While your clinical experience and range of technical skills are certainly make you a great nurse, your ability to help your patients stay happy and positive throughout their appointment, illness or condition are also indicative of your nursing proficiency. According to NursingTimes.net, a US study published in the journal Critical Care Nursing discovered that patients felt nurses who were kind and caring were the most skilled.
“Patients described nurses who were friendly, caring, compassionate, kind, and good listeners as nurses who were very skilled," the study authors explained. "A good bedside manner’ was how one patient described the skills and qualities of his ideal nurse, adding ‘interested in me also as a person'."
Therefore, perhaps the best way to earn your patients' trust and faith in your nursing capability is to be friendly, making them smile as often as possible. Consider these five tips for keeping your patients happy and smiling throughout your entire shift.
1. Be caring - Patients want to feel like you care about them. Think of them not just as another sick or hurt person you have to check on, but someone you've gotten to know and someone you can be empathetic toward. Compassion is one of the most essential characteristics of any great nurse, and if you can make this evident to your patient, they will certainly be more likely to smile on your watch.
2. Share an experience - Offer comfort to your patients by sharing your own experiences with them. Tell them about a time your child was suffering from the same thing or how you used to have a similar condition. Your patients and their families will appreciate you trying to relate to them.
3. Tell a joke - Sure, you're no comedian, but you'd be surprised by what a difference a silly joke can make to lift a patient's spirit. Try this one on your youngest patients, "What two keys can't open any doors? - a donkey, and a monkey!"
4. Listen to their story - Make sure you are being a good listener to each and every patient. While you might be working a long or hectic shift, showing them how much you care by listening to what they have to say and addressing their concerns in a sure-fire way to keep them smiling.
5. Maintain a positive attitude - Finally, maintain a positive attitude no matter what. The best way to cheer up others is to be cheery yourself!
“Patients described nurses who were friendly, caring, compassionate, kind, and good listeners as nurses who were very skilled," the study authors explained. "A good bedside manner’ was how one patient described the skills and qualities of his ideal nurse, adding ‘interested in me also as a person'."
Therefore, perhaps the best way to earn your patients' trust and faith in your nursing capability is to be friendly, making them smile as often as possible. Consider these five tips for keeping your patients happy and smiling throughout your entire shift.
1. Be caring - Patients want to feel like you care about them. Think of them not just as another sick or hurt person you have to check on, but someone you've gotten to know and someone you can be empathetic toward. Compassion is one of the most essential characteristics of any great nurse, and if you can make this evident to your patient, they will certainly be more likely to smile on your watch.
2. Share an experience - Offer comfort to your patients by sharing your own experiences with them. Tell them about a time your child was suffering from the same thing or how you used to have a similar condition. Your patients and their families will appreciate you trying to relate to them.
3. Tell a joke - Sure, you're no comedian, but you'd be surprised by what a difference a silly joke can make to lift a patient's spirit. Try this one on your youngest patients, "What two keys can't open any doors? - a donkey, and a monkey!"
4. Listen to their story - Make sure you are being a good listener to each and every patient. While you might be working a long or hectic shift, showing them how much you care by listening to what they have to say and addressing their concerns in a sure-fire way to keep them smiling.
5. Maintain a positive attitude - Finally, maintain a positive attitude no matter what. The best way to cheer up others is to be cheery yourself!
