Nurses are the backbone of healthcare. While everyone focuses on the fact that doctors heal people, nurses do more work than they get credit for. Nurses are not only in charge of administering medication, but they’re also in charge of keeping patients happy. GW’s MBA in Healthcare Management can allow you to become a part of hospital management and ensure there are amazing nurses on staff to improve patient outcomes. Here are some characteristics of an amazing nurse.

They’re Early

Punctuality is important for every professional. Nurses who arrive early are usually more organized. They have time to get their head together and review the patients that they have for the day. People who arrive right on time or late tend to feel rushed throughout the day. It creates a chaotic atmosphere and people aren’t being the best that they can be. Nurses who are consistently 15 to 20 minutes early tend to be at the top of their game all of the time.

Team Players

Great nurses know that it takes a team to run a hospital and provide excellent patient care. Nurses who display teamwork are the best of the best. Displaying teamwork can mean a variety of different things. Teamwork can be as simple as a nurse who doesn’t have many patients at the moment lending a hand to another overworked nurse. Another sign of teamwork is displaying good manners to other members of the staff. This includes thanking others who help, such as transporters, secretaries, and medical assistants. Nurses know how it feels to be under-appreciated, so they should be showing appreciation to others as well. When appreciation is shown, it boosts morale and enhances teamwork.

Seek Knowledge

The best nurses seek knowledge constantly. Too many professionals begin to become arrogant after a while. They believe that they have learned everything there is to know and they are the best that they can possibly be. A great nurse is a nurse who knows that there is always something to learn. They seek out knowledge and consistently look for ways to advance their career. This can include working in different areas of the hospital or furthering their education with Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s Degree, or even a doctorate to become a nurse practitioner. Growing nursing trends are causing a need for more nurse practitioners, so It is always a great thing when nurses want to further their knowledge.

They Take Care of Themselves

When people are overworked and neglect themselves, they tend to make mistakes. It’s easy for nurses to put themselves on the back burner when they have patients that they need to attend to. People aren’t being the best that they can be if they don’t eat properly, sleep properly, and get some downtime. A hospital should be staffed with nurses who know how to manage their time, which includes making time for themselves. Being hungry and exhausted can cause a nurse to make a simple error that risks a patient’s life.

Loyalty

In a hospital, people die when employees don’t show up. Hospitals are not places that can staff people who are not loyal and dependable. A nurse who has several employers on a resume in a short amount of time isn’t one that would necessarily be a good hire. These are often the type of people who always think the grass is greener on the other side, and they might quit at the drop of a hat.

If you are or want to become a hospital manager, you are responsible for making sure the hospital is staffed with capable nurses. Watch for these signs to ensure you have employed the best of the best.