Becoming a nurse is huge decision and now that you have made it, there are ways that you can prepare yourself for this rewarding but challenging career.
Personal Character
Your personal character is important to know before becoming a nurse. You have to be able to work well with people and be very patient. This is a career that can be very stressful, so being able to handle work under pressure and make quick decisions is a necessity. Since this profession requires you to work a lot with other people, there will be many different personality traits that you will interact with. You need to be able to work together with people who have personalities that might clash with your own. Especially in emergency situations people may talk to you in a tone that will not always be pleasant and you have to prepare yourself to handle those situations. Patients will also react to the nurse in times of fear, sadness or pain, and often nurses get the brunt of bad reactions. Preparing yourself for clashing personalities and reactions will help you develop the skills needed to succeed in such a field.
Responsibility
Being a nurse is a lot of responsibilities as you have other people's well being in your hands. So preparing yourself for the responsibilities that you will be taking on is a good way to get ready for the nursing field. You should develop your organizational and accuracy skills so that you will be able to prioritize and prepare legal medical documents. Be ready to handle the responsibility of the well being of others; caring for a loved is a good way to prepare yourself this.
Education
Taking courses in chemistry and biology is a good start for preparing yourself for this profession. Being able to understand the human body and technical anatomy and physiology will also help you to get ready for the nursing field so that you have a basic understanding of it all works together to be able to help with the physical and mental healing of others. It is a good idea to have a basic handle of math and dosages especially decimal points and conversions of measurements to be able to prepare yourself for medicinal administration. Of course, ultimately, a degree is nursing should be in your goal, and there may be certain positions where it is required. If you are already an RN, consider enrolling in an online RN to BSN program. You will be able to further your education with the convenience of online flexibility.
General Health
Your own general health should be in good order for this profession. You will be required to spend long hours on your feet and be able to lift and help other people as the case may arise. It is important that you can be the example of what you are teaching and be able to confidently guide others the right way in terms of health and general fitness. Being in good general health and fitness will help with being a stronger impact when dealing with those you are teaching, guiding and taking care of. So preparing your body as well as your mind will help you in this career choice.
Work Ethic
Now is the time to develop a good work ethic. Preparing to become a nurse you will need to be able to work hard and know as much detail as you can to do this job accurately. Having good study habits and spending plenty of time reading and studying will help prepare you for the work ethic needed to be successful in the nursing. Developing your work ethic and mental strength will help bring you to your goal of becoming a nurse.
