You likely decided to become a registered nurse because you were called to help others. And while education, training, and experience may prepare you well to do so, nursing is nothing if not a lifelong learning process—of new procedures, fresh medical advancements, and adapting your nursing skills to meet and exceed changing patient needs.¹

The question then becomes, how can you continually fine-tune and elevate your approach to patient care, all while ensuring that your own needs are met?

Here’s how to be a better nurse, no matter where you are in your career.

Nursing Programs

#1. Enhance Your Communication Skills

Strong verbal and written skills are two cornerstones of professional nursing care.² Day in and day out, you may have to interact with dozens of people (and their personalities and differences), such as:

• Patients
• A patient’s loved ones
• Your fellow nursing professionals
• Medical professionals

To this end, you may want to make a point to practice active listening, particularly when it comes to a patient’s concerns and a physician’s explanation of your patient’s treatment plans.

It is just as important to value and respect cultural differences and listen not only with your ears but also your eyes: Nonverbal cues, like body language and facial expressions, may provide more insights than words.

#2. Refine Your Attention to Detail

A recent study found that nearly 50% of nurses made mistakes on their own.³ Another 72.3% of registered nurses witnessed another healthcare professional make an error. It is hardly a secret that the consequences of healthcare mistakes can be severe and far-reaching: Patients may suffer, while those who inadvertently errored might suffer psychologically.

In other words, paying close attention to even seemingly minor details is crucial. This might call for:

• Speaking with your nurse manager about reducing your caseload, especially if you feel pulled in too many directions to provide safe, quality care
• Brushing up on your time management skills
• Upleveling your self-care practices as registered nurses may be more prone to errors if they areoverly stressed, fatigued, or burnt out

#3. Devote Yourself to Patient Advocacy

Patient advocacy is a hallmark of good nursing care. After all, your patients may be vulnerable, exhausted, and confused—to say nothing of the pain they may be experiencing. Learning their preferences, expectations, and concerns and clearly communicating these with your healthcare team can help ensure their sense of security and overall satisfaction.

Lifelong learning in nursing is also essential for maintaining advocacy, as staying current on new studies and research strengthens your ability to serve as an informed and proactive advocate for your patients.

#4. Find a Nursing Mentor

Whether you are halfway through your nursing career or just starting out, working with a nursing mentor may naturally show you how to be a better nurse.⁴ The American Nurses Association (ANA) claims that engaging in a mentorship may help nurses:

• Gain key insights into a nursing program, medical field, or a nursing specialty
• Expand their professional network
• Hone their critical thinking, clinical judgement, and problem-solving skills
• Discover new opportunities for career advancement

So, how do you go about doing so?

Search for a senior nurse who displays the qualities you value, such as integrity, patience, and warmth. You can also ask another experienced nurse for recommendations, or reach out to a professor you admired during nursing school.

#5. Pursue Continuing Education

Sure, continuing education is required to maintain your licensure. But there are dozens of ways to persistently broaden your knowledge outside of typical CE courses. This might involve:⁵

• Attending workshops, seminars, and conferences
• Listening to educational podcasts
• Completing online courses
• Reading professional literature, such as nursing job journals, clinical studies, and textbooks
• Watching webinars
• Joining a nursing association
• Working as a nurse preceptor

Knowledge is one of the keys to career advancement, and nurses who stay on top of the latest research and technologies may be better able to care for their patients.

#6. Practice Self-Care

Effective nursing starts with you. And if you are overwhelmed—or showing signs of burnout or compassion fatigue in nursing—you may not be able to provide the highest level of care to your patients.⁶

It may be cliched to say “put on your oxygen mask first.” And yet, self-care is especially fundamental for nurses, who may place others’ needs ahead of their own.

With this in mind:

• Commit to the four pillars of wellness: sound nutrition, adequate exercise, restorative sleep, and smart stress-coping mechanisms.
• Dedicate time to doing what you love, whether that’s attending a dance class, dining with your best friend, or decompressing with your favorite show.
• Embrace mindful activities, such as yoga and meditation
• Treat yourself to something special, like a massage, a pedicure, or a mini-vacation

Together, these practices might give you the nourishment you need to approach patient care refreshed, revitalized—and ready to address whatever might come your way.

Enhance Your Skills at Alliant International University

How to be a great nurse begins with the very question you asked. Continually seeking out ways to improve your skill set, consistently learning, prioritizing patient advocacy, mastering communication, and, first and foremost, taking care of yourself can all help you offer optimal care.

Alliant International University can help you become a nurse. Whether you are interested in pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing or a master of science in nursing, nurse executive, Alliant International University is just as committed to preparing future nurses for success.

Find the confidence and skills you need at Alliant International University.

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Sources: 

1. Mlambo, Mandlenkosi, Charlotte Silen, and Cormac McGrath. “Lifelong Learning and Nurses’ Continuing Professional Development, a Metasynthesis of the Literature - BMC Nursing.” BioMed Central, April 14, 2021. https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-021-00579-2. Accessed October 30, 2024.
2. "What Are the Qualities of a Good Nurse?” ANA, February 9, 2024. https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/becoming-a-nurse/qua…. Accessed October 30, 2024.
3.  Pappa, Despoina, Ioannis Koutelekos, Eleni Evangelou, Evangelos Dousis, Polyxeni Mangoulia, Georgia Gerogianni, Afroditi Zartaloudi, et al. “Investigation of Nurses’ Wellbeing towards Errors in Clinical Practice-the Role of Resilience.” Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), October 18, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10608256/. Accessed October 30, 2024.
4. “Mentorship in Nursing: Benefits & Why It’s Essential.” ANA, February 14, 2024. https://nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/nursing-resources/benefi…. Accessed October 29, 2024.
5. Health, Hirely. “Expanding Horizons: Five Ways Nurses Can Enhance Their Nursing Knowledge.” Hirely Health Blog – Keep up to date with the latest industry insights, December 4, 2023. https://blog.gethirely.com/expanding-horizons-five-ways-nurses-can-enha…. Accessed October 30, 2024. 
6. “Self-Care for Nurses.” NurseJournal.org. https://nursejournal.org/resources/self-care-for-nurses/. Accessed October 29, 2024.