Nursing is a rewarding career path that allows you to make a real difference in others’ lives. At the same time, however, it is also a lot of hard work. Every day, Registered Nurses (RNs) work diligently to keep patients healthy, treat ailments and injuries, and prevent the spread of disease. They console family members, teach patients about aftercare, and educate up-and-coming nursing staff. This profession is multidimensional and, as a result, requires a lot of skill.

This guide will explore the fundamental nursing skills needed for keeping patients safe and maintaining a successful career. We’ll unpack the basic nursing skills needed to deliver effective care, as well as the versatile skills that can help nurses stand out amongst thousands of other RNs.

Basic nursing knowledge that every RN must have

When launching a nursing career, there are certain topics that RNs must know inside and out. Considered basic nursing knowledge, these subjects are essential for delivering care to patients and, even before that, for passing the RN licensing exam.

The following topics are ones that you will learn in nursing school. Each piece of nursing knowledge plays an important role in evaluating patient symptoms, detecting health conditions, administering timely treatment, and keeping patients both comfortable and safe.

Assessment:

Patient assessment, also called health assessment, is the evaluation of a patient’s physical and emotional symptoms. Nurses must know how to conduct a patient exam, take vital signs, and gather information related to the patient’s condition (such as pain levels, mental state, and more).

Emergency care:

Registered nurses often work in hospital settings and emergency rooms, and therefore must be equipped to respond quickly to urgent and critical medical cases.

Medication administration:

Nurses must have a vast knowledge of medications and pharmacology (i.e., how medications work and interact). Nurses often administer medications, so they must know how to properly dose and dispense these treatments. RNs must also be able to educate patients about the potential side effects.

Mental health:

In modern practices, mental health is just as important as physical health. In order to provide proper, well-rounded care, registered nurses must be well-versed in basic mental health symptoms, conditions, and management. Many patients will experience anxiety simply from going to the doctor, so having a basic knowledge of mental health care can set RNs apart.

Patient safety & infection control:

In medicine, infection control means carrying out protocols and practices that prevent the spread of disease. This might involve strict hygiene procedures, like handwashing, PPE usage, and the sterilizing of medical equipment. Nurses carry out these efforts to keep their patients safe.

Wound care:

Wound care is an essential skill that nurses will use to assess, clean, and dress wounds. This must be done carefully to promote healing, ensure proper blood flow, and prevent infection.

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Essential nursing skills that will help you succeed

Registered nurses often work with patients who are sick, injured, and disabled. As such, every action that RNs take—and every decision that they make—must be done with consideration, principle, and skill.

Below are some of the many nursing skills that are needed to thrive as an RN today.

Soft skills for nurses:

Attention to detail:

Nurses must be detail-oriented, as many of the situations they handle can be a matter of life or death. Nurses must be precise in ensuring that patients are given the correct treatments, in the right dosages, and at the right times. In addition, they must pay attention to seemingly small details (like minor patient symptoms or allergies), and ask questions to ensure nothing is missed.

Communication:

On a daily basis, nurses must communicate with their patients, patients’ family members, and the larger medical team. They must be able to listen to and understand the concerns of their patients—this is essential for evaluating conditions and creating treatment plans. In addition, nurses need to be able to clearly articulate any instructions for patients, such as how to take a medication or change a bandage.

Sometimes, RNs are responsible for training and directing other nursing staff, like Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). This comes on top of their work with physicians, surgeons, and other providers when coordinating treatment plans. For all these reasons, good communication is critical in every corner of the nursing field.

Critical thinking and problem-solving:

Critical thinking and problem-solving are two of the most essential nursing skills. And the reason for this is simple: No day is the same in the life of a nurse. Nurses are constantly encountering new patients, new conditions, and new symptoms. Not to mention, health conditions change all the time. Existing patients may develop different symptoms or react poorly to a treatment or medication. Registered nurses must know how to think on their feet and approach all that comes their way.

Empathy:

Empathy is a truly “soft” skill in that it stems from the heart. Nurses must be able to demonstrate compassion and an understanding of their patients’ situations. Empathy requires nurses to put themselves in their patients’ shoes and understand the feelings of those on the receiving end of care. This skill can set a nurse apart.

Flexibility and adaptability:

As noted above, no day is the same for a registered nurse. As such, nurses must be able to adapt to all that comes their way. There may be last-minute changes to treatment plans or shifts in the schedule. Paperwork may be delayed or accelerated. Patients may have bad days. Physicians may have some surprise requests that can catch an RN off guard. As a nurse, you must know how to juggle, stay flexible, and keep pressing forward.

Love of learning:

Nursing is a field of constant learning. In fact, you will need to complete several hours of continuing education over the years to maintain your RN licensure (requirements vary by state). This is common in the healthcare field, as things are always changing. New technology is coming forth, and new treatments are being established. In order to stay current, you must be committed to learning and developing your career. You can also stay up-to-date simply by asking questions in the workplace.

Teamwork and collaboration:

Nurses do not work in silos—they work on a large medical team full of doctors, APRNs, surgeons, nursing assistants, medical managers, and specialists. They also work closely with other RNs and practical nurses to coordinate patient care. As a result, nurses must be able to work well on a team and collaborate in times of need. This might mean brainstorming on a complex case, resolving conflicts with patients, or being open-minded to new treatment ideas to achieve a common goal.

Time management:

Nurses are responsible for a lot, every day—a lot of patient cases and a lot of diverse job duties. This includes ensuring that patients are tended to regularly, that they receive their medications on time, that machines are rotated throughout the day, and that medical providers are kept up-to-date. With all the juggling involved, good time management skills are essential for success throughout the day.

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Clinical and technical nursing skills:

Patient care:

Patient care is one of the core values of nursing, and truly the heart of the field. In order to provide proper patient care, it is important that RNs are competent in patient assessments and treatment planning. RNs must know how to listen to patients, as well as strategize potential treatments and determine what course of action they need.

Case management:

Case management is related to patient care, but serves on its own as a vital nursing skill. As we’ve discussed, nurses work with a lot of patients on a day-to-day basis. They are constantly creating treatment plans, monitoring patient conditions, and taking action to keep patients healthy and safe. RNs must know how to juggle this all, keeping up with multiple cases at once. In addition, they must serve as advocates for their patients and ensure all their needs are met, which requires constant monitoring of cases.

Critical care and urgent care:

About 60 percent of RNs today work in a hospital setting, while 20 percent work in ambulatory care. While some may have regular patients suffering from chronic conditions, most nurses in these environments have a constant flow of new patients and emergencies. For this reason, RNs should be well-versed in emergency services and be prepared to work in a fast-paced, high-stakes setting. It is also recommended that RNs learn about critical care. Critical care involves working in intensive-care units in hospitals, helping patients with serious, complex, and acute illnesses or injuries that need close monitoring.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR):

All nurses must know cardiopulmonary resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR. This is an emergency, life-saving procedure that is performed when the heart stops beating (for example, when a person drowns). According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival after suffering cardiac arrest. For this reason, all RNs are required to earn CPR training and certification, either during nursing school or as a prerequisite to entry.

Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS):

All nurses must also have some training in life support, both basic and advanced. Basic life support (BLS) is a foundational skill for nurses, and studies have shown that basic life support training can significantly improve a nursing student’s knowledge, practice skills, attitudes, and self-efficacy in the field. Those who know and are certified in advanced life support, specifically ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), will be well-prepared to save patients suffering from cardiac arrest, which, in the United States alone, takes 475,000 lives each year.

Medical equipment operation:

In order to provide the best possible care to patients, registered nurses must be able to use modern medical equipment, such as vital sign monitors, oxygen delivery systems, IV pumps, defibrillators, crash carts, and electronic health records (EHRs). These are just some of the many examples. Medical technology is constantly evolving, and it’s important that nurses keep up.

Other technical nursing skills:

The above nursing skills are just the beginning of a long list of proficiencies that nurses must master. In addition to patient care delivery, case management, and effective communication, nurses must have the nitty-gritty, technical know-how to keep their patients safe. This involves advanced knowledge of topics like:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Neonatal care
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Phlebotomy
• Psychology
• Telemetry
• And more!

Other professional nursing skills:

Patient advocacy:

In addition to providing patient care, nurses advocate for their patients, ensuring their best interests and basic needs are met.

Ethical decision-making:

Making medical decisions isn’t always easy, but nurses should always keep in mind ethics and morality when it comes to complex situations.

Cultural competence:

Nurses work with patients from all backgrounds and all walks of life. Nurses must be sensitive to and understanding of patients’ unique cultural and social needs during their treatment.

Teaching and education:

Registered nurses are often the ones paving the way for the next generation of nurses, showing new nurses the ropes on-the-job, or teaching nursing assistants the skills needed to advance in their careers. RNs can also be found teaching their patients about proper management of symptoms or preventive healthcare.

Leadership:

Nurses who display leadership skills are going to stand out in a sea of nurses. These RNs will help to motivate team members and take initiative on providing the best possible, most comprehensive patient care.

How to develop and grow your nursing skills

Due to all the moving parts within the nursing profession, aspiring RNs need a high level of training and education.

Today, the standard for RNs is to pursue a college degree in nursing (either at the associate or bachelor’s degree level) from an accredited nursing school. An accredited nursing school will prepare students with hands-on, skills-based training and the basic nursing knowledge needed to launch a career. This training will also prepare aspiring nurses to complete their licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN, issued by the state.

An accredited school, approved by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), is an essential stepping stone for nurses. These institutions have met the highest standards for nursing education and will equip you with the vital nursing skills and knowledge needed to succeed. These include:

• The basic, fundamental skills of nursing and care-giving
• How to conduct physical and psychosocial assessments
• How to deliver patient care across the lifespan (from pediatrics to geriatrics)
• Strategies for developing effective treatment plans
• Case management skills and the continuum of wellness
• The legal and ethical standards behind patient care

Become a nurse in Connecticut

Do you have what it takes to become a registered nurse? Do not be intimidated by this checklist of essential nursing skills and knowledge. If you have compassion, empathy, and a desire to help others in need, you are already on the right track! The right nursing school can teach you the rest.

Kickstart your nursing career at Goodwin University, and become a skilled and proficient RN within a few years. Call 800-889-3282 or visit us online to learn more.