Published Oct 23, 2003
CarolineRn
263 Posts
I am a student working on a project for school.
What skills and qualities in particular would you consider most valuable for a med-surg nurse? Pros and Cons of the area? Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Also, may I have your permission to use your responses and link to your threads?
Thanks in advance!
bellehill, RN
566 Posts
Flexibility.
PamRNC
133 Posts
A med - surg nurse needs a lot of special qualities:
Flexible, Adaptable,
Able to switch gears quickly,
Inquisitive, Adaptable, Flexible,
Need a strong back, Must practice good body mechanics, Resourceful, Observant,
Studious (translate that as studying important things ie. drug books, policy & procedure, journals, etc)
Assertive (do not read as "know it all"),
Organized, Compassionate,
Have a "Jack of all trades" approach,
Open-mindedness,
Foreign language skills a plus (including the dreaded MD heiroglyphics)
A good listener, Patience,
Strong assessment skills (don't worry they come in time),
Courageous, good verbal skills,
the ability to translate medical jargon into understandable and useful (for the patient/family) pieces of information,
gatekeeper, inventive, inquisitive, flexible, adaptable,
Relaxed, Calm, serene (also takes time to achieve),
able to prioritize, and re-prioritize prn,
Fearless (at least in regards to computers, gadjets and numbers),
I know that there are so many more qualities, and its not like you have to have them all, or even develop them in any particular order. Sorry about the rambling - I'm just a wee bit tired.