How to Become a Better Nurse

First thing, always treat the patient as your relative, thus, it would be easier for you to give care for a patient. E.g. you would treat your cousin better than you would treat a complete stranger. As a nurse, it is a must that the patient feels at ease when being cared for by a nurse. If you can’t do this, then you better think again if this profession is right for you. Always remember that a patient is a person.

Next, before providing patient care, make a mental checklist of the correct order of the procedure, if you’re not sure, check for a nurse’s handbook or ask a senior nurse, it’s always better to ask and accept our shortcomings rather than to let the patient suffer for our mistakes.

Below are some of which would make you a better nurse:

• Maintain confidentiality
• Provide privacy
• Always ask the patient if he/she is comfortable
• Observe the Golden Rules in giving medication e.g. Right Patient, Right Dosage, Right Medication…
• Document every procedure done to the patient; remember, as a nurse, what you did not document, you did not do.
• It is your responsibility to be updated in new procedures/equipments regarding patient care. You can always attend a seminar regarding these procedures.
• Never panic in an emergency situation, as long as you know what you’re doing is right, go ahead and do it.
• Always check on a patient, remember that the equipments we use are man-made and there’s always a chance that it will malfunction.
• Always use ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs when making a nursing care plan, as it is a guideline in setting priority for which we provide for the patients needs.
• Always do handwashing before and after a procedure.