Individual Strengths
Nowadays, the current healthcare system is rapidly evolving to a new system structured on a vision of health promotion, primary care, and community-based home care, entailing hospitals as still being a core pillar of the healthcare system yet not its primary service. These ongoing changes require a new approach to practice and patient care. Nursing care that is strength-based is what closes the gaps and brings a smooth transformation in a therapeutic and caring way. Individual’s strengths serve as essential components to promote health and facilitate healing.
Being a nurse, I possess few individual strengths that make me the professional I am today and help me get day by day while serving patients in need. One of my personal strengths as a nurse and which I find to be fundamental is great communication skills. It serves as a basic foundation especially when it comes to speaking and listening whether it entails patients, families, or members of collaborative team work. As a nurse, it is important for me to ensure that my patients are clearly understood by everyone and that their wishes are addressed accordingly. Therefore, it is my duty to advocate for my patients and anticipate their needs. Great communication skill is one of the advantages of mine which helps me carry out the function of being a patient’s advocate sufficiently and in a timely matter.
Another strength that I entail as a nurse is emotional stability. Nursing is a stressful job where unstable, unfavorable, and traumatic situations are very common. Therefore, the ability to accept suffering and death without letting it get personal is crucial especially when there are so many patients awaiting and relying on your objective, non-judgmental, accurate performance and assistance. At frequent times, empathy is what becomes a crucial component of delivering an outstanding patient care services.
Empathy and compassion are essential strengths that I have as an individual. I’m able to look at my patients, be sympathetic with their pain and suffering, and provide compassionate and comforting care. When being away from home and everyday life, while in the hospital bed, empathy and compassion is something that helps patients to feel more comfortable and at ease while undergoing hospitalization and thus improving patient care and satisfaction.
Another important strength that I possess as an individual and as a nurse is paying attention to details. This strength is the most crucial at times as it can be lifesaving. A simple mistake, a simple step missed can result in a tragedy. Paying close attention to details plays a huge difference between life and death. As a nurse, it is one’s duty to continuously pay close attention to details when it comes to patient care.
Problem solving skills is another essential strength that I entail as an individual. I am able to think quickly and address problems in a timely matter to avoid an escalation to a bigger issue or adverse outcome in patient care whether it’s physiological, social, or mental in nature. Whether it’s dealing with emergency situation, soothing a patient, handling the family, or dealing with staff, having a good problem solving skills has definitely helped me at work, aimed toward the therapeutic resolution, and avoided escalation of the potential/actual problems. Generally speaking, a respectful individual will be able to avoid escalation of the problem.
I must acknowledge, as a registered professional nurse, being respectful to patients, families, and colleagues serves as a fundamental tool that plays a great importance in my career. As a nurse, I respect people and rules of the societal structures. I am mindful of confidentiality, advocacy, personal preferences, religious and cultural beliefs and traditions. Above all, I respect the wishes of my patients and address such in an understanding, sensitive, and non-judgmental way.
As a nurse, I wear many hats. Being a part of the collaborative team work while taking care of patients is not easy and at times can be very challenging. I must say that I’m proud to be able to remain calm and collected even at times of unfavorable situations such as emergencies and tragedies. I’m able to be a great communicator and emphasize the patients’ needs without getting personal. I am a compassionate, flexible, and patient individual that is able to react quick and efficient in various situations. And regardless of how intense the job may get, I am able to pay close attention to the needs of my patients whether it’s physical, mental, or social in nature, be a patient’s advocate, and address these needs in a sensitive, timely, and nurturing way while respecting individuals’ differences and believes.
