CAREER PATHS
Do you frequently ask your friends and coworkers if they are feeling OK? When you travel with friends and family, do you pack Band-aids and snacks for everyone? If someone gets hurt, do you feel an unwavering desire to help him or her? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you care about others. You worry about their well-being and comfort. This is an essential trait for any nurse since the job revolves around helping and caring for others.
Many people get squeamish at the sight of blood, sometimes even if it’s their own. But not you. For you, blood is just part of life and nothing more; in fact, if anything, blood fascinates you. If this sounds like you, then it’s another sign that nursing may be the right career choice. Nurses, especially those who work in emergency rooms or surgical facilities, are exposed to a lot of blood.
You prefer an orderly arrangement in everything, and while others can just let a chore or task go, you must do it to perfection. Whether it’s washing dishes, organizing your nightstand, or preparing an assignment, details are of great importance to you. This is another sign that you could one day make a great nurse. Depending on the specialty, nurses may administer medication, take vitals, and interview patients. Paying close attention to the smallest details can mean life or death in a medical environment, so being detail-oriented is a must-have skill for nurses.
You probably have multiple tabs and files open on your computer at this very moment. While others may like to do one task a time, you get bored if you don’t have 10 things going on at once. Because nurses typically have a number of patients at once and often respond to emergencies, they must be able to multi-task.
Are you always on the go and ready to do more? Nurses often work long or even double shifts. They may be called to work at any time of the day or night. And they must be sharp and alert at all times during their shift to ensure they are providing their patients with the best quality care, so having a lot of energy is extremely important
Are you the type of person who feels at ease around others and find people are often drawn to you? That magnetic personality is yet another sign you would make a great nurse. Taking care of patients is hard work and requires establishing a relationship with them easily and from the start. So, if you are naturally likable, the job is easier for you.
Can you stand on one foot, lift your leg, point your hand in the other direction, and not fall? Just kidding… Another sign that you would make a wonderful nurse is that you are able to achieve balance in your life. Nursing can be a stressful career that requires you to give it your all every day. There is no such thing as slacking off at work when you are a nurse, since you are, quite literally, helping to save lives. But you also need to be able to relax and take time for yourself to avoid burn-out.