must have qualities for a nurse

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I'm seriously considering nursing school in the near future. I'm just wondering if anyone feels there are any must have qualities for someone in this profession. I'm really a people person. I love to be helpful and love talking to people. I'm compassionate and am seeking a career where it actually makes a difference in someone's day if I show up for work or not. I've always been interested in medicine and how the body works, but was turned off by my mother who is a nurse. (I have some mother issues but that's a whole other story!) I also considered teaching for some time, but something keeps calling me back to nursing.

Also....is it possible to begin my career part time? I feel that being a mom of three, it may be difficult to work full time since my kids are so little. I know nurses hours are flexible but am not sure if I can have any flexibility right out of the gate or if that's something that I'll have to sort of work up to.

Thank you! :)

Michelle

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Hey there!

Here is a great thread about your qualities question: https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/qualities-good-nurse-102284.html

I don't know about the part time question, I'm sure someone will be by shortly and give you insight on that.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

The ability to think on your feet, and good communication skills, both verbal and written. You need to be able to make reasonable decisions based upon solid rationales, and be able to defend your actions.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

a nurse must have a very big bladder, and good kidneys. i don't pee pee but once a shift and nurses with tiny bladders really suffer.

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Specializes in PEDS-HEM/ONC.

There are so many different types of nursing. If you are compassionate and like being around people, nursing would be a good choice. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. Is it something you are just now considering or has it been a thought for some time?

I too have three children. Mine are probably a bit older than yours, but still very much dependent on me. I work three 12's a week and as long as I know I have rides to and from school for them I feel comfortable when I am at work. I love the flexibility of my schedule and only having to work three shifts.

As far as starting out part-time, I think that most new grads begin full time at least for a year or so. You really need the time to hone your skills and become confident in your abilities. I still learn something new everyday. Also, it's going to take some time to get through the schooling. By the time you graduate, your little ones will be a little older and full time may not be an issue.

It's a physical job, and when you get home, you will be tired. Still, raising three kids is probably the hardest job I've ever had. My real work starts when I get home!!

Good luck.

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Patience....lots and lots of patients ;)

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I'm seriously considering nursing school in the near future. I'm just wondering if anyone feels there are any must have qualities for someone in this profession. I'm really a people person. I love to be helpful and love talking to people. I'm compassionate and am seeking a career where it actually makes a difference in someone's day if I show up for work or not. I've always been interested in medicine and how the body works, but was turned off by my mother who is a nurse. (I have some mother issues but that's a whole other story!) I also considered teaching for some time, but something keeps calling me back to nursing.

Also....is it possible to begin my career part time? I feel that being a mom of three, it may be difficult to work full time since my kids are so little. I know nurses hours are flexible but am not sure if I can have any flexibility right out of the gate or if that's something that I'll have to sort of work up to.

Thank you! :)

Michelle

I think yes in order to be a good,safe nursing expert you have to be first off very well organized in your life,clean/hygienic, and competenent/rational thinker and also have emphaty and compassion for people.

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Flexibility! And, thick skin.

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becembrie:

i've been considering it for a couple of years now. as i said my mother is a nurse and...it's a long story but i pretty much excluded the profession bc that's "her" profession. she was never around for me when i was a child and often used her work as an excuse. now that i'm a mother myself and know other adult nurses (and see, as an adult, the kind of person my mother is) i realize it's not the job...it's her. i thought that if i went into nursing i would never see my kids and miss all their important moments just like my mother did. further, when i told my mother i was interested in nursing she tried to push me away from it and told me that i would hate it. i don't know why. that's it in a nutshell.

but i've always been fascinated by medicine...i wanted to be a doctor when i was young but wasn't sure i would be able to balance years and years of med school with motherhood. besides...i think i'd be happier with closer contact with the patients.

i've also been a bit nervous because while i'm quite proficient in english and history, math and chemistry were not my forte. i loved biology, but i struggle a bit in math.

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Specializes in PEDS-HEM/ONC.

Michelle, I think you should go for it. It took me three tries to pass chemistry!!! It just wasn't my thing. I loved anatomy and biology, but just couldn't get my mind around chemistry. Probably because of the math as well. At any rate, you would have plenty of time to be there for all your kid's special events. Thats the great thing about my job at least. I can make my own schedule and then I know I won't miss the special days.:wink2:

Good luck.

Karen

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karen-

thank you so much for your encouraging words! how refreshing. :)

if i may...one more question. i see that your specialty is peds. now, from one mom to another, how are you able to handle seeing children that are so ill day in day out? i'm interested in learning more about ER nursing but am not sure how i would deal with seeing a critically injured baby or child. or, heaven for bid, and abused baby or child. i'm not sure anyone ever has skin thick enough for that! especially having little ones of your own...

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I'll add persistence to qualities needed to become a nurse.

Just getting into nursing school involves jumping through a lot of hoops. Getting prerequisities done, applying, dealing with waiting lists will cause the less committed to give up. An ability to not give up too easily is needed.

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