What characteristics are important to you?

charlies · Sep 27, 2005

Competency would be my first choice. Is that a characteristic? How about experience? Probably not a characteristic either. O.k. then...attention to detail. I don't want to end up with a jujebee sewn up inside of me. :stone

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 27, 2005

Compassion/empathy. I can't stand those nurses who are so rough with the pts and so cold because they have the technical skills and don't have the social skills.

AndreaDawn · Sep 27, 2005

Compassion/empathy. I can't stand those nurses who are so rough with the pts and so cold because they have the technical skills and don't have the social skills.

Yes - that is so very important!!! Good point! Patients should always feel comfortable.

EMTandNurse2B · Sep 27, 2005

Definately compassion and empathy, but how about some basic common sense also? Nurses who are compassionate as can be, but can't figure out that you're dying can't help you very much. Dedication also, nurses need to be very dedicated to their work, or else they won't continue in the work for very long.

pastRDtofutureRN · Sep 27, 2005

Hi everyone!
I just finished a journal for my Nursing 1000 class. We had to write about what characteristics nurses should possess and which ones were the most important. I focused on compassion and caring as well as the ability to not reflect your personal values and beleifs on patients.
What do you think?
I thought this would make a good forum question!!

A good listener!

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 27, 2005

Competency would be my first choice. Is that a characteristic? How about experience? Probably not a characteristic either. O.k. then...attention to detail. I don't want to end up with a jujebee sewn up inside of me. :stone

I find it interesting that you said competence. Back when I was a doctoral student, I studied under Jean Watson (of caring theory fame) and was a close friend to her student assistant (a fellow doctoral student).

During the course of our studies, both us had serious health problems -- and both of us had assorted problems with incorrect diagnoses, incompetent caregivers, etc. We both concluded that the caring theorists had missed something ... because when we were the patients ...

we both wanted professionals who "cared enough to get it right."

While I value caring and compassion, I'm paying the professional for competence. Without competence, everything else is undermined.

Intelligence, diligence, skill, committment to getting things right, etc. ... this is what I am paying for and expect to receive. I prefer it also come with compassion, sensitivity, empathy, etc. ... but the bottom line is competence. As the J&J advertisement said, "If caring were enough, then anyone could be a nurse." I liked that ad.

llg