Specialties Critical
Published May 18, 2013
xxfischfacexx
1 Post
Hey guys! im currently a nursing student working through a two year program with plans to continue on to eventually become a NP. I have always been drawn to trauma and was curious to see what you guys think are some qualities/characteristics that make for an excellent trauma nurse.
Anything you guys think would help a lot!
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
88 Articles; 21,250 Posts
Hmm...
Sense of humor
Doesnt take themselves too seriously
Fast
Quick learner
Type A. Personality
Willing to easily adapt to change
Hard worker
NocturneRN
168 Posts
Hey guys! im currently a nursing student working through a two year program with plans to continue on to eventually become a NP. I have always been drawn to trauma and was curious to see what you guys think are some qualities/characteristics that make for an excellent trauma nurse.Anything you guys think would help a lot!
There is no one specific personality type that's suited to trauma nursing. (I know that, because I'm a trauma nurse and my personality is about the opposite of what you'd expect.) But many of my coworkers ARE type A personalities (as someone else here mentioned). You have to have a quick, decisive mind and a very flexible personality, and be able to juggle several pressing concerns at once. You also need to be very team oriented, since major traumas require a lot of teamwork. There's a lot of documentation required for traumas, too, so it's important to be very thorough in assessments and documentation.
It doesn't hurt to have excellent IV skills, too-----it can be rather challenging to get one or more large bore IVs in some of these patients.
Irishlass79
26 Posts
Lots of teamwork
Definitely non-judgmental
Ability to compartmentalize feelings
Ability to work fast and accurate under stress
IV skills is a bonus (many trauma patients have bad veins from IVDA and many need large bore for blood)
Assertive and a presence of authority when needed.
A sense of humor for sure, because of the stress you need this.
Very good documentation skills and critical thinking skills.
Good communications skills with the ability to explain things in different ways (family situations are usually difficult and patients are difficult and at times not to bright)
nursed40
23 Posts
Working in trauma can be stressful at times so sense of humor is a must! Also try not to get to amped up and yell while taking care of your pt because yelling just stresses everyone in the room and doesn't help your team perform better.
systoly
1,756 Posts
go getter
grab the bull by the horn
never asks, "can we do this"
but "how will we do it"
CoachCookieRN
3 Posts
You've got to have the HEART for people, really. In trauma you're going to take care of patients who aren't themselves most of the time. Think of a combination of patients from neuro, psych, LTAC, rehab and nursing home rolled into one. They're either in pain, confused, feeling hopeless, sad or are really just tired emotionally, physically and psychologically. It takes a WHOLE LOT OF GUTS to be working on a Trauma floor. Perhaps, the one thing that REALLY matters is PATIENCE & COMPASSION. Without these, you won't last.
You'll get to take care of "very difficult" patients who are simply people who NEED your help for just about everything. :)