Nursing is a highly complex and multidimensional profession.

It
requires technical skill, a scientific knowledge base, interpersonal
skills, communication skills, problem solving and critical thinking skills,
and a strong infusion of caring and compassion. It requires mental,
emotional, and physical strength, along with adaptability and willingness to
embrace the never-ending process of change.
One of the most important core characteristics a nurse should have is the desire
and ability to be a life-long learner. Nursing is a never-ending process of not only
learning nursing skills and medical concepts, but also learning about the complex
situations involving patient care, the health care environment, and ones own role in all of
it. Communication skills, mental toughness while maintaining empathy, caring and
respect during all stages of life, health and illness are all characteristics that should be
present despite personality differences. It is natural that no one person will have all these
characteristics but as an effective nurse it is important to identify ones own weaknesses
and work to improve on these and learn from others who have these attributes.
Nursing is not just a job, it is a passion and a calling. It requires the pursuit of
excellence in technical skills, knowledge of medication, disease process, safety, and
quality improvement of care. The great 21st century nurse communicates effectively and
empathetically with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals and values
teamwork. Nursing as a career can stretch a nurse to the boundaries of stress, exhaustion
and emotional fatigue. An excellent nurse must create balance in personal life, and strive
to take care of his/herself physically, mentally and emotionally.

Some attributes and behaviours should be avoided at all costs in the nursing
profession. First of all, a nurse should never participate in backbiting and gossip about
coworkers or patients. Despite the challenging work environments that may be
encountered, this reaction to difficulty never improves the situation, and only worsens the
work environment and makes it toxic for others, including patients. Nurses should also
avoid being over-confident. Confidence in ones abilities and competence is important,
but nurses should never have an over-inflated sense of confidence and self-worth because
this sets themselves up for careless mistakes, which put other people in danger.
Nurses should not engage in risky personal behaviours that could place the patient
or others at risk. This includes any type of substance abuse, whether by illegal or legal
means. The patient depends on the nurse to be clear minded at all times, and trusts that
no harm will come to him or her due to negligence on the part of the nurse.