Different Nursing Styles All personal experiences told by Susan, a retired nurse For every nurse, there is a different style of nursing. Some may be similar, but each is unique in their own way. Employee Categories Large corporations, including hospitals often categorize employees. It may seem a little impersonal; however it is a way to determine which job suits which person the best. Companies often have training sessions that involve questionnaires to determine who works best in a leadership role. This can help determine which nurses may be best suited for department heads. It can also determine who may be best suited for pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency, and so on. On occasion, someone may have their mind made up they want to work in pediatrics, and after taking a personality profile test, they realize themselves that it would not be a good option. So, in essence, the profile testing is not a bad thing. Related: When to Bring in the Parents Styles & Personalities A nurse does not change their personality at the door of a hospital. Of course you will be professional at work, however your general personality will always shine through. -
A person that has a very calm demeanor and reacts well in stressful situations may be the ideal candidate to work in the emergency department. An emergency room nurse needs to be alert, active, and a quick thinker. They also need to be able to handle emergency situations, regardless of the seriousness, without basically becoming un-glued. During the time I worked in the emergency room, I occasionally worked on a regular floor. There was a nurse that worked that floor that was without a doubt, one of the best nurses I had worked with. She was excellent with the patients; she had a way of calming them, and getting cooperation from them when no one else could. So, when I needed an additional nurse in the emergency department on a busy Saturday night, I thought of this great nurse from the 3rd floor. She was happy to come offer her assistance, I thought things would go great the remainder of the night. I learned a lesson that night, and it was all about nursing styles. She was absolutely not cut out to work in the emergency department. Within 3
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hours I sent her back to her floor, and later when we met, we both agreed, her place was on a regular floor and not in the E.R. I stand by the fact that she is a great nurse, but she is not cut out for an emergency room department, and that is an example of nursing styles. A person that is very soft spoken, patient, and has that very mellow personality may be perfect for working with geriatric patients, and generally work well with others as well; however they are probably not the best choice for the E.R.
When you begin a career in nursing, or even if you have worked as a nurse for some time, you owe it to yourself and the patients to basically find your niche. It may be advisable to work as a floating nurse for a while to work different areas and departments so that you can see where you fit in best. Give each area at least 3 working shifts prior to making a determination, that allows for some time to see what a typical shift is like. As long as a nurse has proper training, and does the job accurately, there is not necessarily a wrong or right style of nursing. A survey was done with patients throughout 6 hospitals to ask what they preferred in their nurse. -
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30% preferred a very kind and sympathetic nurse that was very hands on in their care 20% preferred a nurse that was strictly business. They wanted a nurse that provides the needed medication, care, and facts, that was it. No extra visiting, no fluffing of the pillow, just basically leave them alone. 40% said they would prefer a mixture of styles, business and nurturing. 10% gave no preference
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Patients have no said in the nurse they have in the hospital, however for patient’s hospitalized long term, a familiar nurse may be the best option. About half of all nurses that have worked 4 or more years say that it took more than one year to decide which area they preferred to work in. Be patient while finding just the right spot to work in. Ask to work as a floater so you can experience multiple areas before deciding on one permeant spot. Also remember, you don’t have to remain in that position forever. Each working experience is valuable knowledge and will ensure you have a successful career.
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