nights, weekends, and holidays. Great nurses are flexible and can adapt to changing circumstances. They are willing to take on new responsibilities and work in different areas of the hospital. Nurses who are flexible can handle unexpected situations and provide high-quality patient care.
5.Attention to Detail: In nursing, even small mistakes can have significant consequences. Great nurses pay close attention to detail, follow protocols, and double-check their work. They ensure that they have accurate patient information, follow medication dosages and schedules, and maintain sterile conditions. Nurses who are attentive to detail can prevent medical errors and ensure patient safety.
6.Interpersonal Skills: Nurses work with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals daily. Great nurses have excellent interpersonal skills, are team players, and work well in a variety of situations. They listen to the concerns of others, express themselves clearly, and collaborate effectively. Nurses who have strong interpersonal skills can build strong relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
7.Physical Endurance: Nursing is a physically demanding job that requires nurses to be on their feet for long hours, lift heavy objects or people, and perform various tasks that can be tiring. Great nurses maintain their physical endurance through a healthy lifestyle outside of work and can keep up their energy levels throughout their shifts. Nurses who are physically fit can provide quality patient care, even during long shifts.
8.Problem Solving Skills: Nurses are often faced with complex medical problems that require quick thinking and problem-solving skills. Great nurses can assess situations, gather information, and make decisions that are in the best interest of their patients. They anticipate problems, troubleshoot issues, and have excellent critical thinking skills. Nurses who can solve problems quickly and efficiently can prevent complications and improve patient outcomes.
9.Quick Response: Nurses must be ready to respond quickly in emergency situations. Great nurses can stay calm under pressure and respond promptly to patients in distress. They have the necessary skills and training to handle emergencies and are prepared for unexpected situations. Nurses who can respond quickly can save lives and prevent serious complications.
10.Respect: Nurses must treat all patients, families, and colleagues with respect. Great nurses are respectful, impartial, and follow confidentiality requirements. They are culturally sensitive and mindful of different traditions. Nurses who respect others can build trust and rapport with patients and colleagues and provide high-quality patient care.
Lastly, here is a mnemonic for remembering the qualities of a great nurse: NURSE.
N - Noble/Nurturing
U - Understanding/Usefulness
R - Reliable/Respectfulness
S - Selfless/Smart
E - Empathy/Efficiency
In conclusion, a great nurse possesses a range of essential qualities, including strong communication and interpersonal skills, emotional stability, empathy, attention to detail, physical endurance, problem-solving abilities, quick response, and respect for patients and colleagues. A nurse's job is both challenging and rewarding, and these qualities are crucial for delivering high-quality patient care and making a positive difference in people's lives.
ROLE & FUNCTIONS OF NURSE
Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, with a range of responsibilities that extend beyond just patient care. Their role and functions are as follows-
1.Caregiver: As a caregiver, nurses assist clients physically and emotionally while preserving their dignity. This role includes assessing the client's physical, psychosocial, developmental, cultural, and spiritual needs.
2.Communicator: Communication is an essential part of nursing. Nurses communicate with clients, their families, other healthcare professionals, and people in the community. Effective communication is critical to ensure quality nursing care.
3.Teacher: Nurses help clients learn about their health and the healthcare procedures they need to perform to restore or maintain their health. As a teacher, the nurse assesses the client's learning needs, sets specific learning goals, enacts teaching strategies, and measures learning outcomes.
4.Client advocate: Nurses act as advocates for their clients by representing their needs and wishes to other healthcare professionals. They also help clients exercise their rights and speak up for themselves.
5.Clinical and ethical decision maker: Nurses use critical thinking skills to make decisions in collaboration with clients and family members. They collaborate and consult with other healthcare team members to make the best decisions for their clients.
6.Counsellor: Nurses provide emotional, intellectual, and psychological support to help clients recognize and cope with stressful psychological or social problems, develop improved interpersonal relationships, and promote personal growth.
7.Change agent: Nurses help clients make modifications in their own behaviour to improve their health. They also often act to make changes in a system such as clinical care, if it is not helping a client return to health.
8.Leader: Nurses can lead individuals, families, groups of clients, colleagues, or the community to work together to accomplish a specific goal. Effective leadership requires an understanding of the needs and goals that motivate people, knowledge to apply leadership skills, and interpersonal skills to influence others.
9.Manager: Nurses manage the nursing care of individuals, families, and communities. The nurse-manager also delegates nursing activities to ancillary workers and other nurses and supervises and evaluates their performance.
10.Research consumer: Nurses use research to improve client care by identifying researchable problems and being a discriminating consumer of research findings.
11.Expanded role of the nurse - Clinical Specialist: A nurse who has completed a master's degree in a specialty and has considerable clinical expertise in that area. They provide expert care to individuals, participate in educating healthcare professionals and ancillary staff, act as a clinical consultant, and participate in research.
12.Expanded role of the nurse - Practitioner: A nurse who has completed a certificate program or a master's degree in a specialty and is also certified by the appropriate specialty organization. They are skilled at making nursing assessments, performing physical exams, counseling, teaching, and treating minor and self-limiting illnesses.
13.Expanded role of the nurse - Midwife and Nurse Anaesthetist: Nurses who have completed specialized training in midwifery and anesthesia, respectively. Midwives provide prenatal and postnatal care and deliver babies to women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Nurse Anaesthetists carry out pre-operative assessments of clients.
14.Expanded role of the nurse - Educator, Entrepreneur, and Administrator: Nurses can function as educators, teaching theoretical knowledge and clinical skills. They can also manage health-related businesses or function at various levels of management in healthcare settings.
15.Expanded role of the nurse - Researcher: Nurse researchers are scientists who study various aspects of health, illness, and healthcare. They identify research questions, design and conduct scientific studies, collect and analyse data, and report their findings. Their work helps improve patient care and medical professionals' work environments.
In conclusion, the role and functions of a nurse are essential in providing comprehensive care to individuals, families, and communities. With their diverse roles, nurses promote health, prevent illness, and provide therapeutic care. They play a crucial role in achieving optimal health outcomes for patients and are an integral part of the healthcare team.
CONCLUSION
Nurses play a crucial role in providing high-quality patient care. Their qualities such as compassion, communication skills, critical thinking, and adaptability make them invaluable members of the healthcare team. Nurses have multifaceted functions as caregivers, communicators, teachers, advocates, decision makers, counsellors, change agents, leaders, managers, research consumers, and specialized practitioners. Through their expertise, dedication, and commitment to patient-centred care, nurses make a significant impact on improving patient outcomes and the healthcare system as a whole.