Define personal and professional development in Nursing
Nurses strive for positive relationships with patients and coworkers.
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When people hear the word "nurse, " they often think of qualities such as compassion and patience. While these are essential characteristics, nurses must go even farther when striving for professionalism. They also need strong morals and ethics and the commitment to always act in the best interests of their patients.
State of Mind
Attitude plays a crucial role in any job, but in nursing it's key to behaving responsibly and professionally. Nurses must remember that even though their job can be stressful, it's often no match for the anxiety created by being a patient or having a loved one in the hospital. While it's natural for nurses to feel overwhelmed by their jobs, it's important they don't let this affect how they treat patients. If they're dismissive or cranky, the patient will feel disregarded, which could in turn affect his attitude, making him feel hopeless and discouraged. Nurses must strive to approach every patient in a friendly, optimistic and caring manner, setting their personal concerns aside while they're at work.
Interpersonal Relationships
Health care is a team effort, so it's imperative that nurses maintain professional, collaborative relationships with doctors, fellow nurses and other health-care staff. Even if a nurse dislikes a coworker, she must place her patients' health ahead of her feelings and do whatever it takes to work together. If conflict arises, nurses must make an effort to resolve the situation in a way that supports the patient's recovery, even if that means compromising or letting another nurse take the lead. It's also important for nurses to foster positive relationships with their patients. If a patient trusts his nurse and feels that she's taken an interest in his case, he'll be more likely to speak up if he has questions or concerns, or if he's experiencing pain, discomfort or other symptoms.
