9 Habits of Highly Effective Nurses [Infographic]

Sophie Bell-Rhone http://www.neomam.com 3m 810 #nurses

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Effective Nursing Practices

If you are a nurse, you know it is not an easy job and there are no shortcuts, and if you find them, you obviously are not following correct procedures, and this will always catch up to you in the long run. Your shortcuts will eventually be noticed and questioned. Procedures, no matter how tedious they may seem, must be followed in a particular order to be accomplished the correct way. A good nurse knows that she or he must take the time to get the task done.

In nursing, there is rarely a dead-end job, and there is always opportunity to learn more and grow. By reading magazines or journals such as Nursing Times, going back to school and learning more, there are plenty of areas to expand upon, whether you become a travel nurse, an ER or OR nurse, a surgical nurse, a physician’s assistant, an occupational nurse, or any other type of nurse, there is a demand for your services.

A good nurse knows there may be rough times, but cannot always do things alone, and may need to ask for help or advice in order to learn something new or accomplish a task. A highly effective nurse does not just sit around, waiting for things to happen, but adapts to each and every situation and is quick to thinking and knowing what to do in any situation.

When a nurse begins the shift, he or she familiarizes themselves with everything that is happening, who the patients are, and their conditions, to everything that needs to be done, and sets goals that must be accomplished for that day. To a highly effective nurse, there is no downtime because there is always something that needs to be done or can be learned.

Most of all, a good nurse knows how to work with his or her team and effectively communicate what needs to be done, who needs to do it, and ensures there is complete confidence in the entire staff to work with each other. The value of lives is more important to a nurse than anything else and that also means ensuring that the entire team respects each other and is able to work together.

This infographic covers 9 Habits of Highly Effective Nurses:

Infographic provided by Sophie Bell-Rhone of Neomam.com, summary article by Matthew Gates

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9 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NURSES

Whether you’re beginning your studies or starting your first placement, there are certain habits that ensure success.

If you’re a people person, then you’re already half way there, but what are the habits that keep highly effective nurses at the top of their game?

1. AVOID TAKING SHORTCUTS
   • Saving time can be beneficial, but not at the cost of completing tasks correctly.
     • Complete tasks in a structured way, i.e. step by step
     • Always follow correct procedure
2. DON’T RUSH TASKS
   • No matter how frantic the day may seem, rushing only leads to mistakes.
     • Plan ahead — create a mental to do task list
     • Keep a calm head and stick to your plan
3. LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW
   • Whether you’re building new ares of expertise or taking refresher courses for what you already know — a thirst for knowledge is an invaluable trait.
     • Have an open mind towards new practices and techniques
     • Read magazines and journals such as Nursing Times to expand your knowledge
4. MANAGE TIME
   • Being punctual and managing a packed schedule become a second nature to an effective nurse.
     • Break each day into blocks of times — managing tasks in order of importance
     • Always be on time — or early if that’s possible
5. ASK FOR HELP
   • Being a nurse is tough, so if a helping hand is needed, don’t fret over asking for support.
     • Don’t hesitate, just ask
     • Seek out the advice of others who have been in your nursing shoes
6. BE FOCUSED AND PROACTIVE
   • Meeting targets and staying on top of your workload will save you time in the long run
   • Be flexible to adapt to new situations
7. SET GOALS
   • Setting personal goals will offer motivation and encourage good habits.
     • Make realistic goals for each day or week
     • Reward yourself if a goal is met — noting what might be improved next time
8. BE A TEAM PLAYER
   • You can’t do it all on your own, so getting along with your fellow coworkers is vital to doing a job well done.
     • Show respect towards coworkers and patients
     • Help colleagues where possible
9. COMMUNICATE CLEARLY
   • Whether it’s frantic coworkers or distressed patients, effective communication is the best tool at your disposal.
     • Provide relevant information — outlining key points
     • Think before responding to any negativity

Being the best nurse possible is no easy task, but it’s made simpler by following the habits of highly effective nurses.

So set yourself some goals and start rewarding yourself — you’ve earned it.

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