What personalities traits are necessary for success and happiness in nursing?

[ixchel]

I'm curious to hear everyone's ideas on this- especially those who have been in it for awhile. What traits have helped you in nursing? What traits do you wish you had, if you sometimes feel yourself lacking the drive to be "in it" anymore?

[ixchel]

I love these answers!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!(and keep throwing some more out there! We noobs need this!)

[Healthy100Churches]

Dedication and the ability to just shake off stress.

Just like anything else in our lives, you often have misconceptions as you go into your nursing career. Misconceptions are the burden, responsibilities, the stress. Even people who anticipate these things will eventually stress and fatigue. Some of the best nurses I've seen just have that extra bit of dedication that seems to push off career fatigue, shake everything off, and keep going.

[BluegrassRN]

What personality traits make one happy in life? Those are the traits that make one happy as a nurse.

I am not easily offended, I have a pretty quirky sense of humor, and I'm on an even keel. I'm fairly well organized, bright and curious enough, and can see the big picture. All of these have led me to be happy and successful as a nurse.

I tend to be an over achiever, and I tend to get frustrated easily with people who do not work as quickly, manage their time as well, or grasp a concept as well as I do. I have little patience with loud, dramatic, overly emotional people, so nurses who cry at work or pts who I feel are over reacting and over emotional cause me to back off. I find such displays distasteful and have quite a bit of distain for such people. These are personality traits I try to recognize and counteract when I feel the instinct arising to, let's say, throttle a coworker who is crying because I'm giving her an admit.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

After 30 years.. in many areas, I strongly believe common sense and humility will get you through any situation.

Too many nurses feel that they are the bomb .

They never realized or have forgotten.. that we are here to TAKE CARE OF SICK PEOPLE!

[MinnieMomRN]

The ability to let things roll off your back, and leave whatever craziness went on during your shift at the time clock when its time to punch out and go home.

[acutemarybeth]

Compassion, compassion,compassion,HUMOR! AND PATIENCE

[acutemarybeth]

Without sick people...we wouldnt have a job

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

intelligence, APATHY- to an extent, organized, realist, able to think a few steps ahead, humor, determination, out spoken - to an extent, perfectionist,

[RNHURT]

Just do your work and go home, avoid politics.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Put your nurse hat on when you get to the door. And most importantly, leave it behind when you close the door behind you. Never mix business with pleasure.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I actually did my graduate thesis on this subject. Research shows that the number one trait is resilience. But research defines resilience in so many ways, including self motivation and flexibility. IMHO, a little OCD thrown in to accomplish all the detail work is icing on the cake!

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Good replies so far, to which I add assertiveness. You need to be able to speak your mind and sometimes make people angry. You have to be able to set limits and not allow yourself to be taken advantage of. As someone who is an introvert and very non-confrontational, this did not come naturally to me, but it is a skill I have developed out of necessity.