All personal experiences
told by Susan, a retired nurse
For every nurse, there is
a different style of nursing. Some may
be similar, but each is unique in their own way.
Employee
Categories
Large corporations,
including hospitals often categorize employees. It may seem a little impersonal; however it is a way to determine which
job suits which person the best. Companies often have training sessions that involve questionnaires to determine
who works best in a leadership role. This can help determine which nurses may be best suited for department
heads. It can also determine who may be
best suited for pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency, and so on. On occasion, someone may have their mind made
up they want to work in pediatrics, and after taking a personality profile
test, they realize themselves that it would not be a good option. So, in essence, the profile testing is not a
bad thing.
Styles
& Personalities
A nurse does not change
their personality at the door of a hospital. Of course you will be professional at work, however your general
personality will always shine through.
-
A person that has a very calm demeanor and
reacts well in stressful situations may be the ideal candidate to work in the
emergency department. An emergency room
nurse needs to be alert, active, and a quick thinker.They also need to be able to handle emergency
situations, regardless of the seriousness, without basically becoming
un-glued. During the time I worked in
the emergency room, I occasionally worked on a regular floor. There was a nurse that worked that floor that
was without a doubt, one of the best nurses I had worked with. She was excellent with the patients; she had
a way of calming them, and getting cooperation from them when no one else
could. So, when I needed an additional nurse
in the emergency department on a busy Saturday night, I thought of this great
nurse from the 3rd floor. She
was happy to come offer her assistance, I thought things would go great the
remainder of the night. I learned a
lesson that night, and it was all about nursing styles. She was absolutely not cut out to work in the
emergency department. Within 3 hours I
sent her back to her floor, and later when we met, we both agreed, her place
was on a regular floor and not in the E.R. I stand by the fact that she is a great nurse, but she is not cut out
for an emergency room department, and that is an example of nursing
styles.
-
A person that is very soft spoken, patient,
and has that very mellow personality may be perfect for working with geriatric
patients, and generally work well with others as well; however they are
probably not the best choice for the E.R.
When you begin a career in
nursing, or even if you have worked as a nurse for some time, you owe it to
yourself and the patients to basically find your niche. It may be advisable to work as a floating
nurse for a while to work different areas and departments so that you can see
where you fit in best. Give each area at
least 3 working shifts prior to making a determination, that allows for some
time to see what a typical shift is like. As long as a nurse has proper training, and does the job accurately,
there is not necessarily a wrong or right style of nursing.
A survey was done with
patients throughout 6 hospitals to ask what they preferred in their nurse.
-
30% preferred a very kind and sympathetic
nurse that was very hands on in their care
-
20% preferred a nurse that was strictly
business. They wanted a nurse that
provides the needed medication, care, and facts, that was it. No extra visiting, no fluffing of the pillow,
just basically leave them alone.
-
40% said they would prefer a mixture of styles,
business and nurturing.
-
10% gave no preference
Patients have no said in
the nurse they have in the hospital, however for patient’s hospitalized long
term, a familiar nurse may be the best option.
About half of all nurses
that have worked 4 or more years say that it took more than one year to decide
which area they preferred to work in. Be
patient while finding just the right spot to work in. Ask to work as a floater
so you can experience multiple areas before deciding on one permeant spot. Also remember, you don’t have to remain in
that position forever. Each working experience is valuable knowledge and will
ensure you have a successful career.
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